A different type of embassy

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A different type of embassy

By H.E. Mr. Dirk Lodewijk M. Achten, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Kingdom of The Netherlands.   

Being a bilateral ambassador in a neighbouring country with which one shares so much history and culture, is a very peculiar mission. Since the cooperation has reached an unprecedented level of intensity in many areas, it is more than a full time job. Belgium and The Netherlands cooperate in all fields of governance, too much to cover in any comprehensive article. Therefore today we will share some insights on two priorities in our bilateral security cooperation. Namely the defence cooperation and cross-border cooperation against drug related crime.

The past year was an historic testimony of our long standing security cooperation, as The Netherlands celebrated its 75 years of liberation. Belgian soldiers from the Piron Brigade and the Special Air Service liberated several areas, and my presence was required in many places (more places than there were days available).

Defence

One of the areas with very intense Dutch-Belgian cooperation is defence. This cooperation, especially in the naval domain, already dates back to 1948 just after the end of the Second World War. The cooperation intensified over the years and lead to the current situation where we have an integrated naval command structure operating from Den Helder.

Today Belgium and the Netherlands are developing and procuring important weapon systems together such as the new generation mine counter measure vessels and the new frigates. Each country has the lead in the procurement of one weapon system and all decisions are made in consensus and full transparency.

As ambassador, I try to facilitate these projects where I can. Last year the theme of the annual King’s Day reception in my residence was precisely this naval cooperation symbolised by the presence of both naval commanders, an exhibition and the musical tunes of an ensemble of the Belgian Navy band.

Of course there are other opportunities to intensify the cooperation as Belgium and the Netherlands have both procured the same airplane (F-35) to replace their current F-16 fleet. Although Belgium opted in the land domain for a strategic partnership with France and the Netherlands intensified its cooperation with Germany, there still are lots of opportunities available such as the cooperation of our special forces. All this was recognized by the decision of our Minister of Defence to open a resident Defence Attaché post in The Hague last summer.

Cross-border cooperation against drug related crime

The Belgian-Dutch cooperation in the field of drugs and crime is long standing, in-depth and exhaustive. A plethora of cooperation initiatives exist, ranging from cross border local police contacts, to structured strategic consultations by the top of both police forces.

The philosophy behind the cooperation is that national borders no longer exist when it comes to security issues. Hence, cooperation agreements were concluded for a more synchronized judicial approach to organized and subversive crimes related to drugs. This synchronisation is essential in countering the so called waterbed effect: to avoid stricter laws and regulations in one country, criminals hop the border and operate from the other side. 

Illustrative examples of our cooperation are the international cocaine traffic network, which brings together public and private partners of the port communities of Antwerp and Rotterdam, including the sharing and exchanges of personnel. Police and customs services work together to better identify illegal flows of drugs. A multidisciplinary team composed of representatives of various public and private partners from both countries cooperate on the fight against illegal financial flows, money laundering and more practical issues with a big safety impact, such as the dumping of chemical waste from drug labs. 

In 2018 a new Benelux treaty on police cooperation was signed, which offers far-reaching possibilities for cross-border action, including consulting each other’s police databases and setting up joint police patrols and controls. The new treaty even allows to deploy special police intervention units on each other’s territory, and it is a big step forward in the bilateral police cooperation.

As ambassador, I continue to build on this good cooperation through regular contacts with the Minister of Justice and Security and his ministry, and with the Dutch Embassy in Belgium. Simultaneously I maintain relations and facilitate meetings between crime experts from the academic, bilateral and multilateral institutions as well as the public and the private sector.

Ultimately, it is my goal that our continuous diplomatic efforts from both sides can contribute to the flourishing and dynamic security cooperation between Belgium and The Netherlands.

Azerbaijan is a model of multiculturalism and tolerance

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Azerbaijan is a model of multiculturalism and tolerance

By H.E. Mr. Fikrat Akhundov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In the world where ethnic and religious discrimination has become a regular phenomenon, Azerbaijan has remained as a model of intercultural and religious tolerance. In fact, multiculturalism and tolerance is a lifestyle of multinational and multiconfessional Azerbaijani people, as well as an integral part of the state policy, preserved throughout the centuries.

A clear example is the first Parliament of Azerbaijan in 1918, which united members of different ethnicities: Azerbaijanis, Russians, Armenians, Jews and even one German. Today, Baku International Center for Multiculturalism operates in Azerbaijan to research and promotes multiculturalism. In addition, there is a special counsellor to the government on multiculturalism, inter-ethnic and religious issues.

Furthermore, the Azerbaijani government, together with international organizations regularly hosts Intercultural Dialogue Forum and Baku International Humanitarian Forum in Azerbaijan. 

Religious freedom is present throughout the country. Islam, Christianity, Jewism, as well as other religions are freely exercised in the country. There are practically all currents of Christianity present in Azerbaijan, such as Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant, Armenian-Gregorian, as well as historical Albanian church. More than 2 thousand mosques, 13 churches and 7 synagogues operate in Azerbaijan and this number is increasing on a yearly basis.

Azerbaijan is also a home for many ethnicities, such as Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Kurds, Jews, Armenians, Greeks, Germans and Tatars. There are many settlements of ethnic minorities in Azerbaijan, like the village of a Jewish community in Azerbaijan – Red Town, a village of Molokans – Ivanovka, a village of Udins – Nij, and the Khinalig village of Guba. Ethnic minorities in the country have their own schools, cultural centers, mass media and internet resources. The government takes necessary measures to ensure that the children of ethnic minorities learn their native languages. 

Among these ethnic minorities, the population of Khinalig village is unique in the world for its language. This ethnic minority has descended from the inhabitants of historical Caucasian Albania – a state that covered the lands that now form the Republic of Azerbaijan. Today, the government ensures preservation of the language of this unique population.

Another example of religious and cultural diversity in Azerbaijan is Red Town in Guba. This is one of the largest compact settlements of Jews in the world, outside of Israel. This settlement is also referred as “The Jerusalem of the Caucasus”. Red Town is a model for tolerance and respect for diversity. 

It is worth mentioning that there are also German settlements in Azerbaijan, dating back to the beginning of the 19th century. The historical and cultural monument of these settlements – German Lutheran Church from 1854 is still preserved in Goygol, Azerbaijan. Another German Lutheran Church was built in Baku in 1899. This church currently operates as the Chamber and Organ Music Hall of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic. Various events and concerts are regularly held here. In 2017, 200th anniversary of the resettlement of the Schwab Germans was celebrated in Azerbaijan, with the decision of UNESCO. 

Last, but not least, Azerbaijan is also home to approximately 30 thousand ethnic Armenians,  despite the fact that more than 20% of territory of Azerbaijan has been occupied by Armenia. This clearly demonstrates the tolerance of Azerbaijani people for ethnic and religious minorities and diverse cultures. It also disproves the false Armenian propaganda that Azerbaijanis and Armenians are incapable of peaceful co-existence. 

Greece shares with The Netherlands very old and close friendly ties

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Greece shares with The Netherlands very old and close friendly ties

By H.E. Mr. Nicolas Plexidas, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

Since the Greek government has entrusted me, almost 5 months ago, to represent the Hellenic Republic to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and to the important international organizations based in the country, I feel twice as happy. 

Firstly, because the Netherlands belong to a group of countries, with which Greece shares very old and close friendly ties, dating back to the proclamation of independence of our modern state. The two countries also share the same values and principles and enjoy long-lasting privileged relations, as partners in the EU family and allies in NATO. And secondly, for a rather more personal reason, as I do admire this country and its people and I try to savour it, as much as the busy everyday life of a diplomat allows for it. 

The assumption of my duties as Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands coincides with a positive momentum in my country. Greece is finally leaving behind her a dramatic decade of a merciless economic crisis and enters the new decade with optimism and self-confidence. The tough times my people went through serve now as a guide to better times ahead and the mistakes of the past as a tangible, realistic plan for a better present and future. A new Greece is on the rise.

It also coincides with the timing of formation of a new Greek government, with a strong mandate, able to safeguard political stability for the next four years and promote an ambitious, innovative reform agenda; a government particularly friendly to investments, that has already began restoring creditors and investors’ trust, as new opportunities appear for the Greek economy. This is the most important challenge for my mission as Ambassador of Greece here: to contribute to strengthening of our bilateral economic relations with the Netherlands, so as to match the current level of our excellent political relations. 

It is a fact that the new decade brings us face to face with unprecedented challenges, be it the global geopolitical instability, the climate crisis or the consequences of technology booming. Amidst this context, Greece will rise to its height. Not only as depositary of the eternal values our ancestors have bequeathed to humanity, but also as a modern democracy, sensitive to the calls of a dramatically ever changing modern world. Greece will continue to constitute an island of stability in a volatile security environment surrounding her, a bastion of peace in the region and a bridge of friendship between the East and the West, the North and the South. 

Against all these challenges ahead of us, Greece will walk hand in hand with her partner and ally the Netherlands, in the name of the long-lasting friendship of our two peoples, which is further invigorated lately by the presence of more than 35.000 Greeks, residing and offering their services in the country. This all but inconsiderable number certainly guarantees the sustainability and deeper forging of this close friendship. 

Dear friends,

It is truly an honour to serve my country in the world capital of international peace and justice. I am inspired by this and this inspiration will steer the performance of my duties as Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Indonesia – Great for holidays, great for business

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Indonesia – Great for holidays, great for business

By H.E. Arif Havas Oegroseno, Indonesian Ambassador to Germany.

In December 1994, the then Indonesian Minister for Research and Technology, Bacharuddin. J. Habibie, met with Gerhard Schröder who was the Minister President of Lower Saxony to talk about the preparation for Indonesia’s participation in the Hannover Messe 1995 with a special status as a partner country.

In April 1995, President Soeharto had the honor of giving a speech at the Hannover Messe opening ceremony next to Chancellor Helmut Kohl who praised Indonesia’s involvement as the first Asian partner for this leading industrial trade fair. 

Habibie and Schröder also spoke about improving economic cooperation and talked about the mutual exchange of scientists between Indonesia and Germany. “The two partners are trying to develop ways of working together. We are talking about a joint venture between private shipbuilding companies to build passenger and cargo ships,” said Habibie. At that time, more than a dozen passenger ships have already been built by the Meyer shipyard in Lower Saxony for the Indonesian state-owned shipping company PELNI. 

Industrial knowledge and skills were acquired after decades-long investment on human resources. Since late 1950s, hundreds of thousands Indonesian students were sent to Germany to study engineering, aeronautics, shipping, railways, and other technology. Indonesia now has all what it takes to not only build its own passenger and cargo ships as Habibie and Schröder had envisioned in 1994, but it is now also capable of manufacturing and engineering frigates, locomotives, battle tanks, and various types of sea vessels and aircrafts. 

Shooting forward 25 years later, I followed Habibie’s trail. I met with the Minister President of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil, in December 2019 to talk about the preparation of Hannover Messe in April 2020 of which Indonesia will, again, be the partner country. We also discussed the upcoming visit of President Joko Widodo to Hannover and spoke about Volkswagen’s investment in Indonesia. But one may ask what is so different between 1995 and 2020 that Indonesia is keen to be the partner country of Hannover Messe for the second time?   

To begin with, Indonesian GDP in 1995 was USD 200 billion and the country was on the brink of recession heading to the 1998 financial crisis when the GDP plummeted to only USD 100 billion. But since the crisis hit, the nation was able to push through adversity and managed to make a continuous average 5% annual growth, keeping the inflation below 3% and unemployment checked under 5%. The GDP grew exponentially to over USD 1 trillion and making it the highest GDP in ASEAN. 

In 1995 Indonesia was proud to be an agricultural country with just a small number of industrial sectors contributing to the total economic output. But now, among Indonesia’s economic sectors, agriculture contributes only about 14% to GDP while industry and services add approximately 43% each to its output. Foreign investment also keeps on pouring in and Moody’s gave Indonesia a Baa2 rating in 2020 for its stable economic growth, low government debt, consistent fiscal discipline and macroeconomic stability. 

Indonesia’s greatest strength lies in its young and productive people. It is the fourth most populous country and 70% of the population belongs to the working age of 18 – 60, thus benefitting in terms of labour market as well as consumer market. This young population embraces the internet like none other, and this became a stimulus to Indonesia’s rapid transformation towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The internet of things now manifested in Indonesian industries, for example we no longer make clothing and other apparels manually, we let computer and robots do that for us. 

Digital economy is growing rapidly towards a solid digital community. Digital services such as e-commerce, FinTech and the increasingly growing e-sports also helps in paving the way to the country’s industrial transformation. Estimated at USD 40 billion in 2019, Indonesia’s internet economy is well on track to cross the USD 130 billion mark by 2025 according to a report prepared by Google and Temasek.

Also, figures published by the World Bank in 2017 shows that Indonesia’s manufacturing industry accounts for 20,5% of the total economy. In comparison, manufacturing industry in China accounts for 28%, 27% in South Korea, 21% in Japan, and 20.6 % in Germany. These figures show that Indonesia is only a few steps away to become in the same league with those industrial countries. 

However, this is a less-known fact. Indonesia has long been known as a perfect paradise for tourism. Most people see it as a country with a string of more than 17.000 islands that is renowned for its natural beauty. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches and the range of majestic mountains is a home for diverse flora and fauna and people of different ethnicities and rich cultures. Indonesia is indeed a magnet for holiday-goers. But less realizes the fact that it is also a thriving economy and is in the list of 20 largest economies in the world that enables it to be admitted into the exclusive grouping of G-20 countries. 

The appointment of Indonesia as the partner country of Hannover Messe for the second time serves as an attestation to Indonesia’s economic and industrial achievement. The partner country status enables Indonesian industries to showcase to the world their rapid transformation and big leap towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0. Policy wise, making Indonesian industries to transform to 4.0 has been a national strategy for the last 5 years for the purpose of accelerating the Government’s ambitious target to put Indonesia in the list of 10 biggest economy by 2030.

H.E. Arif Havas Oegroseno Indonesian Ambassador to Germany.

“Making Indonesia 4.0” thus becomes the theme of Indonesia’s partnership with Hannover Messe in 2020 that acclaims huge opportunities for business and investment in industrial sectors, supported by Indonesia’s huge market, productive and talented population, plentiful natural resources and space, and political stability.

Indonesia’s main industrial sectors are apparel, food and beverage, automotive -motorcycles to a large extent-, as well as electronics and chemical industries. Some industries are already implementing 4.0 technology. Textile production is an example. Indonesia has 4.0 factories that produce uniforms from high-tech materials for the use of military personnel and fire brigades across the world, including in Europe. The national industrial transformation is underway and spreading to various sectors supported by a strong digital economy with its many start-ups companies, programmers, software developers, etc.

At Hannover Messe in April 2020, Indonesia will showcase its industrial accomplishments and its Industry 4.0 champions to attract partnerships across three dimensions: Investments, Technology, and Capacity Building. Indonesia also cares about its emerging start-up ecosystem and will bring a number of start-up companies along to Hannover for the much-needed international exposures. So far, Indonesia has 4 unicorns and 1 decacorn that is valued above USD 10 billion. Their presence at Hannover Messe will hopefully be a gateway for them to penetrate German and EU market. 

More than 170 Indonesian exhibitors will occupy an exhibition area of more than 4.000 m². They will not only show what they have achieved with 4.0 technology, but also offering worth-grabbing business opportunities. I believe that strong cooperation and connections between supply and value chain providers will further accelerate the world’s economic growth. This is exactly the viewpoint that Indonesia brings to Hannover Messe 2020 under the tagline “Connect to Accelerate”. Indonesia will present itself as a country that is ready to take an important part in the global supply and value chains. Indonesia stands ready to cooperate with global industries in the form of investment, transfer of technology as well as human resource development. 

In short, the message that we have for the world in Hannover Messe is that Indonesia is not only great for holidays, it is also great for business!    

Uzbekistan is Reporting a Foreign Direct Investments 4.3 Growth in the First Semester of 2019[1]

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Uzbekistan is Reporting a Foreign Direct Investments 4.3 Growth in the First Semester of 2019[1]

In the first half of 2019, the volume of foreign direct investments (FDIs) grew 4.3 times compared to the same period in 2018 and amounted to 5.6 billion $.

By the end of 2019, the development of FDIs should reach at least 7 billion $, as compared with 2.8 billion $ in 2018.

FDI enterprises are now 10,000. The share of investments in the GDP of Uzbekistan for the first time amounted to 38%.

According to the results of January-March 2019, Uzbekistan conducted trade relations with more than 150 countries of the world. Over the past year, total turnover increased by 37%. The main trading partners are China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Korea and Turkey.

All this was achieved by the implementation of structural reforms aimed at improving the business environment, including:

– reducing the time, number of documents and costs associated with registering a business (registration takes 30 minutes);

– liberalization of the foreign exchange market, which allowed to remove restrictions on the repatriation of profits;

– simplification of tax and customs administration, introduction of a risk analysis system, reduction of documents and time required for customs clearance;

– strengthening measures for the execution of contracts (introduction of the institution of mediation), protection of minority shareholders, etc.

As a result, Uzbekistan was ranked 69th (as compared with 166th in 2012) among 190 countries in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2020 ranking and entered the top 20 reformer countries in terms of creating the most favorable conditions for doing business. Also, during the second half of 2018 and the past period of 2019, Uzbekistan got its first credit ratings from Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, amongst favorable economic factors such as the low level of state debt and the decrease in state participation in the country’s economy. Uzbekistan has also resumed active negotiations on accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Upon entry into the WTO, domestic exporters will gain easier access to foreign markets.

Uzbekistan’s potential is based on solid macroeconomic fundamentals: it is a country with a strong domestic market, relatively young and cheap labor, rich natural resources, a diversified economy and a rapidly developing infrastructure.

Khudayar Khan Palace, Kokand, Uzbekistan.

In general, Uzbekistan has the advantage of macroeconomic stability, which, combined with ongoing reforms, opens up opportunities in various sectors of the economy, be it financial services, construction or tourism[2].

The work on further integration into the international financial markets was intensified. In February 2019, Uzbekistan placed the first 5-year and 10-year eurobonds totaling 1 billion $ with a four-fold oversubscription distributed among more than 150 investors from the UK, Europe, America and Asia.

In November 2019, for the first time in the history of Uzbekistan, corporate eurobonds were issued. In particular, Uzpromstroybank[3] issued 5-year international bonds worth 300 million $ on the London Stock Exchange with a four-fold oversubscription.

Further Challenges

In Uzbekistan, banking sector assets are 130 times higher than the shares of free float.

In particular, today the volume of securities in free circulation is only 0.5% of the country’s GDP, the market capitalization of securities at the end of 2017 amounted to 5.9% of GDP.

These are very modest figures, which, on the other hand, show huge potential for growth.

Based on this, in order to develop this direction, in early 2019, the Agency for the Development of the Capital Market was created.

No less important is the course taken to reduce state participation in the economy and the privatization of state assets. In 2020, the Management and Privatization Strategy of state-owned enterprises will be adopted, which provides for the criteria for maintaining state ownership of enterprises and their transformation into efficient enterprises that can compete in the domestic and foreign markets. By 2023, Uzbekistan plans to privatize at least 20 large state-owned companies.

This article was published in Agefi Luxembourg, January 2020.

1By Mr. Kh. Meliev, Executive Officer, Ministry of Justice of the Republiuc of Uzbekistan 

[2]Boston Consulting Group, “Uzbekistan Window od Opportunity”, June 6, 2019  https://www.bcg.com/en-ru/perspectives/221730

[3]Uzpromstroybank: Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank

Bolder Presence of OIC in the international Arena

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Bolder Presence of OIC in the international Arena

By prof. Emmy Latifah and Sara Al-Dhahri.

For over half a century, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) serves as a focal point for its member states (MS) and as a clearing house between its members and the rest of the world. The OIC does that by providing a standing forum and diplomatic tools to solve disputes, and to address challenges in accordance with its charter.

Being the second-largest intergovernmental multilateral system after the United Nations (UN), whose members largely occupy the most fascinating part of the globe (that of its geographic and spiritual centre, as well as the sways of rich energy deposits), gives to the Organisation a special exposure and hence a distinctive role.

The OIC Charter clearly states that it is important to safeguard and protect the common interests and support the legitimate causes of its MS, to coordinate and unify the efforts of its members in view of the challenges faced by the Muslim world in particular and the international community in general. For that matter, the Organisation should consider expanding its activities further. One of the most effective way to do so, is by setting yet another permanent presence in Europe. This time it would be by opening its office in Vienna Austria, which should be coupled with a request for an observer status with a Vienna-based Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) – as prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic tirelessly advocates in his statements.

The OSCE itself is an indispensably unique security mechanism (globally the second largest after the UN), whose instruments and methodology could be twinned or copied for the OIC. Besides, numerous MS of the OSCE are members of the OIC at the same time. Finally, through its Mediterranean partnership dimension, this is a rare international body that has (some) Arab states and Israel around the same table. 

Presence means influence

Why does the OIC need permanent presence in Vienna? The answer is within its charter: To ensure active participation of the Organization’s MS in the global political, and socio-economic decision-making processes, all to secure their common interests.

Why Vienna in particular, when the OIC has its office in Brussels (Belgium) and Geneva (Switzerland)?

When it comes to this city, we can list the fundamental importance of Vienna in Europe and the EU, and globally since it homes one of the three principal seats of the OUN (besides Geneva and New York).

Moreover, numerous significant Agencies are headquartered in Vienna (such as the Atomic Energy Agency, UN Industrial Development Organisation, Nuclear Test Ban Treaty organisation, etc.), next to the segments of the UN Secretariat (such as Outer Space, Trade Law, the ODC office related to the issues of Drugs-Crimes-Terrorism, etc.).

Surely, there are many important capitals around our global village, but after New York, Geneva and Brussels, Vienna has probably the highest representation of foreign diplomats on earth. Many states have even three ambassadors accredited in Vienna (bilateral, for the UN and for the OSCE.)

The OIC has nine of its MS who are the OPEC members as well. Four of those are the OPEC’s founding members. Vienna hosts OPEC as well as its developmental branch, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).

Some of the OIC MS have lasting security vulnerabilities, a fact that hampers their development and prosperity. The OIC places these considerations into its core activities through co-operation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, organised crime, illicit drugs trafficking, corruption, money laundering and human trafficking. Both the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UN ODC) and the OSCE have many complementarities in their mandates and instruments in this respect. 

As an Islamic organization that works to protect and defend the true image of Islam, to combat defamation of Islam and encourage dialogue among civilisations and religions, the effective tool for that is again Austria. It is the very first European Christian country to recognise Islam as one of its state religions – due to its mandate over (predominately Muslim) Bosnia, 100 years ago.

Back to its roots

The Organization was formed by a decision of the Historical Summit in Rabat, the Kingdom of Morocco on 25 September 1969, after the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

Today, after fifty years of this ferocious incident, the OIC still firmly holds as one of the core issues its resolute support to the struggle of Palestinians, yet under foreign occupation. It empowers them to attain their inalienable rights, including that of self-determination, to establish their sovereign state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital while safeguarding its historic and Islamic character, and the holy places therein. 

When we look back to Austria, it was Chancellor Bruno Kreisky (himself Jewish) who was the very first western leader to receive that-time contemporary Yasser Arafat, as a Head of State, and to repeatedly condemn many of the Israeli methods and behaviours. As prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic wonderfully reminded us during his recent lecture with Amb. Goutali of the OIC and Excellency Elwaer of the IsDB President’s Office; ‘Past the Oil embargo, when the OPEC – in an unprecedented diplomatic move – was suspended of its host agreement in Switzerland and requested to leave, it was none but that same Chancellor, Kreisky who generously invited the OPEC to find Austria as its new home.’  

The OIC is also heavily involved in environmental issues, such as water implementation. According to the Stockholm International Water Institute, around two-thirds of the world’s transboundary rivers do not have a cooperative management framework. The OIC Science-Technology-Innovation (STI) Agenda 2026 has also called on the MS to first define water resource quality and demand by planning national water budgets at the ‘ local ‘ level where appropriate.  In this regard, certain MS lack the ability to conduct a thorough exercise. An organized and focused action plan to adopt the OIC Water Vision is introduced to help Member States address water-related issues. 

As for the implementation plan for OIC Water Vision, Vienna is focal again. This city is a principal seat of the Danube river organisation – an international entity with the most elaborated riverine regime on planet. This fact is detrimental for the Muslim world as an effectively water-managing mechanism and instrumentation to learn from and to do twinning with.

So far, the OIC covers Vienna (but only its UN segment) non-residentially, from Geneva – respective officers are residentially accredited only to the UNoG. Permanent presence, even a small one – eventually co-shared with the developmental arm of the OIC – that of the IsDB, would be a huge asset for the Organization. That would enable both the OIC and the Bank to regularly participate in the various formal and informal multilateral formats, happening daily in Vienna.

Absence is the most expensive

International security is a constant global challenge that is addressed the best way through the collective participation in multilateral settings. It is simply the most effective, cheapest, fastest – therefore, the most promising strategy to sustainability and stability of humankind.

According to the Global Peace Index (2019 figures), the economic impact of violence on the global economy in 2018 was $14.1 trillion. This figure is equivalent to 11.2% of the world’s GDP, or $1,853 per capita. The economic impact of violence progressed for 3.3% only during 2018-19. Large sways of it were attributed to the Muslim Middle East. 

The OIC fundamental purpose is to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, as embedded in its and the UN Charter and other acts of the international (human rights and humanitarian) law.

In this light, requesting the Observer status with the largest Security mechanism on the planet (outside the OUN system), that of the OSCE, which has rather specific mandates; well-elaborated politico-military, early prevention and confidence building mechanisms; net of legally binding instruments; extensive field presence (incl. several OIC members), and a from- Vancouver-to-Vladivostok outreach is simply the most natural thing to do.  This would be very beneficial to the OIC MS, as well as one of the possible ways to improve its own instruments and their monitoring of compliance and resolution machinery. 

That move can be easily combined with the bolder presence before the Vienna-based Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in advocating a just and sustained settlement for the Middle East – which is a nuclear free MENA.

Among the 57 OIC MS, 21 of them are listed within a top 50 countries in the Global Terrorism Index for 2019. (With a ranking of 9.6 points, Afghanistan is infamously nr. 1 on the global terror index, making it the nation most affected by terrorism on Earth. The OIC member – Afghanistan, scored the most terror attacks in 2018 – 1,294; and the most terror-related deaths in 2018, with 9,961 casualties. Several other MS follow the same pattern.)

The OIC Charter (article 28, Chapter XV) clearly states that the Organisation may cooperate with other international and regional FORAs with the objective of preserving international peace and security and settling disputes through pacific means.

As said, Vienna is a principal seat of the second largest security multilateral mechanism on earth, OSCE. This is a unique three-dimensional organisation with its well elaborated and functioning: politico-military, economy-environment; and the human dimension – all extensively developed both institutionally and by its instruments.

No doubt, the OIC so far successfully contributes to international peace and security, by boosting understanding and dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions, and by promoting and encouraging friendly relations and good neighbourliness, mutual respect and cooperation. But to remain to the contemporary challenges, it necessities more forums to voice its positions and interests. Many of the OSCE Member states have even three different ambassadors and three separate missions in Vienna. Presence of other relevant international organisations follows about the same pattern. 

The strategic importance of the MENA (Middle East- North Africa) lies on its diverse resources, such as energy, trade routes, demography, geography, faith and culture. The OSCE has a Mediterranean partnership outreach, meaning some of the LAS and OIC members states are already participants, whereas the Central Asian states, Caucasus as well as Turkey, Albania and Bosnia are fully-fledged member states of the OSCE.

Taking all above into account, the OIC should not miss an opportunity to open another powerful channel of its presence and influence on the challenging and brewing international scene. It would be a permanent office to cover all diplomatic activities and within it –the observer status before the OSCE (perhaps the IAEA, too). This would be to the mutual benefit of all; Europe and the Muslim world, intl peace and prosperity, rapprochement and understanding, present generations and our common futures.

Jakarta/Jeddah, 22 JAN 2020

About the authors:

Emmy Latifah is a professor of international law, arbitration specialist, and is an international relations coordinator of the UNS University of Indonesia.

Sara Al-Dhahri is an Intl Relations scholar of the Jeddah-based Dar Al-Hekma University and the Project Coordinator for the Sawt Al-Hikma (Voice of Wisdom) Centre to the OIC. 

Children from 41 countries send their united voice for peace

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Children from 41 countries send their united voice for peace

By Jerry Giovanardi.

Child marriage is a truly global problem that cuts across countries, cultures, religions and ethnicities. Each year, 12 million girls are married before the age of 18. That is 23 girls every minute. Nearly 1 every 3 seconds. The U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF, estimates more than 650 million women alive today had been married off when they were before the age of 18.

The statistical analysis show that if child marriage had continued, more than 150 million girls will marry by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have set a target “To eliminate child, early or forced marriage by 2030”.

According to SDG 5.3 which has targeted the end child of marriage by 2030, Shahin Gavanji and Jahangir Gavanji, two world peace ambassadors, launched a new international program in 2019 which is called “Painting your dreams for your future”, and invite all children in world to stand against child marriage.

In this program they asked all children in the world to paint their dreams for their future. All children in the world were invited to Join the program in taking action to advance gender equality and end child marriage, and announced to children that they are artists of their life, letting them to paint their dreams for their own future. 

No to child marriage.

The campaign received 1869 painting from 41 countries (Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Mauritius, Azerbaijan, Portugal, Turkey, Thailand, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Egypt, Lebanon, Canada, Romania, Sri Lanka, Somalia, The United States, Iraq, Philippines, The United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Malaysia, Italy, Zimbabwe, Croatia, Finland, India, Indonesia, Bahrain, Uganda, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kenya), and children send a united message that “Child marriages should be banned and together we can make world free of child marriage.”

World peace ambassadors Shahin Gavanji and Jahangir Gavanji.

The goals of this campaign:

  • Raising awareness on child marriage and declares the negative impacts on overall development, prosperity, and stability.
  • Send a message that education is a powerful strategy in keeping girls from child marriage, since educated youth paves the way for a better future for the country and every child has the right to dream for his or hers future and it’s a duty of parents to help and encourage them.
  • Calling the attention of governments to reinforce their commitment to end child marriage by 2030. 

70 years of friendship – Russia-Indonesia

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70 years of friendship – Russia-Indonesia

By Julia Suryakusuma.

“Jauh di mata, dekat di hati [Out of sight, close to the heart].” This is how Lyudmila Georgievna Vorobieva, Russian ambassador to Indonesia, characterized the relationship between the two countries.

In fact, in the 70 years of the relationship, it has gone through different states of proximity. It was pretty “hot” even before and around independence in 1945 when being leftist was identical with an anti-imperialist stance — and certainly during Sukarno’s presidency (1945 to 1967).

Then, abruptly, with the annihilation of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in 1965 after a now-largely discounted “coup” by the PKI, the relationship suffered a long cold period of over 30 years during Soeharto’s New Order (1967 to 1998). Keeping the communist scare alive was, after all, one of the ways the regime maintained its grip on society.

Then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness) in the 1980s, the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991 and Indonesia’s Reformasi in 1998 paved the way for the restoration of warm, harmonious relations.

Mohammad Wahid Supriyadi, Indonesian ambassador to Russia since 2016, said we are now in the second golden age of Russia-Indonesia relations (the first being during Sukarno’s presidency). Wow! Who would have guessed?

For the lay person, these days Russia invariably draws our attention indirectly, e.g. for its alleged interference in presidential elections in the United States or for being the country where Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency whistleblower, has been living in exile for over six years.

I confess Russia hasn’t been that prominent on my screen lately either, until I heard about the Russia-Indonesia 70-year friendship exhibition at the National Gallery from Feb. 3 to 17 (see: “Snapshots: Indonesia, Russia exhibit 70 years of friendship”, The Jakarta Post, Feb. 5). I was keen to go because of my own “Russian connections”.

Yup! I was a sociology student in London (1976 to 1979), and took a course on Russia and China. The focus of my studies was Western industrial societies, so I wanted to know the other side of the Cold War (circa 1947 to 1991). It was also essential for writing my thesis on the People’s Cultural Institute (Lekra), the PKI’s cultural wing. Both Lekra and the PKI looked to these communist countries for guidance, especially the Soviet Union, to emulate their concept of “socialist realism” — art and literature that glorified communist values and supported the party line.

I was also connected to Russia by marriage. My late husband, Ami Priyono, was among the first seven Indonesian students sent to Moscow in 1956. Together with Sjumanjaya, they studied film at Lomonosov Moscow State University. Both eventually became prominent film directors in the 1970s and 1980s.

Ami’s father, Prijono, was culture minister in Sukarno’s first cabinet, serving for nine years (1957 to 1966). Prijono was a leading figure in the Murba Party (sometimes referred to as the second Indonesian communist party) and, like Sukarno, was pro-Soviet. In 1954, Prijono was awarded the Stalin Peace Prize.

So, the reason for my interest was partly a nostalgia trip and partly a desire to know more about our current relationship with the “Land of the Red Bear”, as Indonesians sometimes refer to Russia.

I was accompanied by Vladimir Anisimov, head of the artist collective Bureau of Creative Expeditions and curator of the Necklace of the Equator exhibition. A distinguished gentleman in his 70s, sporting a bushy silver-gray beard, a moustache and an artist’s ponytail, he was like a relic of the past, adding to the nostalgic atmosphere.

Vladimir explained in detail some of the 85 paintings on display. They were done by 10 Russian painters who over 20 years had travelled to Indonesia on various occasions, capturing scenes from Java, Sumatra, Madura, Bali, Lombok, Kalimantan and Sulawesi: landscapes, houses, ceremonies, local traditions — mainly focusing on the people. Mostly impressionistic, lots of bright colors and a touch of romanticism here and there, like the Madonna painting of a woman carrying a baby surrounded by flowers and a rainbow. No socialist realism here!

Exhibitions by Russian artists have been held before in Indonesia, in 2000, 2003 and 2005. Vladimir recalled that the opening day was usually full but after that, empty. The situation is completely different now, he said, with 200 to 300 people attending during work days and double that on the weekend.

Vladimir said they received only positive feedback. “People were impressed and spent a lot of time taking selfies with the paintings as backdrops. Maybe more time than just looking at them,” Vladimir smiled wryly.

Among the crowd were a young man and woman intently discussing something related to the exhibition. They were Indonesians but spoke in very fluent English. I approached them and asked them why they had come to the exhibition. “Oh, we are Marxists. We came because we wanted to know more.” 

Wow, Marxists in our midst? So young and so brazenly declaring their ideological beliefs at a time when Indonesia’s communist phobia is still alive and well? They really piqued my curiosity, so I took their phone numbers and chatted with them by WhatsApp the following day.

Both were 25 and were members of a group of young Marxist-Leninists who, like them, were disillusioned with the state of the world. “In 2016, when Donald Trump was elected president, it was the moment where we started really realizing the evil of the US empire and imperialism,” they said.

“One of the things that really moved me,” the young woman said, “was reading DN Aidit’s [PKI chairman] speech for the [party’s] 44th anniversary, when he said that one of the conditions of being a PKI member is ‘unmeasurable love for the people’.” For her, that’s what communism is: loving each other so fiercely that we fight for a world where no one has to suffer, a world free from exploitation.

Wow, talk about youthful idealism! Truth be told, any ideology, any political or economic system, as well as any religion, can be twisted to harm and oppress the people, however much our leaders wax lyrical about them, or about bilateral and international relations.

Maybe this is a time when our leaders should start listening to the younger generation to save the world. Greta Thunberg is trying hard to do that. Many more are joining her ranks, so all you politicians, bureaucrats and leaders out there, start listening!

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Early version of the text published under: “Russia – Indonesia 70 years on: Some like it hot, cold or warm” in Jakarta Post

About Author:

Jakarta-born Julia Suryakusuma is an author of the cult edition ‘Julia’s Jihad’. Tireless fighter for social cause, she is one of the most influential opinion-makers, thinkers and columnists in southeast Asia. 

Dominican diplomat-guest speaker on Public Diplomacy

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Dominican diplomat-guest speaker on Public Diplomacy

His Excellency Enrique Ruiz Molero, Ambassador of Spain in Canada and Dr. Eugenio Matos, G. Guest speaker on Public Diplomacy 

His Excellency Enrique Ruiz Molero, Ambassador of Spain in Canada organized the first conference on Public Diplomacy in Ottawa. The activity took place in the Spanish diplomatic mission on March 4, in cooperation with the International Public Diplomacy Council.

For the occasion, the guest speaker was the public diplomacy expert Dr. Eugenio Matos G, having as central theme “Public Diplomacy in the XXI Century”. The introductory words presenting Dr. Matos and the conclusion were given by Ambassador Ruiz Molero, who considered public diplomacy as a contemporary tool of the highest interest for Spain foreign policy. He also congratulated the speaker for his timely speech. The activity was directed to the diplomatic corps accredited to Canada, to the media and special guests.

The keynote lecture was very well analyzed by Dr. Matos, which included a synopsis that corresponds to the first semester of the master’s degree in public diplomacy in North America and Europe. Matos provided references from international authors and Spanish researchers from the Royal Institute Elcano, from the Complutense University, from Valencia, Salamanca, Malta, among others. It was explicit in historical evolution, information and communication techniques, soft and hard power, contemporary cultural diplomacy, new actors in this new science, about the cutting-edge techniques for the organization of diplomatic events, the impact and exploitation of the media, on the most effective methods for the selection and evaluation of diplomatic agents, social networks and their recommendations for optimal performance.

Dr. Matos concludes his brilliant academic presentation based on more than thirty years of uninterrupted exercise in public diplomacy. He makes his reflections from the perspective of an applied philosophy of cost-effectiveness, taking as an example the very efficient projects of the South African Embassy in Ottawa, of the brilliant diplomatic career of S.E. Sofía Cerrato, Honduran ambassador to Canada, Dean of GRULAC, former president and current vice president of ODA, among other models.

Dr. Eugenio Matos G. is a lawyer, an alumnus from the Faculty of Law School of the University of Ottawa with masters in Europe and China. He was a violinist for the National Symphony Orchestra of Santo Domingo and the Chamber Orchestra in Den Haag, the Netherlands. He is the first internationally recognized Dominican expert in public diplomacy with important awards, such as the Merit Prize in Public Diplomacy awarded by the University of Ottawa Law School, on the occasion of the ¨Canadas´s Ambassadors of the Year Awards Ceremony 2018¨.

Novel Plenipotentiary of Schleswig-Holstein

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Novel Plenipotentiary of Schleswig-Holstein

Wednesday, 1 April 2020, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany: Sandra Gerken was sworn in by Premier of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther, as the Bundesland’s ‘Plenipotentiary to the Federal Government’. The latter entails that she leads Schleswig-Holstein’s state representation based in Berlin, and coordinate its activities in the Bundesrat (Assembly of Länder). 

Gerken succeeds Ingbert Liebing, who changes to the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) as Managing Director. Sandra Gerken was most recently head of staff, Unit for liaison and political coordination matters in the State Chancellery in Kiel.  

For further information: 
Representation of Schleswig-Holstein to the German Federation: https://www.schleswig-holstein.de/DE/Landesregierung/LVB/lvb_node.html

Picture by State Chancellery of Schleswig-Holstein 
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