Paul Gicheru on interim release with conditions in Kenya

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Paul Gicheru on interim release with conditions in Kenya

On1 February 2021, Paul Gicheru was released to Kenya with specific conditions restricting liberty, during the confirmation of charges proceedings against him at the International Criminal Court (ICC). This follows Pre-Trial Chamber A’s decision on 29 January 2021, granting Mr Gicheru interim release with conditions. Mr Gicheru is suspected of offences against the administration of justice consisting in corruptly influencing witnesses of the Court. 

The confirmation of charges procedure in this case will, in principle, be conducted in writing to determine whether or not there is sufficient evidence to conduct the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial.

Background:  Pre-Trial Chamber A imposed the following conditions restricting Mr Gicheru’s liberty. Mr Gicheru:

•         shall provide financial security to the ICC Registrar in the form of cash or bank order to the value of KSH 1,000,000 (one million Kenyan shillings);

•         shall comply fully with all orders issued in this case and surrender himself immediately to the relevant authorities if required by the Chamber;

•         shall appear before the Chamber at the date, time, place, and in the manner ordered by the Chamber and shall remain in attendance until excused;

•         shall not obstruct or endanger the investigation or the court proceedings and shall not engage in any activities, directly or indirectly, that are prohibited under article 70 of the Statute;

•         shall not contact, directly or indirectly, any of the Prosecutor’s witnesses or victims in this case, except through counsel authorised to represent him before this Court and in accordance with the applicable protocols;

•         shall not, directly or through any other person, make any public statements, social media post, or communicate with the media about the merits of the case;

•         shall reside in Kenya at a specific address for the duration of the proceedings when not present in the Netherlands for the purposes of court proceedings, unless otherwise authorised in advance by the Chamber;

•         shall provide the Registrar with copies of all passports, visas, identity documents, and any other travel documents issued to him; shall not travel internationally except to the extent permitted by the Chamber and shall inform the Registrar or his delegate, no later than seven days prior to any international travel;

•         shall report once a week to the Registrar, his delegate, or other person(s) on the date and time and in the manner to be determined by the Registrar, which may include the use of video conferencing technology; and

•         shall provide the Registrar with all mobile and other telephone numbers and shall ensure that at least one of his mobile telephone numbers remains active and with sufficient credit to be reachable at any time.

The Chamber found that, in the event that Mr Gicheru would fail to comply with any of the conditions restricting liberty specified in its decision, the Chamber may declare the financial security provided by Mr Gicheru forfeit to the Court, issue a warrant of arrest in respect of Mr Gicheru at the request of the Prosecutor or on its own initiative, and/or issue any other order it deems relevant in relation to a failure to comply with these conditions.

The arrest warrant against Mr Gicheru and Philip Kipkoech Bett was issued under seal on 10 March 2015 and unsealed on 10 September 2015 for offences against the administration of justice consisting in corruptly influencing witnesses of the Court. On 2 November 2020, Paul Gicheru surrendered in The Netherlands and was surrendered to the ICC custody on 3 November 2020. His first appearance before the ICC took place 6 November 2020. On 11 December 2020, Pre-Trial Chamber A severed sever the cases against Paul Gicheru and Philip Kipkoech Bett.

Dominic Ongwen déclaré coupable de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l’humanité commis en Ouganda

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Dominic Ongwen déclaré coupable de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l’humanité commis en Ouganda

Dominic Ongwen during the verdict before the International Criminal Court on 4 February 2021 ©ICC-CPI

Today, 4 February 2021, Trial Chamber IX of the International Criminal Court found Dominic Ongwen guilty for a total of 61 comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in Northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005. The verdict may be appealed by either party to the proceedings within 30 days after the notification of the Judgment.

ICC Trial Chamber IX, composed of Judge Bertram Schmitt, Presiding Judge, Judge Péter Kovács and Judge Raul Cano Pangalangan, analysed the evidence submitted and discussed before it at trial and found, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Mr Ongwen is guilty of the following crimes:

(i)     attacks against the civilian population as such, murder, attempted murder, torture, enslavement, outrages upon personal dignity, pillaging, destruction of property and persecution; committed in the context of the four specified attacks on the Internally Displaced Persons camps (“IDP camps”)  Pajule (10 October 2003), Odek (29 April 2004), Lukodi (on or about 19 May 2004) and Abok (8 June 2004);

(ii)   sexual and gender based crimes, namely, forced marriage, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enslavement, forced pregnancy and outrages upon personal dignity he committed against seven women (whose names and individual stories are specified in the judgment) who were abducted and placed into his household;

(iii) A number of further sexual and gender based crimes he committed against girls and women within the Sinia brigade, namely forced marriage, torture, rape, sexual slavery and enslavement; and

(iv) The crime of conscripting children under the age of 15 into the Sinia brigade and using them to participate actively in hostilities.

Judges of ICC Trial Chamber IX pronouncing the verdict against Dominic Ongwen on 4 February 2021 ©ICC-CPI

The Chamber found that these crimes were committed in the context of the armed rebellion of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)against the government of Uganda. The LRA, including Dominic Ongwen, perceived as associated with the government of Uganda, and thus as the enemy, the civilians living in Northern Uganda. This concerned in particular those who lived in government-established IDP camps.

The Chamber found that Dominic Ongwen is fully responsible for all these crimes. The Chamber did not find evidence that supported the claim that he suffered from any mental disease or disorder during the period relevant to the charges or that he committed these crimes under duress or under any threats.

Following this verdict, the Chamber will impose on Dominic Ongwen the sentence for the crimes of which he has been convicted. For this purpose, it will receive submissions on the appropriate sentence by the Prosecutor, the Defence for Dominic Ongwen and the legal representatives of the participating victims.

A decision in this regard, including as concerns the timeline of the proceedings leading to the imposition of the sentence, has also been issued by the Chamber today. The ICC’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute, does not provide for a death penalty; the sentence may be up to 30 years of imprisonment (and under exceptional circumstances a life imprisonment) and/or a fine. Furthermore, a phase dedicated to the reparations to victims will be opened. 

American Chemical Society Contributes to OPCW

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American Chemical Society Contributes to OPCW

American Chemical Society Contributes $10,000 to Future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology

The Hague, Netherlands – 5 February 2021 – The American Chemical Society (ACS) has contributed $10,000 to a special Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund to support the construction of a new facility, the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”).  

The contribution was formalised on 14 December 2020 through an exchange of letters.  

ACS Chief Executive Office, Dr Tom Connelly, stated: “The ethical practice of chemistry is a core value of the American Chemical Society. We are honoured to support the new OPCW ChemTech Centre and its mission to train scientists and policymakers to protect humanity from future chemical weapon threats. The safe practice of chemistry requires collaborations between the public and private sectors and ACS is proud to support the OPCW’s vital role in ensuring a safe global chemistry enterprise.”  

The Director-General expressed: “I am deeply grateful to ACS, the first chemical science organisation to support this crucial project. The new Centre will build on our existing technical and analytical capacity and bring us closer to our goal of achieving a world free of chemical weapons.” 

Director-General Arias appealed to all OPCW States Parties and other donors in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so. He further emphasised the important role the new ChemTech Centre will play in strengthening the OPCW’s ability to address chemical weapon threats and enhance capacity building activities to the benefit of all 193 OPCW Member States. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”. 

So far, 45 countries, the European Union, and four other donors have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the ChemTech Centre project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.  

In the icture Dr. Thomas M. Connelly Jr.
Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer, American Chemical Association. Photography by the America Chemical Association.

ICC decision to territorial jurisdiction over Palestine

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ICC decision to territorial jurisdiction over Palestine

ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I issues its decision on the Prosecutor’s request related to territorial jurisdiction over Palestine

Today, 5 February 2021, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”) decided, by majority, that the Court’s territorial jurisdiction in the Situation in Palestine, a State party to the ICC Rome Statute, extends to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

On 20 December 2019, the ICC Prosecutor announced the conclusion of the preliminary examination of the Situation in Palestine. The Prosecutor determined that all the statutory criteria under the Rome Statute for the opening of an investigation have been met. A decision on opening the investigation in this situation is in the remit of the ICC Prosecutor. On 22 January 2020, the Prosecutor seized the Chamber under article 19(3) of the Rome Statute, requesting a ruling only on the scope of the Court’s territorial jurisdiction in the Situation in the State of Palestine. 

In today’s decision, Pre-Trial Chamber I recalled that the ICC is not constitutionally competent to determine matters of statehood that would bind the international community. By ruling on the territorial scope of its jurisdiction, the Chamber is neither adjudicating a border dispute under international law nor prejudging the question of any future borders. The Chamber’s ruling is for the sole purpose of defining the Court’s territorial jurisdiction.

Pre-Trial Chamber I examined the Prosecutor’s request as well as the submissions of other States, organisations and scholars who participated as amicus curiae and groups of victims. The Chamber held that, in accordance with the ordinary meaning given to its terms in their context and in the light of the object and purpose of the Statute, the reference to ‘[t]he State on the territory of which the conduct in question occurred’ in article 12(2)(a) of the Statute must be interpreted as a reference to a State Party to the Rome Statute.

The Chamber found that, regardless of its status under general international law, Palestine’s accession to the Statute followed the correct and ordinary procedure and that the Chamber has no authority to challenge and review the outcome of the accession procedure conducted by the Assembly of States Parties. Palestine has thus agreed to subject itself to the terms of the ICC Rome Statute and has the right to be treated as any other State Party for the matters related to the implementation of the Statute.

Pre-Trial Chamber I noted that, among similarly worded resolutions, the General Assembly of the United Nations in Resolution 67/19 “[reaffirmed] the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to independence in their State of Palestine on the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967”. On this basis, the majority, composed of Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, found that the Court’s territorial jurisdiction in the Situation in Palestine extends to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

In addition, the Chamber found, by majority, that the arguments regarding the Oslo Agreements, and its clauses limiting the scope of Palestinian jurisdiction, are not pertinent to the resolution of the issue of the Court’s territorial jurisdiction in Palestine. Such matters and other further questions on jurisdiction may be examined when and if the Prosecutor submits an application for the issuance of a warrant of arrest or summons to appear.

Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut appended a partly separate opinion on the reasons for which article 19(3) of the Statute is applicable in the present situation. Judge Péter Kovács, Presiding Judge, appended a partly dissenting opinion, in which he disagrees on the fact that Palestine qualifies as ‘[t]he State on the territory of which the conduct in question occurred’ for the purposes of article 12(2)(a) of the Statute, and that the Court’s territorial jurisdiction in the Situation in Palestine extends – in a quasi-automatic manner and without any restrictions – to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

New book about Uganda highlights the role of ambassador Blaak

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New book about Uganda highlights the role of ambassador Blaak

It isn’t common for African countries -perhaps with the exception of South Africa- to be represented in the Netherlands by an ambassador who speaks Dutch. Mirjam Blaak is the exception: born in the Netherlands, she has switched nationality and she has been representing Uganda as an ambassador since 2003. In the Dutch book ‘Oeganda onder President Museveni’ she tells her remarkable life story.

The story starts in the early 1980’s, when Mirjam Blaak, in her mid-twenties, first visits Africa as a KLM flight attendant. After graduating in International Law, Ms. Blaak took up a job in Kenya at UNHCR, the United Nations body that takes care of refugees. ‘I started working there in 1982 at the age of 26,’ Ms. Blaak recalls. ‘There were thousands of Ugandan refugees entering Kenya at that time and that is when I first heard about a young rebel leader called Yoweri Museveni. The refugees told me that he was trying to liberate Uganda from murderous regimes.’

Mirjam Blaak describes how she became sympathetic to the Ugandan refugees, some of them linked to Mr. Museveni’s rebel organization, known as the National Resistance Army. While fighting his rebellion, Museveni’s wife Janet and their children stayed in Nairobi, the city where Blaak was based. In November 1983 Kenyan security forces raided the house of Janet and the children, while they were away. The story of how Blaak helps Janet and the children flee to Sweden is then described in the book by Ms. Blaak, while Janet Museveni’s side of the story is retrieved from her autobiography.

Janet Museveni and Ambassador Blaak.

In the same month, Mirjam helped two young members of the NRA’s ‘external committee’ flee the country. Both men later became senior politicians, with one of them, Ruhakana Rugunda, currently serving as Prime Minister. Mirjam Blaak also informally established contacts with Western embassies on behalf of the NRA, showing her diplomatic skills. ‘At that time very few people knew what was going on in Uganda. When I was given a video tape showing images of the war in Uganda, I showed it to the Kenyan authorities and to diplomats, who for the first time saw video footage of Museveni.’

After five years of fighting, the NRA managed to capture the capital city of Kampala and Yoweri Museveni was sworn in as the Ugandan president in 1986. At that time, he stated that leaders who overstay in power are one of the reasons that certain countries in Africa lag behind. ‘I first met Museveni in 1985. He thanked me for helping his family leave Nairobi,’ Ms. Blaak said. ‘I was later asked to establish diplomatic contacts on behalf of the young government.’ Although Mirjam was working as a consultant at that time, she didn’t send an invoice for that. ‘I did that because I believed in the principles of the NRA.’

Mirjam Blaak maintained close ties to the presidential family and the ruling party, partly because of her relationship with the then minister of state of Defense. A few years after the couple separated Mirjam Blaak wanted to go back to the Netherlands. ‘When the president heard that, he asked me to become his ambassador. So, I gave up my Dutch nationality and was posted to the Ugandan embassy in Brussels as the ambassador responsible for the Netherlands in 2003,’ said Mirjam Blaak. Her position included being the contact person for the Hague-based International Criminal Court, which picked the then ongoing conflict in northern Uganda as a first case to take on.

Ambassador Blaak was appointed head of mission in 2012 and has since been responsible for Uganda’s diplomatic relations with the other Benelux countries and the European Union as well. In the book, the ambassador reveals how her embassy building in Brussels was suffering from a leaking roof, following years of insufficient funds for maintenance. Currently a drastic renovation of the embassy is ongoing.

Oeganda onder President Museveni

Although the book initially focuses on the positive turnaround that was caused by the NRA-after taking power in 1986, there is also attention for the increasing discontent with the current regime staying in power this long. Ugandan Members of Parliament belonging to the ruling party have adjusted the constitution twice, scrapping the maximum of two terms a president can stay in office, as well as the age limit. Mr. Museveni, now 76 years old, was reelected in disputed elections in January 2021.

‘With this victory, Mr. Museveni has extended his rule to 2026, exactly 40 years after capturing power,’ said author Arne Doornebal. ‘He is facing increasing criticism, not only because of his long rule but also because of the violent crackdown on the opposition before and after the January election. Ambassador Blaak will need all her diplomatic skills explaining these things to the EU and the governments of the Benelux,’ said Mr. Doornebal.

https://www.elikser.nl/oeganda-onder-president-museveni.htm

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.

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