Qatar appoints Chief of Amiri Diwan

Baron Henri Estramant, Diplomat Magazine’s Diplomatic Advisor and HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani.

Tuesday, 27 October 2020, Doha, State of Qatar: Emiri decree no. 5 of year 2020 was issued by HH The Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, appointing HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani as the novel Chief of Diwan, the Qatari princely court as well as a symbol of state sovereignty in the Gulf country. 

Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman (b. 19 February 1970) had been deputising at the Diwan Al Amiri since returning to Qatar from his ambassadorship to the Federal Republic of Germany with co-accreditation to Czechia in 2019.

Previously to that high diplomatic office, he served as long-term Secretary-General of Qatar Olympic Commitee, bringing a plethora of global competitions to Qatar, and investing and local talents, particularly promoting women involvement in the sports. 

The new Chief of Amiri Diwan holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, USA, as well as a masters degree in Sports Management from the University of Lyon in France. Furthermore he is a trained officer from the Qatar Armed Forces. 

For further information 
Diwan Al Amiri of the State of Qatar: https://diwan.gov.qa
About Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saoud_bin_Abdulrahman_Al_Thani

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On the image, HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani & Managing Director of Royal Bridges, Henri Estramant, Diplomatic Adviser at Diplomat Magazine 

Bavarian and Austrian exchanged on border crossing

Tuesday, 27 October 2020, Munich, Free State of Bavaria, Germany: State Minister Dr. Florian Herrmann, Head of the State Chancellery and Minister of State for Federal and European Affairs and Media received at the Orangery of the State Chancellery his Austrian counterpart, Karoline Edtstadler, Federal Minister at the Austrian Federal Chancellery in charge of European Affairs, and the
Constitution.

The encounter focused on finding suitable solutions for “local border traffic” between Bavaria and Austria based upon the joint understanding that the level of infections of Covid-19 are currently worrisome; hence prudence and caution are, and shall remain the top priority in the fight against the virus and common policies.

At this time, Germany has designated the Austrian states of Vienna, Vorarlberg (excluding the enclave of Kleinwalsertal), Tyrol (excluding the enclave of Jungholz), Styria, Salzburg, Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Burgenland as risk areas during the pandemic.

After the meeting between the two heads of European affairs, it was agreed that the border between Bavaria and Austria is to remain open, however, it is asked for people to return to Austria within twenty four hours.

For further information
Austrian Federal Chancellery, European Affairs:
https://www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at/agenda/europapolitik.html

Austrian Embassy in Germany (HE Ambassador Dr. Peter
Huber
): https://www.bmeia.gv.at/oeb-berlin/

Non cease-fire between Azerbaijan and Armenia

Azerbaijan and Armenia accused each other today of violating the third humanitarian cease-fire since the outbreak of war between the countries starting on September 27.

The humanitarian truce was announced after negotiations between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Zohrab Mnatsakanián and Jeihun Bayrámov, respectively, with the mediation of the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, Stephen Biegun, and the White House.

The first complaint of violation of the ceasefire declared as of 08.00 local time (04.00 GMT) occurred minutes after its entry into force.

“The Armenian armed forces in violation of the new humanitarian ceasefire regime shoot at the city of Terter and villages in the region of the same name,” the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a statement.

This accusation was refuted by Armenia, which in turn denounced the Azerbaijani army for attacking Armenian positions in Nagorno Karabakh.

The two previous humanitarian truces, reached with the mediation of Russia, were not respected by the parties in conflict.

Greece and Albania apply to The Hague for maritime zones

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, and the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama. Photography by Hellenic Republic – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Greece and Albania have agreed to refer the dispute over the demarcation of maritime zones to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The agreement was announced during Nikos Dendias’s visit to Tirana by Greek Foreign Minister and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Mechanism Principals’ Joint Statement: 75th Anniversary of the United Nations

Arusha, Hague, 24 October 2020 – As Principals of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), we are proud to join the international community in marking the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), and to celebrate the UN’s unique role in promoting peace, justice, and the advancement of international law.

Since its adoption in 1945, the UN Charter has fundamentally shaped our world and created the framework to replace conflict with cooperation and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

The imperative to secure peace by bringing to justice those responsible for atrocities was well-established at the UN’s birth. And the UN revitalised this idea nearly fifty years later when faced with some of the worst crimes committed since the end of World War II. In 1993, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was established with the UN Security Council’s unanimous vote following overwhelming evidence of serious crimes being committed in the Balkans. In 1994, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was created soon after the 100-day genocide against the Tutsi.

Through these ad hoc Tribunals, the UN immensely strengthened international justice as a core element of conflict resolution and peace building. UN courts demonstrated that those responsible for crimes under international law can be brought to trial, that sitting heads of states are not immune from prosecution, that victims should be heard and that the law must prevail, even in times of war.

These UN efforts also galvanised supporters of international justice across the globe and created the momentum and enthusiasm that ultimately led to the establishment of other international courts and tribunals, including the permanent International Criminal Court (ICC). The Mechanism itself is a further expression of the UN’s enduring commitment to justice and to ensuring that all of the remaining work of the ICTR and ICTY is completed. This includes accounting for the remaining fugitives and preserving the ad hoc Tribunals’ unique legacies.

As recently reaffirmed by the UN General Assembly in its Declaration of 21 September 2020, even seventy-five years after its adoption “[t]he purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law remain timeless, universal and an indispensable foundation for a more peaceful, prosperous and just world”.

A more peaceful, prosperous and just world. This is the future that accountability for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes helps to create. And thanks to the United Nations, its realisation is more within our grasp than ever before.

Judge Carmel Agius, President, Serge Brammertz, Prosecutor, Abubacarr Tambadou, Registrar

New Panama Ambassador Presented credentials

Ambassador Elizabeth Ward Neiman presented credentials to the Director-General of the OPCW

H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Ward Neiman, newly accredited Permanent Representative of the Republic of Panama to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, presented credentials to H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW, on 2 October 2020 at the premises of the international organization in The Hague.

The Director-General welcomed Ambassador Ward Neiman to take office, speaking highly of Panama government’s efforts to fulfill the Chemical Weapons Convention and support for the OPCW. Ambassador Ward Neiman praised the positive role of the OPCW and the Director-General in the field of international security, as well as the cooperation between the Panama government and the OPCW. 

Mrs. Armonia Chang de Belchieur, Depute Head of Mission of the Panamanian Embassy in The Hague, H.E. Ambassador Elizabeth Ward Neiman, H.E. Fernando Arias and H.E. Odette Melono, OPCW Deputy Director-General during the ceremony of credentials.

Mrs. Armonia Chang de Belchieur, Depute Head of Mission of the Panamanian Embassy in The Hague, accompanied the Ambassador on this occasion. H.E. Mrs. Odette Melono, OPCW Deputy Director-General was also present during the ceremony of credentials.

Ambassador Ward Neiman, presented credentials before the King of the Netherlands on Wednesday, 9 September 2020.

H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Ward Neiman, accredited Permanent Representative of the Republic of Panama to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, presented credentials to H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW, October 2, 2020.

President Agius Presents Eighth Annual Report to UN General Assembly

Arusha, The Hague, 21 October 2020 – President Carmel Agius today presented the eighth Annual Report of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism) to the United Nations General Assembly.

The President commenced  by congratulating His Excellency Mr. Volkan Bozkir from Turkey on his election as President of the historic seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly, and expressing his gratitude to the United Nations Secretary-General, Legal Counsel, and Office of Legal Affairs for their support of the Mechanism’s work.

President Agius then updated the General Assembly on judicial developments at the Mechanism’s two branches. Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic had interrupted the timelines previously envisaged for case completion, he was pleased to report on several important developments following the recent resumption of in-court proceedings. These included the appeal hearing in Prosecutor v. Mladić, the conclusion of evidentiary hearings in Prosecutor v. Stanišić & Simatović, and the commencement of trial this week in Prosecutor v. Turinabo et al.

In addition, President Agius highlighted the significance of Security Council resolution 2529 (2020), which not only reaffirmed the Mechanism’s mandate following the successful review of its work, but also urged Member States to further enhance their cooperation, particularly in achieving the arrest and surrender of all remaining fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. In this regard, President Agius recalled the May 2020 arrest of Félicien Kabuga in France, which was made possible through collaborative efforts between the Mechanism’s Office of the Prosecutor and the law enforcement and judicial authorities of a number of Member States. Separately, he reiterated the importance of resolving the long-standing predicament of the nine acquitted and released persons residing in a safe house in Arusha, and urged Member States to assist in finding a permanent solution.

The President also praised the effective assistance and support provided by the Mechanism’s 15 enforcement States, noting in particular their efforts to ensure the health and safety of the Mechanism’s convicted persons during the current pandemic. Also in relation to enforcement issues, President Agius underscored the seriousness of his responsibilities in deciding on early release applications, referring to the revised Practice Direction on applications for pardon, commutation of sentence, or early release that he issued in May 2020 in order to simplify the process and ensure greater transparency.

Further, President Agius expressed optimism regarding Member States’ reaffirmation of their collective commitment to multilateralism. He noted that the ad hoc Tribunals and the Mechanism were established only because a strong and resolute United Nations had the courage to take action when needed, and that the Mechanism has a responsibility in “promoting and advancing the principles and purposes embedded in this Organisation’s founding Charter, which has endured the test of time for seven and a half decades”. He stated that “one of the lasting contributions of the Mechanism and its predecessor Tribunals is the establishment of a network of accountability, which reaches all corners of the world and has the potential to make justice an everyday reality within domestic legal systems”.

In closing, the President assured the General Assembly that the Mechanism’s Judges and staff remain determined to deliver on the solemn mandate entrusted to them by the United Nations. He emphasised that, in playing a crucial role in ensuring sustainable peace, international justice mechanisms will continue to require the support of the international community. In this respect, the Mechanism will rely on Member States’ sustained cooperation and assistance.

Prior to the meeting President Agius held a bilateral exchange with the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Mr. Volkan Bozkir, during which they discussed the Mechanism’s current activities, as well as the ongoing relevance of multilateralism as a platform to address global challenges including those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elections in Occupied Cyprus: The solution to the Cyprus problem is removed with the victory of Tatar

By Eleni-Vasiliki Bampaliouta.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan managed to impose his man on the Turkish Cypriot leadership, and send Mustafa Akinci home. The “elections” in the occupied territories, despite not being recognized as a legal process, as they concern an illegal entity that appears as the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, are recognized as a vote to elect the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, who is also the negotiator in the settlement process. of the Cyprus issue, in the context of the UN.

Therefore, one cannot recognize the fact that the new leader of the Turkish Cypriots is a man who has made it clear that he does not intend to talk on the basis of the agreed form which is the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, fully identical with Tayyip Erdogan and Melvut Tsavousoglu.

Ersin Tatar, the former chief accountant of the Turkish Cypriot tyrant Asil Nadir, was elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot community with 51.69% against 48.31% of Mustafa Akinci. The difference was just 4,500 votes, which was enough to put an end to Ankara’s confrontation with the Turkish Cypriot leadership under Akinci.

In the week between the first and second rounds of elections, Ankara’s intervention intensified to mobilize voters who had not gone to the polls.

The pressure fell mainly on “civil servants” and their families, with the reminder that their salaries come from Turkey every month. In this orgy of blackmail, the inhabitants of Ankara used every means but also to create fear. Akinci presented himself as the man of the Greek Cypriots, who is ready to accept the dissolution of the “pseudo-state” so that the Turkish Cypriots become a minority. At the same time, Ersin Tatar had at his disposal the mechanism of the National Unity Party, which is the largest party in the occupied territories and maintains strong access and pressure levers at all levels of the pseudo-state public life.

The result of the vote showed that the Turkish Cypriot community is deeply divided, with Tatar supporters believing that a solution other than the bi-zonal bi-communal federation in the Cyprus issue should be sought and Akinci supporters insisting on holding talks only on the basis of , which is also recorded in the UN resolutions.

 The emergence of Tatar is expected to cause problems as the new Turkish Cypriot leader does not have Akinci’s political ouster and is essentially the voice of Tayyip Erdogan in the occupied territories. Given Ankara’s position on a change of base in the talks on resolving the Cyprus issue, it would be risky to assess that the UN Secretary General’s initiative could lead to talks from the point where they were suspended in the summer of 2017 in Crans Montana.

The Turkish side considers that process dead and proposes the search for a two-state solution, or a loose confederation. Such a development would exclude the Turkish Cypriots from the EU and would essentially be another step towards the annexation of the occupied territories to Turkey. If the talks do not resume where they left off, it means that all the convergences that have been reached in recent years and have come close to a solution will be thrown in the trash and negotiations will start from scratch, despite the fact that it is almost 50 years since invasion.

The presence of Tatar in the leadership of the Turkish Cypriots will help Erdogan to project more intensely the narrative of the defense of the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community. In fact, the Turkish Cypriots will be used as an alibi to achieve Turkey’s goals in the eastern Mediterranean. It is expected that the challenges with the drilling in the EEZ of Cyprus will continue, because allegedly the Turkish ships will act with the permission of the pseudo-state. At the same time, another new move for the settlement of Famagusta is considered possible, something that according to all estimates will be the tombstone in the process of resolving the Cyprus problem.

Nicosia hopes that the US elections with a possible victory of Joe Biden may change things by exerting influence on Turkey to end the challenges. The role of the EU, which Nicosia looks forward to, will also be important.

About the author:

Eleni-Vasiliki Bampaliouta – Experienced journalist  and writer, specialist in politics and diplomacy, extended list of interviews to top politicians from Europe, Africa and Middle East. Permanently working in Politic.gr, London Greek Radio and Epikaira. Press manager of the International Association for Greek Philosophy.

  • twitter: @babalioutaeleni
  • linkendin: eleni vasiliki bampaliouta
  • skype: elena_babaliouta

Anders Ahnlid at the helm of the Swedish Trade Board

Stockholm, Kingdom of Sweden: The Swedish Government has announced the appointment of former Swedish Representative to the European Union, and erstwhile Ambassador to Finland, Anders Ahnlid, as the novel director general of the National Trade Board (Kommerskollegium). 

The National Board of Trade is the Swedish government agency for international trade, the EU internal market and trade policy. 

Ambassador Anders Ahnlid is ideal for the position being an experienced negotiator in trade issues. As per statement the Foreign Trade Minister Anna Hallberg highlighted that ‘the authority has an important task, above all in improving possibilities for Sweden’s international trade in many ways’.

Ahnlid took office as director general on 17 August 2020 for an authority that goes back to 1651. He has served as Swedish Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels, Delegate before the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, adviser for trade issues at the Foreign Ministry, and has served as a diplomat in at the Swedish Representation in Geneva, and at the country’s embassy to the United States in Washington D.C.

Picture by Katinka Igelberg/Kommerskollegium

Greece and Albania apply to The Hague for maritime zones

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, and the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama. Photography by Hellenic Republic – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

By Eleni-Vasiliki Bampaliouta.

Greece and Albania have agreed to refer the dispute over the demarcation of maritime zones to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The agreement was announced during Nikos Dendias’s visit to Tirana by Greek Foreign Minister and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

An important decision, as long as the process is not involved again in the political situation in Albania, can remove the impasse that has arisen since 2009 with the annulment by the Albanian Constitutional Court of the Agreement signed by the two countries and at the same time contribute to consolidate the need to resolve demarcation issues through dialogue and the International Court of Justice in The Hague. An important element is that any appeal to The Hague after the extension of the territorial waters of Greece to 12 n.m. means that a significant part of the EEZ in which Greece would exercise sovereign rights, becomes a Greek coastal zone where Greece exercises full sovereignty.

Following the agreements with Italy and the Partial Demarcation Agreement with Egypt, the Agreement with Albania on the referral to The Hague creates a significant “diplomatic mass” against the Turkish revision and its pursuit of imposing sanctions instead of the border demarcation dialogue. .

The referral of the issue of the delimitation of the maritime zones between Greece and Albania in The Hague, gives way to the Albanian political system to have a solution by an independent third judicial body such as the International Court of Justice and thus overcome the obstacles raised by the Constitutional Court of Albania that perfectly reflected the Turkish interpretations of the Law of the Sea. Until now, any attempt at negotiation fell on this decision and as in Albania there is no established Constitutional Court, as a result of the political crisis and the conflict between Prime Minister E. Rama and President I. Meta.

The elections in April are particularly difficult for the political climate in Albania. The oxymoron is happening in Albania, Mr. Rama who as the leader of the opposition in 2009 appealed to the Constitutional Court to annul the Agreement signed by the then political leadership Berisha-Basha accusing them of “selling out” the interests of the country, now that tries to promote the resolution of the dispute as prime minister, he accepts the same accusations from Mr. Berisha and I. Meta. However, with Albania’s European course at a critical juncture, there is a strong lever of pressure in Tirana.

About the author:

Eleni-Vasiliki Bampaliouta – Experienced journalist  and writer, specialist in politics and diplomacy, extended list of interviews to top politicians from Europe, Africa and Middle East. Permanently working in Politic.gr, London Greek Radio and Epikaira. Press manager of the International Association for Greek Philosophy.

  • twitter: @babalioutaeleni
  • linkendin: eleni vasiliki bampaliouta
  • skype: elena_babaliouta