October 30, AD Haagsche Courant – By Leo van Der Velde.
With Diplomat Magazine, an English-language print and online magazine written by and for diplomats in the European Union, Dr. Mayelinne de Lara reaches the diplomatic corps at large as well as international businesses with the rather global publication. Because of the ongoing pandemic, receptions, farewell parties and food festivals organised by the publisher are cancelled for the foreseeable future.
“Certainly, in this particular moment in our history, the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging us all, nevertheless the latter merely scratches the surface! Diplomats are working much more behind the scenes, reaching out in very creative ways. The latter adds to the regular working hours at the chanceries, and teleworking on a daily basis.
As flights were cancelled, hundreds of foreign citizens found themselves stranded in Europe; thus the diplomatic community swiftly mobilised to provide their citizens with repatriation assistance. Webinars connecting diplomats to their governments, to relevant authorities and ministries and to their business partners in are ongoing quotidian. One-to-one meetings, and hundreds of emails rather than tête-à-têtes are part of today’s normalcy.
I think, beyond COVID-19’s negative impact, also opportunities arise adapting to novel working scenarios. That’s why our extra-thick issue of Diplomat Magazine just appeared this month followed last week by a newsletter.
We are to redesign the online magazine to make it more attractive and easier to read with new sections like podcasts, new ambassadors, a French section, in which we open the possibility to expose relevant global issues in French, “la langue par excellence de la diplomatie, et du droit” and an innovative online market-place. We have received a plethora of positive responses to the updates, and this is very encouraging. We are also visiting the embassies to find out how we can help them to promote their agenda. Diplomat Magazine would likewise be glad to be a partner for advertisement from trade, and tourism agencies from your country.
We organised all our annual events for the diplomatic community on a smaller scale: VII Diplomats Welcome After Summer, V Biking Spree and IV Diplomats Run & Walk. I do not want to miss 2020 in our calendar! We are planning the very near future with care, no more long-term plans, definitely an ongoing stimulant for our daily tasks.”
Isn’t everything standing still? Have many ambassadors left for their home country? Many already left the country and we organised a small-scale Ceremony of Merit for a few. We are also visiting the new ambassadors and publishing about them in a new section dedicated to new arrivals.
In the picture, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, HRH Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa – State Department photo by Ron Przysucha, public domain
Wednesday, 11 November 2020, Riffa, Kingdom of Bahrain: Royal Order 44/2020 issued by His Majesty King Hamad II bin Isa Al Khalifa announced the appointment of the country’s heir presumptive to the throne, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa as the novel, and only second prime minister of Bahrain after the demise of the first office holder earlier today.
Hitherto Prince Salman bin Hamad had been serving as the island’s First Deputy Prime Minister in addition to being the crown prince and Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces. At the Prime Minister’s Court he was in charged with overseeing the ongoing development of executive agencies and government institutions in the kingdom. Since 2002, Prince Salman is chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB).
Prince Salman bin Hamad (b. 21 October 1969) holds a BA degree in Political Science from the American University in Washington D.C., in addition to a MPhil degree in History and Philosophy of science from Queens’ College, University of Cambridge, UK. He is the eldest son of Bahrain’s monarch and the latter’s regal spouse, HRH Princess Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Chair of the Supreme Council for Women.
Crown Prince Salman is accustomed to chairing cabinet meetings, stepping in whenever his late uncle, the late Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa was absent or indisposed. Internationally he is known for his business oriented style, his affability and English fluency.
Wednesday, 11 November 2020, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America: Bahrain’s Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa passed away aged 84.
He had been installed as prime minister in January 1970. Thus, he reached over 50 years in office, and was de jure the doyen of heads of government worldwide. The late prime minister was the first and thus far only prime minister in the country since it officially became independent from Britain in 1971.
Son of Bahrain’s former ruler (Hakim), Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who ruled from 1942 to 1961, Khalifa bin Salman learned governance at his father’s side as the island remained a British protectorate. The latter’s brother, Hakim Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, took power in 1961 and served as monarch when Bahrain gained its independence in 1971. Under an informal arrangement, Hakim Isa handled the island’s diplomacy, ceremonial duties as well as the Armed Forces while Khalifa bin Salman ran the government and economy.
Prince Khalifa bin Salman perished at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Minnesota. His body shall be repatriated, and a funeral service held for a limited number of relatives in a similar fashion as with the late Emir of Kuwait, Sabah IV Al-Ahmed Al-Jabr Al Sabah who died aged 91 likewise in Rochester, Minnesota back in September 2020.
An official mourning period of one week has been declared in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as Bahrain’s head of state will appoint the next head of government. Prince Khalifa’s son, Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa currently serves as Second Deputy Prime Minister.
Bahrain in located in the Middle East, connected to Saudi Arabia through the King Fahd Causeway. The country includes 35 islands.
As prime minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman, leaves behind a legacy of modernisation, economic boom, and social vicissitudes that transformed the island state into a successful economy, a financial centre, and a preferred destination for expatriates in the Gulf region.
Prince Khalifa’s demise marks the end of an era of leaders in power when Britain’s protectorate ended.
On the picture the late Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and Diplomatic Magazine’s Diplomatic Adviser Henri Estramant at Qudaibiya Palace in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.
La fin de la guerre froide nous avait promis un monde capitaliste, libre et heureux. Or, trente-et-un ans (octobre 2020) après la chute du mur de Berlin en 1989, nous sommes dans un monde plus que jamais divisé et en proie à la désintégration.
La paix mondiale est menacée, alors qu’elle est non seulement souhaitée, mais nécessaire pour le bien-être des peuples de la planète.
Force est de constater que la mondialisation de l’économie n’a pas, à elle seule, suffit à redistribuer, comme escompté, les ressources et les bénéfices des échanges internationaux. Au contraire, dans certains cas la mondialisation économique a marchandé même les êtres humains, elle a durcit les relations humaines en les centrant uniquement au tour de la valeur argent. La mondialisation économique a créé des richesses qui ont été concentrées dans les mains d’une minorité mondiale au dépends de la majorité.
Il est désormais reconnu que l’aide au développement et la politique commerciale d’inspiration libérale n’ont suffit ni à harmoniser le monde ni à créer des revenus stables pour la majorité de la population mondiale. Au contraire, elles ont souvent créé des distorsions systémiques. Ces distorsions ont renforcé la dépendance des pays pauvres des pays riches tout en rendant les écarts entre les riches et les pauvres encore plus évidents, tant entre pays qu’à l’intérieur des pays les plus riches.
Cette situation est source d’instabilité est mondiale.
La pauvreté reste le facteur dominant dans beaucoup de pays du monde.
L’exploitation des pays pauvres par les pays industrialisés dans le cadre de la division internationale du travail demeure. Cette division n’a pas été réduite par la mondialisation de l’économie. Dans beaucoup de cas, les pays du Sud restent encore en situation de dépendance économique et politique des pays riches.
Pour ces raisons il est nécessaire de remettre le multilatéralisme onusien et commercial (Organisation Mondiale du Commerce) au centre des débats politiques mondiaux.
Mais, il faut en modifier les règles de fonctionnement, entre autres, en élargissant le nombre de membres permanents du Conseil de Sécurité et en réévaluant l’idée de veto pour rendre sa prise de décision adaptée aux changements du monde.
Il est aussi nécessaire de rendre les rôles des Secrétaires-Généraux des institutions onusiennes plus visibles et politiquement libres. Ces figures doivent pouvoir prendre position dans les débats internationaux qui soient dans l’intérêt de la justice mondiale. Ce n’est pas le cas dans le fonctionnement actuel.
Certes, l’Europe a un rôle à jouer dans la reconstruction de la paix mondiale.
Certes, la cause des Nations Unies est noble.
Mais, tant que les politiciens européens joueront pour des intérêts économiques nationaux, à court terme, contre la stabilité mondiale à long terme leur contribution ne marquera pas le progrès mondial.
Et tant que les Nations Unies resteront dans une vision des années 50 du monde, et choisiront de ne pas prendre de positions courageuses sur la situation actuelle du monde, notamment en matière de maintien de la paix et de la santé publique mondiale l’opinion publique sera, à tort ou à raison, de plus en plus hostile à ses institutions et à ses actions.
Le monde a besoin de courage et de justice sociale !
Sans justice sociale pas de développement économique durable.
Sans justice sociale pas de paix durable.
Les événements récents montrent que l’Europe n’échappe pas à cette réalité.
Les Nations Unies ne peuvent plus rester silencieuses face aux inégalités criantes du monde, y compris dans les pays riches.
Quel rôle pour l’Europe ?
L’Europe doit jouer son rôle dans la construction de la paix mondiale, y compris au sein des Nations Unies.
Mais, le manque d’une réelle politique étrangère commune et d’une fédération qui aille au-delà des intérêts nationaux affaiblit sa capacité décisionnelle en matière de politique étrangère.
Cet état de fait contraint l’Europe à agir dans l’urgence sans pouvoir engager une réflexion à long terme.
L’Europe semble être dans l’impasse.
Pour sortir de l’impasse, l’Europe doit ouvrir un débat sur son avenir politique, y compris au sein des Nations Unies. La crise des institutions européennes, comme de celles du système des Nations Unies, est le miroir de la crise du monde contemporain. Un monde déstructuré et en proie au chaos dans lequel les intérêts individuels et ceux des plus forts prévalent sur la paix et la justice sociales.
La philosophie libérale s’est insinuée dans les rouages du multilatéralisme en l’affaiblissant en faveur du repli sur soi des pays qui avaient une tradition de dialogue international.
L’Europe et les Nations Unies sont aussi en quelque sorte les victimes de la course des Etats aux intérêts politiques nationaux à court terme.
Et les Nations Unies?
L’hostilité à l’égard des Nations Unies grandit dans le monde.
Alors que les Nations Unies n’arrivent plus à constituer une masse critique en faveur de la paix mondiale. Ce système est perçu comme étant un monde à part qui parle à lui-même, qui est décroché des réalités des peuples du monde, et qui parfois travallerait même contre les peuples.
Malgré les efforts faits par les bonnes volontés, le système mondial reste dans l’impasse.
Le fonctionnement des Nations Unies est celui de l’après-guerre de 1948. Il s’agit d’un puzzle composé par les Etats-Nations dont le poids décisionnel à l’intérieur du système est fondé sur leur capacité militaire, leur puissance technologique et leur développement économique. Cette vision est décrochée du monde actuel. Un monde dans lequel la puissance est diffuse.
Le monde contemporain est multipolaire.
La puissance militaire ne détermine plus la victoire face aux nouvelles formes de « guerre » comme le terrorisme. L’influence et la puissance des Etats se désintègrent face à la mondialisation du terrorisme.
Ainsi les tiraillements entre les puissances du Conseil de sécurité rendent la prise de décision longue et inadéquate aux changements rapides du monde contemporain.
Le positionnement politique des Nations Unies est faible.
Cette faiblesse est le résultat de compromis fondés sur les intérêts nationaux des grandes puissances de l’après-guerre et non sur ce qui est nécessaire à la stabilité mondiale. Les positions des Nations Unies sont diluées dans le compromis. Un compromis souvent en défaveur des plus faibles car dicté par les besoins financiers du système.
Le temps est venu de sortir de la lassitude et de reprendre le chemin de l’action pour la paix mondiale.
Sur l’auteur:
Mariarosaria Iorio
Mariarosaria Iorio est une analyste politique, passionnée des relations internationales et de la politique africaine. Mariarosaria a une longue expérience dans l’analyse des relations internationales, tant en ce qui concerne le multilatéralisme que les relations UE-ACP.
Son itinéraire professionnel a commencé en 1991 au Bureau International du Travail et a continué à l’Organisation Mondiale du Commerce ainsi que dans le monde universitaire et des ONG. Son livre Global Governance Trade and the Crisis in Europe présente ses réflexions sur la gouvernance globale, la crise en Europe and le commerce international. Il peut être commandé sur www.fnac.fr. Ses autres articles sont disponibles inter alia sur son profil linkedIN Mariarosaria IORIO, Political Writer and African Peace Facility. Elle peut être contactée à travers la messagerie de son profil linkedIn.
Art & Jazz is a collective around 90 artists in all conceivable disciplines and is accommodated in a foundation. Our aim is to make art accessible to a widest as possible audience and to connect art and society. We do this by regularly organizing public events where art is shown and the public can get to know the creators of the art personally.
The Hague is the International City of Justice and Peace and the diplomatic capital of the Netherlands. We would like to bring our activities to the attention of diplomats and all the others who are accredited in The Hague.
We want to introduce our special collective to this international community, which represents the whole world in The Hague. We provide exhibitions for our affiliated artists, in buildings, in the dunes, on markets and online.
For example, now we have an online exhibition about Corona-art, 24 artists exhibit their work on our website. Special is that 24 poets wrote a beautiful poem about each one of the artworks.
Another great event we will be organizing next summer, on June 5 and 6 2021, in collaboration with another art club and with Dunea, the water company and administrator of the Meijendel nature park. This event is called DuneArt. DuneArt is an event for everyone, young and old. Artists create art “en plein air”, poets recite their poems. There are workshops for adults, there is jazz music and “last but not least” there are children’s workshops, children can make a piece of art with natural remains found in the dunes under the inspiring guidance of instructors. You are invited. You can stay informed about all our activities by our website www.artandjazz.nl
For additional information:
Theo Schouten / secretaris@artandjazz.nl 00316 36135862
In the picture Mr. Patrick Aarsman, General Manager.
Escape from your daily routine of COVID pandemic’s restrictions and webinars and stay at Leonardo Royal Hotel for an over night with a 3-course menu “Du Chef” dinner at Brut International Flavours.
The next morning you will enjoy an extensive breakfast. The parking costs are included in the package.
The Sleep & Dine package includes: – Overnight in a room type of your choice including breakfast – Delicious 3-course menu ‘Du Chef’ – Parking (1 car per room)
The Ambassador of Romania, H.E. Ms.Brândușa Predescu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, H.E. Mr Bogdan Aurescu, and the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, after meeting at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands–9 November 2020–The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, H.E. Mr Bogdan Aurescu, met today with the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, H.E. Mr Bogdan Aurescu, with the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
The Director-General briefed the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the OPCW’s progress in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention, highlighting the Organisation’s ongoing efforts to address the threat from chemical weapons use and promote the peaceful application of chemistry. Director-General Arias also provided an update on the upgrade of the OPCW Laboratory into a Centre for Chemistry and Technology and expressed his thanks for Romania’s voluntary contribution to this project.
Foreign Affairs Minister Aurescu stated: “Romania firmly supports the activity of the OPCW’s Director-General and the Technical Secretariat in their complex undertakings meant to advance the purposes of the Chemical Weapons Convention. We have confidence in their professionalism, expertise and impartiality. Romania will continue to be a strong supporter of the OPCW in fulfilling its core mission, thus contributing to ensuring peace and making the world a safer place. I reaffirm my strong belief that the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable under any circumstances.”
Minister Aurescu, OPCW Director-General and Ambassador Predescu.
Director-General Arias remarked: “I am deeply grateful for Romania’s stalwart support for our shared goal of maintaining and reinforcing the global ban on chemical weapons. I look forward to our continued collaboration in all key areas of OPCW’s work.”
Monday, 9 November 2020, Republic of Ivory Coast: The country’s Constitutional Court confirmed the results of the latest presidential elections that took place on 31 October, wherein the incumbent president Alassane Ouattara (78 years old) is confirmed for a third presidential term after having won 94,27% of the popular vote with a participation of 53,90%.
President Ouattara (b. 1 January 1942) is the country’s fifth president since independence back in 1960. He first won elections in December 2010. He represents the Rally of the Republicans Party. His win means a further term of five years as Ivory Coast’s head of state. Politically the country lives in a second republic, since the proclamation of the constitution of October 2010.
Ouattara is a economist with many years of experience working for the International Monetary Fund in Washington D.C. He served as his country’s prime minister from 1990 to 1993 after a multiparty system was restored. In Ivory Coast he is often known under his initials as ADO, that is, Alassane Dramane Ouattara.
Sunday, 8 November 2020, La Paz, Plurinational State of Bolivia: At Quemado Palace, the third president of the Bolivian state, Luis Arce Catacora, was installed as the country’s head of state and government elected for a five year term.
The Plurinational State of Bolivia goes back to the constitution proclaimed in 2009 after a national plebiscite.
President Luis Arce (born 28 September 1963) belongs to the Movement for Socialism political party. He won the general election held on 18 October 2020 with a final tally providing him with 55.1% of the popular vote. His party likewise holds the majority of seats in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, albeit without a majority of two thirds that will require cooperation with other parties represented in the assembly. In the Senate, most seats are to be held by women for the very first time in history.
Arce has a long political experience, and served as Minister of Economy and Public Finance under erstwhile president Evo Morales from 2006 to 2017. Arce’s inaguration was attended by some of his regional counterparts as well as by Spain’s monarch, King Felipe VI.
While Joe Biden is now widely recognized as the United States’ president-elect, the 2020 Elections saga is not over yet. Alleging that the vote has been marred by fraud, President Trump has vowed to challenge the results in court. Moreover, the race for the control of the Senate is not over yet, with two seats to be allocated after a run-off in January. The elections saga thus continues, with major implications for the US and for the whole world.
A few days after Election Day on November 4th, the world finally got the news that it had been waiting for with growing impatience: the United States have a new president-elect. After an extremely tight race, observers and media outlets have eventually identified Joe Biden as the future President of the US – an outcome that will have to be officially confirmed by the Electoral College on December 14th. The Trump campaign, however, has not yet acknowledged this result. President Trump himself has repeatedly alleged that the vote has been marred by fraud. He has thus pledged to challenge the results in court – a process that, according to the original timeline of US elections, could drag until December 8th.
Embassy of the USA in The Hague
How did the situation come to this point? The 2020 round of elections in the United States was conducted under very special circumstances. Over the last months, the country has been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has not only imposed certain changes to the electoral process, for instance in terms of increased use of early voting and mail ballots, but it has also exacerbated an already high degree of political polarization in the country.
It was against this backdrop that, at the conclusion of Election Day on November 4th, the ballots casted by US citizens started to be counted. While pre-election polls had portrayed Joe Biden as the favorite candidate, the initial results announced by the media saw Trump well-positioned to compete, thanks to his success in Florida, as well as to his good performance in a number of key states, such as Georgia and Pennsylvania. As the tallying proceeded, however, results started to favor Biden, who first gained Arizona (a longtime Republican state), and then conquered Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania (three states that, albeit belonging to the so-called “Blue Wall” Democratic stronghold, had been won by Trump in 2016). In the wake of these successes, Biden was eventually identified as president-elect.
Yet, as of the time of writing the Trump campaign has not yet given up its fight. Since long before election day, Trump had been casting doubts over the election process, taking issue especially with mail ballots. In the wake of the vote, the President has repeatedly claimed that the election has been rigged against him, and he has vowed to take the issue to court. Yet, he has so far failed to provide convincing evidence, and some of the lawsuits presented by his campaign, such as those in Georgia and Michigan, have been quickly dismissed by judges. In the meanwhile, members of the Republican party have shown contrasting attitudes – some of them supporting the President’s claims, while others urging him to concede to his adversary’s success.
To add to the complexity of this round of elections, Trump’s accusations of electoral fraud are not the only issue that keeps the US political race open. On November 4th, many US citizens cast their ballots not only for the choice of the President, but also for that of members of Congress – which is currently split between the Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, and the Republicans, who have a majority in the Senate. While the results available so far have not delivered a way out of this deadlock, the race remains open, as the results for the Senate hinge on two run-offs to be held in Georgia on January 5th.
Therefore, a few days after Election Day, the race for the control of political power in the United States remain extremely heated. The world might finally have a name for the new president-elect, but the political struggle in the United States is set to continue for the weeks to come.
About the author:
Guido Lanfranchi
Guido Lanfranchi is an international affairs professional based in Den Haag, Netherlands. He studied at the Leiden University and Sciences Po Paris, and got with the Council of the European Union in Brussels. His research focuses on the EU, the Middle East and Africa.
