Benjamin B. Ferencz receives Distinguished Honorary Fellowship of the International Criminal Court

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Benjamin B. Ferencz receives Distinguished Honorary Fellowship of the International Criminal Court

On 17 December 2020, Benjamin B. Ferencz was decorated with the title of ‘Distinguished Honorary Fellow of the ICC’ and his bust was unveiled to be housed permanently at the ICC’s premises ©ICC-CPI

On 17 December 2020, Mr Benjamin B. Ferencz, former Prosecutor at Nuremberg in charge of the historic Einsatzgruppen trial was decorated with the title of ‘Distinguished Honorary Fellow of the International Criminal Court’ (“ICC” or the “Court”), during an online event held with ICC Officials and Staff. At the event, a bust of Mr Ferencz was unveiled to be housed permanently at the Court’s premises as ICC Principals praised his extraordinary career and relentless commitment in the service of international criminal justice. 

Benjamin Ferenczpad- On a sunny day in May of 2019, a wooden bench overlooking the Peace Palace was officially presented to a small but distinguished audience. It was a present from Benjamin Ferencz, the last surviving prosecutor of the Nazi crimes to the city of The Hague. 

Speaking at the event, ICC President Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji stated that the honorary title was extended to Mr Ferencz as “a token of the Court’s appreciation for all he has done and what he has stood for as a beacon of light in the fight against impunity for atrocity crimes”. Referring to Mr Ferencz as “a living legend in the field of international criminal law” and an inspiration to many, President Eboe-Osuji said: “At over a 100 years old and counting, you have demonstrated what it means to have real commitment to the cause of international criminal justice and what can be achieved through the power of the individual with clarity of purpose and resolve. Through your advocacy and strength of conviction, fuelled by the horrors you had personally witnessed during the Second World War, you played a crucial role in the establishment of the International Criminal Court. You have since remained a robust defender of the institution appreciating its importance and enduring value to humanity and a more just world.”

In her congratulatory remarks, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda referred to Mr Ferencz as one of her personal heroes and founding fathers of the ICC, stating that “in life, there are those who lead by their example; those whose contagious optimism and sense of purpose bring the seemingly impossible within reach; those who by their very passion defy the laws of nature and do not let age stand in the way of their destiny to do good in the world, where good and leadership are in dire need.  Today, we are in the esteemed company of that iconic trend setter and celebrate his life’s achievements in the pursuit of ‘Law, Not War.’”

In expressing his appreciation to the Court, Mr Ferencz stated: “The ICC, as the court of last resort in a state-dependent system of international justice, offers hope to many who have no hope that their voices will be heard – that they have not been forgotten, and that they are not alone.” He urged universal support for the Court: “protection of human rights demands deterrence of human wrongs, and all nations should strongly support the Court’s efforts in helping to end impunity for crimes of the gravest concern to all humankind.” “Now approaching my 102nd year, I have cherished the goals for which the ICC stands throughout my entire adult life and I give thanks for the torch-bearers who will carry the dream of a more humane world under the rule of law forward, lest we perish from the folly of our failure to do so”, he added.

M. Benjamin B. Ferencz and ICC Officials during the event held online on 17 December 2020 ©ICC-CPI

Mr Benjamin B. Ferencz was the Chief Prosecutor of the Einsatzgruppen trial at Nuremberg (1947), and is a life-long advocate for the establishment of the ICC, who has made major and pioneering contributions to international criminal justice (watch Mr Benjamin Ferencz’s video statement on the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute(click here)).

To date, the title of ‘Distinguished Honorary Fellow of the International Criminal Court’ has been bestowed upon Mr Ferencz, the King of Lesotho, His Majesty Letsie III, and the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, H.E. Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, on the occasion of their visits to the Court.  

Lamberto Zannier becomes IFIMES’ new Director

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Lamberto Zannier becomes IFIMES’ new Director

IFIMES for the Euro-Mediterranean Diplomacy and Intercultural Affairs

LJUBLJANA/VIENNA, 5. January 2021 – Former Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Ambassador Lamberto Zannier, has become Director of Euro-Mediterranean Diplomacy and Intercultural Affairs (EDIA) at the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES). He thus replaced Archduchess Camilla Habsburg-Lothringen, who held the same position in the period 2016-2020.

The directors of IFIMES, Dr. Zijad Bećirović and Bakhatyar Aljaf, emphasized that they were especially glad that the institute received reinforcement in the person of Ambassador Zannier, whose reputation, experience and enthusiasm will give new impetus to the work of IFIMES.

“We are highly honored that our esteemed colleague, Excellency Zannier, will be with us in the future. Only through the importance of cooperation of various actors in building a better society, while gathered in the idea of ​​a better tomorrow, we can understand and overcome many differences between us. This is the only way to solve problems and challenges. The fact that Ambassador Zannier served in the Balkans (2008-11), led the OSCE as its Secretary-General for two consecutive terms (2011-2017), and was the OSCE Commissioner for National Minorities (2017-2020) is of immense importance to our Istitute. It is difficult to find a more competent person anywhere in the world than Ambassador Lambert Zannier. Once again, we are so proud to have him in the leadership of the IFIMES Institute. “

Head of IFIMES Mission in Vienna, prof. Dr. Anis H. Bajrektarević underlined the importance of the Euro-Mediterranean theater, as a core region – a cradle of civilization, for the intercultural cooperation which is one of the key challenges of the modern world.

“The OSCE is the only organization whose pan-continental mechanism includes the so-called Mediterranean partnership. Thus, besides the UN, it is the only multilateral system that brings together Arabs and Israel. Therefore, I am convinced that our joint action will further strengthen IFIMES activities in the Euro-Mediterranean area, which is indispensable for Europe’s future.”

Melanie Huml becomes Minister of European Affairs in Bavaria

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Melanie Huml becomes Minister of European Affairs in Bavaria

Minister Melanie Huml and Premier Markus Söder – Picture by Bayerische Staatskanzlei.

Friday, 8 January 2020, Munich, Free State of Bavaria, Germany: Bavaria’s hitherto Minister of Health and Nursing, Melanie Huml, was appointed to become ‘Minister of State for European and International Affairs’ at the Bavarian State Chancellery, thus relieving Dr. Florian Herrmann of the latter portfolios. The appointment becomes valid as of Monday, 11 January 2020. 

Melanie Huml (née Beck, b. 9 September 1975) has been a deputy in the Bavarian Diet since 2003, and is a member of the state government since 2007. She is a trained physician, and a career politician member of the Christian Social Union. 

For further information 
https://www.melanie-huml.de

Ancient rock carvings of Gobustan in Azerbaijan

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Ancient rock carvings of Gobustan in Azerbaijan

“Land of Fire” – Azerbaijan is home for one of the oldest human settlements on the Earth – Gobustan.  

Gobustan – Rock art – photo by Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Gobustan is a mystic and ancient open-air museum, located in Absheron peninsula – about 55 kilometres from Azerbaijani capital city of Baku. Here you can find petroglyphs ranging from Mesolithic era up to the Late Middle Ages.

Gobustan has more than 6.000 rock drawings, settlements, burial mounds, formerly inhabited caves, megalithic structures and tombs.  They tell us about the lifestyle, occupation, religious beliefs and early art of ancient people, settled here more than thousands of years ago. Most of the petroglyphs depict people, domestic and wild animals, as well as battle scenes, ritual dances, bullfights, boats with men, hunting, fishing, solar symbols, etc.

Gobustan was discovered and later closely examined by archaeologists in 1930s.  Azerbaijani archaeologists found here remains of ancient flora of the world.

Bones of 40 species of animals that lived in the Pleistocene epoch (before the region even was populated by humans), including rhinoceros, wild horses, primitive oxen, deer, brown bears, cave hyenas, cave lions and cheetahs, porcupines, as well as many bones of 97 species of birds were also discovered here.

One of the most notable discoveries by archaeologists was Gavaldashi – musical stone and a symbol of Gobustan. It is believed that ancient humans performed rituals by producing sounds with this stone. The stone itself is 2 meters long and resonates a tambourine-like sound, when it is hit by smaller stones. This musical stone was also used for dancing Yalli, chain-dance which is also one of the national dances of Azerbaijan. Yalli is portrayed in rock carvings found in Gobustan. Many Azerbaijani musicians even nowadays use the hypnotic sound of “Gavaldashi” to create fascinating pieces of music. A notable example was the semi-final of 2012 Eurovision Song Contest held in Baku, Azerbaijan where Gavaldashi was played and dancers performed Yalli.

Gobustan – Petroglyphs. Photo by Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

It is interesting to note that Romans were also present in Gobustan. A rock found in Gobustan contains a Roman inscription, which proves the presence of a centurion of the 12th Roman legion, known as the Fulminat, (Lightning) here on the shore of the Caspian Sea during the reign of Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus in the second half of the 1st century AD. Some historians assume that this may be the most eastern point any Roman patrol even ventured to.

There are many hypotheses regarding human settlements in Gobustan. Some researchers note similarities between these Gobustan images and petroglyphs found in East Africa. The well-known Norwegian traveller and scientist Thor Heyerdahl has other theory. He was fascinated by Gobustan rock carvings, which he visited several times in his life. On seeing the famous image of a multi-seat boat of the 6th millennium BC among the rock carvings of Gobustan, he became firmly convinced that, most likely, it was a reed vessel related to Sumerian ones. Therefore, people who lived in Gobustan could have contacts with the world’s oldest civilizations. Heyerdahl said: “What ancient and of course, advanced civilization was here still remains a mystery. But Azerbaijani scientists will be able to solve it.”

Due to the extraordinary value of this reserve, UNESCO inscribed Gobustan to the World Heritage List in 2007.

In 2011, a large modern museum was opened in Gobustan. It has become a must-see destination for all the tourists visiting Azerbaijan. This museum includes exhibitions about World Heritage sites, the history of the discovery of petroglyphs, ancient people living in the territory of Gobustan and its original flora and fauna. More than 100,000 items found by archaeologists during excavations are stored in repositories. These are tools and weapons, jewellery, charms, animal bones, plant seeds, etc.

In 2013, the Gobustan Museum became one of the winners of the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA). Today, thanks to the rock paintings, discoveries made by archaeologists and palaeontologists in Gobustan, we have a glimpse of the lives of our distant ancestors and a chance to try to imagine their way of life and the world around them.

Yet, Gobustan still has more to offer. There are many things not yet discovered, deciphered or interpreted. One can only imagine how many more secrets and mysteries this chronicle of millennia contains.

Ambassador Ilyassov helms Kazakh mission to the UN

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Ambassador Ilyassov helms Kazakh mission to the UN

Ambassador of Kazakhstan, H.E. Magzhan Ilyassov.

26 October 2020, New York, United Nations: Magzhan Ilyassov was accredited before the United Nations secretariat. 

He had served as his country’s Ambassador to the Netherlands since 2016.  From 2013 to 2016, he was an adviser to the President of Kazakhstan, and from 2007 to 2016 he was Head of the Administration’s Foreign Policy Centre.

He has held a number of other positions since first entering Government service in 1996, including as an attaché with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Organizations and International Economic Relations Department.

Born in 1974, Permanent Representative Ilyassov holds a bachelor’s degree from the Kazakh State University of World Languages and International Relations and a master’s degree from the Kennedy School of Public Administration at Harvard University in the United States.

He is married and has three children.

For further information 
UN secretariat: https://www.un.org/press/en/2020/bio5327.doc.htm
Permanent Representation of Kazakhstan to the UN: http://www.kazakhstanun.org

Kuwait’s FM honoured

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Kuwait’s FM honoured

Wednesday, 6 January 2021, Kuwait City, State of Kuwait: His Highness The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jabr Al-Mubarak Al Sabah conferred upon the country’s chief of diplomacy, HE Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Muhammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Kuwait Medal of the First Class in appreciation of his distinguished efforts to serve the country.

Sheikh Dr. Ahmad has continued the policies of negotiation a reconciliation set forth by the country’s previous emir, Sheikh Sabah IV. It was in the latter spirit, and and his capacity as mediator that he announced to the world the re-opening of borders between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and the eventual restoration of full diplomatic ties amongst Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt vis-à-vis Qatar.

To final agreement was formalized at the GCC summit held at Al-Ula on 5 January, and attended by the first time in three years by Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. 

For further information: 
Kuwait Foreign Ministry: https://www.mofa.gov.kw/en/media-center/news/
Amiri Diwan: http://kwdlabs.com/news

Picture by Kuwait Foreign Ministry

Gibraltar in Schengen area

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Gibraltar in Schengen area

Gibraltar – Picture by Adam Cli through Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence.

Thursday, 31 December 2020, Gibraltar: Spain reached a provisional agreement with the United Kingdom over Gibraltar’s post-Brexit status. As part of the agreement, Gibraltar shall remain part of European Union agreements such as the Schengen area, wherein Spain shall act as ‘guarantor’ power. It is still unclear whether the free movement of people shall include the freedom of goods movement as stated in the statement by the territory’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. 

Both parties, the UK and Spain, must now sign a formal agreement involving the European Commission for the latter purpose. 

In the Brexit referendum of 2016, 96% of voters in Gibraltar supported remaining in the EU.

Without the deal announced with hours to spare on Thursday, Gibraltar faced entering the new year with tight controls on what for decades has been an open border with Spain.

Gibraltar has been a territory under British jurisdiction since 1713, with its citizens voting overwhelmingly, with 99% in favour, to remain under UK sovereignty at a 2002 referendum. Nevertheless Spain claims sovereignty over the territory. 

For further information: 
Chief Minister of Gibraltar https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/press-releases/chief-ministers-statement-the-new-years-eve-in-principle-agreement-a-post-brexit-deal-for-gibraltar-9462020-6542

Indonesian Ambassador Hand Over Credentials to The King of Netherlands

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Indonesian Ambassador Hand Over Credentials to The King of Netherlands

Royal Dutch Horse Carriage Take Indonesian Ambassador To Hand Over Credentials To HM.The King of Netherlands

The Royal Dutch horse carriage gallantly stopped in front of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to in the Netherlands on Wednesday morning, November 25, 2020. A Chamberlain wearing a morning dress (tailcoat) got off the horse carriage to be greeted by the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Indonesian Embassy Pak Fikry Cassidy to pick up Ambassador Mayerfas accompanied by his spouse, Virna Mayerfas, to the Noordeinde Palace.

Arriving at the Palace, the Indonesian Ambassador inspected the palace guards. The tunes of the national anthem, Indonesia Raya echoed along with Ambassador Mayerfas’ steps towards the palace to submit letters of credential to the King of the Netherlands, HM. Willem-Alexander.

Ambassador Mayerfas conveyed the warm greetings of President Joko Widodo to the King and his appreciation for the visit of the King and Queen of the Netherlands to Indonesia in March 2020. The visit resulted in a US $ 1 billion business commitment in the fields of health, maritime, agriculture and water management.

Besides discussing bilateral relations between the two countries, Ambassador Mayerfas also expressed his hope to strengthen cooperation in the economic field. Also, cooperation in dealing with pandemics and post-pandemic economic recovery is an issue raised by Ambassador Mayerfas.

After handing over the credential to the King, the Indonesian Ambassador is also scheduled to hand over the credential to the Director-General of the OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) tomorrow, Thursday, November 26, 2020, in The Hague.

Tonga and Australia marked 50 years of ties

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Tonga and Australia marked 50 years of ties

By Second Secretary Curtis Tuihalangingie, High Commission of the Kingdom of Tonga in the Commonwealth of Australia.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Commonwealth of Australia, 

Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho, High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga in Australia and His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia exchanged congratulatory messages on Saturday, 3 December 2020 celebrating the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

The event started with a video message of the Governor-General on behalf of the Government and the People of Australia to His Majesty King Tupou VI, the Government and the People of Tonga, conveying his warmest wishes on the occasion of the 50th years of formal Australian and Tongan ties. 

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, safety measures were taken to ensure this milestone occasion was commemorated with a restricted number of guests from the Australian Government, the Diplomatic Corps, the Tongan Community as well as the private sector.  

Interventions from both countries highlighted the enduring partnership founded on shared democratic values, their commitment to a secure, stable and sovereign Pacific and a shared Pacific culture. 

Tonga’s relations with Australia go back to the beginning of the 19th century with the arrival of explorers, whalers, traders and Australian missionaries. Tonga participated alongside Australia and New Zealand during both World Wars, which is commemorated each year at ANZAC Day.  

In 1980, Australia opened its High Commission in Nuku’alofa; 28 years later, the opening of Tonga’s High Commission in Canberra in 2008 further enhanced the need of both countries to strengthen their ties through various partnership programmes; education, sports, health, defence, maritime security, climate change, economics and trade.  

Senator The Honorable Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia noted that today, there are more than 35,000 people of Tongan descent living in Australia, contributing to the country’s economy, the community, church, sport and in many other aspects of Australian life. 

Recently, Tonga received its second Guardian class Patrol boat from Australia, a result of long defence cooperation towards shared goals for sovereignty, security and prosperity in the Pacific.  

HRH Princess Angelika LātūfuipekaTuku’aho acknowledged the ties between Australia and Tonga have developed strongly in the last couple of decades: “Both Australia and Tonga have made big progress in developing our relations, not only in diplomatic affairs, defence cooperation and capacity building among others, but also in terms of playing a vital role in each other’s economy”.  

Of particular interest is Australia’s Pacific Seasonal Worker Programme, which became fully operational in 2012. The hugely successful Seasonal Worker Scheme for Pacific Islands, as read in a new report by the World Bank Maximizing the Development Impacts from Temporary Migration: Recommendations for Australia’s Seasonal Worker Programme , provides encouraging recommendations to the Australian Government in areas to grow the benefits of the programme.  

Tonga was one of the first Pacific Island States to take part in this Seasonal Worker Programme, which now sees thousands of Tongans travelling each year to work in Australian farms. For the year 2019-2020, the seasonal workers brought home A$36M, on average 5.6 times the local income according to the World Bank report. 

With harsher restrictions being imposed, and the fruit industry in Australia in danger of collapsing, Australian farmers and the Tonga High Commission arranged the secure flights of 300 seasonal workers from Nuku’alofa to Brisbane and Tasmania.   

Her Royal Highness The High Commissioner adds; “We have made the most of the Seasonal Worker Programme since its inception. This is so important to us, it is a national priority; especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have to keep our economies afloat. Our workers return home satisfied with hard-earned wages, at the same time we are satisfied in knowing Tonga contributes strongly to the economy of a partner and major power in the region. It’s a testament to the excellent relations Tonga and Australia have”. 

For further information 

Reception hosted in Canberra to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVS-p9-8Kz8

High Commission of the Kingdom of Tonga in the Commonwealth of Australia, non-resident Embassy to the Kingdom of Thailand, the State of Brunei Darussalam: http://www.tongahighcom.com.au
About the Kingdom of Tonga: https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/tonga/Pages/tonga

Kazakhstan abrogates death penalty

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Kazakhstan abrogates death penalty

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Saturday, 2 December 2021, Nur-Sultan, Republic of Kazakhstan: the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aimed at abolishing the death penalty was signed by Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The death penalty’s application in Kazakhstan was completely suspended on 17 December 2003, albeit courts still issued verdicts in this regard. President Tokayev instructed the Foreign Ministry to begin the procedure for Kazakhstan’s accession to the Second Optional Protocol in 2020. In accordance with the instruction of the President,  the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN, Kairat Omarov, signed the Second Optional Protocol on 23 September 2020. 

By joining the agreement, Kazakhstan pledges not to apply the death penalty, and to take all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty within its territorial jurisdiction.

The only exception is the death penalty is allowed in case of wartime. Such a sentence is applicable only after he has been found guilty of committing especially grave crimes of a military nature, which he committed in wartime.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted in 1966, entered into force in 1976, and currently 173 states have acceded to it.

The Second Optional Protocol to it, aimed at the abolition of the death penalty, was adopted on December 15, 1989. In 1991, the document came into force, 88 states are members of the agreement.

For further information 

Presidency of Kazakhstan: http://www.akorda.kz/en

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