30th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Independent State of Lithuania

Editor
-
0
30th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Independent State of Lithuania

The Hague, 11 March 2020. The Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania H.E. Mr. Vidmanta Purlys organized a concert followed by a reception to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the restoration of independence of Lithuania. Here are Ambassador Purlys remarks.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

I would like to welcome you to the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the independence of Lithuania.

On 11 March 1990, democratically elected Parliament of Lithuania, expressing the will of the nation, proclaimed that “the execution of the sovereign powers of the State of Lithuania abolished by foreign forces in 1940, is re-established, and henceforth Lithuania is again an independent state.” This was one of the most important events in the history of Lithuania of the XXth century, political act ending 50 years of Soviet occupation, which was never internationally recognized. 11 March may have also been an important encouragement for other nations in that part of Europe, which were striving for their freedom too.

Since 1990, Lithuania rapidly consolidated its statehood and position in international affairs, also taking inspiration from the state tradition going back centuries in history. We have developed democratic, modern, inclusive and resilient society, based on the rule of law and strong democratic institutions. Lithuania built strong and open economy, which shares its advanced solutions globally in such areas as laser technology, life sciences, energy, digital and cyber domains, and others.

Lithuania has also developed an extensive network of bilateral and multilateral relations, and worked consistently to uphold international rule of law, security and stability, human rights, individual freedoms, and gender equality.

H.E. Mr. Vidmanta Purlys, Ambassador of Lithuania.

In this context, I would like to mention that Lithuania developed excellent relationship with the Netherlands across many areas and on many levels. Our co-operation in the international affairs is close, based on shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

We work intensely for security of NATO. Dutch soldiers contribute to NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in Lithuania. This is highly appreciated by the Lithuanian society. We are also great partners in the European Union. Our bilateral relations are very vibrant, all important data pointing to a growing direction, including on trade, investment and tourism.

I take this opportunity to thank all our Dutch, international and Lithuanian friends who contributed to strengthening our bilateral ties. 

Mezzo-soprano Rita Novikaitė and pianist Šviesė Čepliauskaitė.

In conclusion, Lithuanian society is proud of what it has achieved in the last 30 years, and looks confident towards the future. We believe in our freedom. Let me now turn to introducing two famous performers of this special evening.

Rita Novikaitė

Mezzo-soprano Rita Novikaitė was born in Kaunas, Lithuania. She studied in Lithuania, Austria and Italy. Rita Novikaitė sang many roles in operas and performed frequently in various festivals in Lithuania, across Europe and beyond. Rita Novikaitė is a renowned teacher who worked in Austria and now holds position of associate professor at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas.

Šviesė Čepliauskaitė

Pianist Šviesė Čepliauskaitė studied in Lithuania and Poland. Šviesė Čepliauskaitė is an active performer with Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra and Kaunas Symphony Orchestra. The largest part of her repertoire is music from romantic period, with Chopin being one of her favourite composers. Therefore, pianist has a number of prestigious awards for performing his works, including the Golden Cross of Merit by the President of Poland in 2019.

Šviesė Čepliauskaitė is currently an associate professor at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania.

At would like to make one more important announcement with regard to the concert. There will be a special entry in the programme – world premiere of piece by one of the most famous Lithuanian composer Zita Bružaitė entitled “BeMoon”. That is an amazing gift to the celebration in The Hague.

Celebrating Guyana’s 50th Republic Golden Jubilee Anniversary

Editor
-
0
Celebrating Guyana’s 50th Republic Golden Jubilee Anniversary

From left H.E. Dr. Patrick I Gomes, and H.E. Ambassador David Thomas Allan Hales.

By Roy Lie Atjam.

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the Ambassador of the Republic of Guyana to the Kingdom of Belgium and Mission to the European Union,

H.E. Ambassador David Thomas Allan Hales hosted a reception. The celebration was held on Friday, 21 February 2020 at the Embassy of Guyana in Brussels. 

The national anthem “Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains”, was played, signaling the commencement of the festivities. Scores of Guyanese nationals residing in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg came by to join in the celebration of their country’s 50th Republic Anniversary.

One Guyanese national even came all the way from Dubai in order to take part in the celebrations. H.E. Dr. Patrick I Gomes, African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Secretary- General – ACP (Dec. 2014 – Feb. 2020) graced the reception by his presence and was presented a token in gratitude for services rendered to Guyana.

The theme of the Guyana Republic Jubilee celebration in Brussels was ‘Guyana Together. Time to Reflect, Celebrate and Transform’. This theme could not be more appropriate given the juncture in history at which Guyana finds itself at the moment. 

The guests thoroughly enjoyed genuine Guyanese hospitality, savoured delicious Guyanese cuisine and beverages, including the world-famous El Dorado and XM Rums, mauby, ginger beer, sorrel and a festive ambience.

In Guyana, Republic Day celebration is referred to as Mashramani.

It is an Amerindian word which means celebration after hard work. It is a day where families and friends spend time together watching the different revellers and bands in their vibrant colours.

In his presentation, H.E. Ambassador David T.A. Hales expressed gratitude for the turnout.

It provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the progress achieved as well as the challenges our country and people have endured and overcome over the past 50 years.’

‘More importantly, however, it brings us together at a time of renewed hope and anticipation for a bright, peaceful and prosperous future for Guyana and its people over the next 50 years and beyond,’ the Envoy noted.

 Ambassador Hales reminded that the theme for this 50th Anniversary is ‘Guyana Together’ which he explained reflects the common aspiration grounded in our motto ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”

Drawing attention to Guyana’s Oil and Gas sector, Ambassador Hales noted that the country is on the threshold of major economic transformation that could result in it becoming the fastest growing economy in the western hemisphere and the envy of the world.

With this newfound wealth, there has never been a better opportunity to build one of the world’s most prosperous societies – one where every citizen can join in Guyana’s unprecedented good fortune – where every community can partake in our extraordinary rise – and where each and every Guyanese, including the cherished diaspora, can sustain the country’s development by making skills, accomplishments and experience available to our dear land.

The event was marked by the playing of traditional folk songs, dancing to recent soca music.  

The Brussels Mission, inter alia, fosters Guyana’s economic and social development through garnering multilateral and bilateral technical assistance, while promoting the country as an investment, trade and tourism destination. The Mission also looks at securing export opportunities for traditional and non-traditional products, and pursuing support from the ACP Group of States on the Guyana-Venezuela Border Controversy.

Saxony welcomed Ambassador Wu Ken

Editor
-
0
Saxony welcomed Ambassador Wu Ken

Premier Michael Kretschmer, Ambassador Wu Ken, Sebastian Gemkow, State Minister for Science, Culture and Tourism – Picture by Sächsische Staatskanzlei

Tuesday, 25 February 2020, Dresden, Free State of Saxony: Premier Michael Kretschmer received the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Mr. Wu Ken, for his maiden visit to the state. The State Minister for Science, Culture and Tourism, Sebastian Gemkow, likewise attended the meeting.

During the conversation, Premier Kretschmer and Ambassador Ken exchanged views on the economic and political relations between the two countries.

With an export volume of 6.71 billion Euros in 2018, China is the Free State’s most important foreign trade partner. Compared to the previous year 2017, there is a 12 percent increase in deliveries to China.

For further information: 
Government of Saxony: https://www.ministerpraesident.sachsen.de/empfang-des-botschafters-der-volksrepublik-china-11173.html

Embassy of the PRC to Germany (HE Ambassador Wu Ken): http://www.china-botschaft.de/det/dszl/dsjl/

Geopolitics of Survival or Geopolitical Aspects of The Evolution of Covid-19

Editor
-
0
Geopolitics of Survival or Geopolitical Aspects of The Evolution of Covid-19

By Teodor Palade.

It’s just a virus. It is regarded by many as a weapon. If we look closer it’s not far from the truth. An library could be easily filled with the last two-months writings on this strange virus. If we were leaving aside preconceptions and would not be afraid of the inept allegation that we are promoting the conspiration theory then we would more than likely reach the conclusion that similar to a weapon of mass destruction , the saga of COVID-19 has an undeniable geopolitical overtone. 

The Political Component

The great powers’ politics is often captivating. China’s  domestic and foreign policy intimidating succes, the accomplishments of the demographic collossus called Peoples’ Republic of China culturally, politically and militarilly could not but cause envy. Even adversity. The fierce political confrontation between the two systems which marked for a long time the world’s evolution and the economic and military rivalry has foreshadowed a genuine war between the US and China. A war which, like any war, causes losses, fatalities, brings forward fighting tactics and strategies, allows for experimenting new weapons and has no mercy. Well, after all, everything is politics. The war included.

Ever since the outbreak of epidemics American sources suggested that China was guilty of COVID-19 explosion and its global spread. China, with its bat-eating people, with its Wuhan lab, with the filthy market where slaughtered animals were sold, and the carelessness of the Wuhan epidemiologycal  specialists who would have manipulated the viruses.

Politically it was the right moment when, on the background of the ongoing disputes with the US and with many EU states, China could have become the ideal culprit. The moment was not missed. The world’s media was plenty of charges, assumptions, facts, make-believe and analysis whereby China is the main villain.

China’s counter-attack didn’t take long. Recently, the spokeman of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed to the American military who took part in the last year’s Wuhan Military Olympics  as being the ones who brought the virus to China. Mr Zhao Lijan made an argument of the remarks of some American media which stated that part of the last year’s dead due to seasonal flu where in fact sick with COVID-19  and declared: ”It is possible that the American Army brought the epidemics to Wuhan. The United States should show transparency. It should make public the data! The United States owes us an explanation!” It is highly unlikely that the Chinese official has made the statement on his own as it is improbable as well that other charges are not ready and waiting in line for the right time to come to throw it on the market. Then, it could not be by chance that China’s charges are launched when American military are landing in the European ports of coutries ravaged by coronavirus. 

The American military are brought directly from the other shore of the Ocean to take part in the biggest European military drills with American participation during the last 25 years. 

This military exercice suggestively code-named DEFENDER EUROPE 2020, is planned to be conducted overwhelmingly near the Russian Federation’s European borders, a China’s dependable economic and military ally.

COVID-19 was already politically weaponised in the US and is used to the fullest by the two great political forces competing for winning the coming presidential elections. The Republicans are attacking the Democrat and presidential contender, Joseph Robinette BidenJr, sustaining that the latter’s son Hunter is refusing to come back to America from Ukraine (where he quietly oversees his business) to take a paternity test on the ground that he does not want to be infected with the new coronavirus. Going beyond the attack to family, Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of New York City and contender to presidency from the same party as Donald Trump’s, attacks vehemently the US Administration saying that the new coronavirus represents a serious argument for the government, in case it was a responsible one, to nationalise the main factories and industries directly involved in the fight with COVID-19. ”It is a war situation!”, he says. ”Where are the mechanical ventilators? Where is the government’s intervention to secure our hospitals the needed ventilators? Where is the government’s intervention for securing the protective masks? We are in a situation which calls for the nationalisation of the main factories and industries involved – literally a nationalisation!”

In the US too the emergence of the virus changed the discourse of the three main candidates contesting for the presidency. In a way, COVID-19 has modified the agenda of the potential future presidents. The sanitary issue, the citizen’s medical security, the steps to be taken for diminishing the economic, financial and psychological effects of the new coronavirus, became the main subjects of the political struggle. ”This virus revealed the serious defficiencies of the present Administration”, Joe Biden declared. Another candidate, Bernie Sanders warned that if urgent measures are not taken ”the number of deaths caused by coronavirus could be bigger than the number of the American military killed during WWII (…) We have such an incompetent administration so that its incompetence and carelessness threaten the lifes of many, many people of this coutry”

In the majority of the states affected by coronavirus, the politicians changed their agenda. Parties whose adversity was not shaken since decades shook hands. Political decisions which dragged on for years were adopted overnight and what seemed insurmountable some weeks before has been achieved. Suffice it to look to what happended in Romania (a government rejected twice in a row was unanimously confirmed and ministers rejected by the parliament several times became apt overnight) and no other argument is needed to prove how real is the political component of this strange virus. 

At the same time, the adoption of certain measures of force, restraining the constitutional rights of the citizen, abuses taking place here and there brought in an increased lack of trust in the political class. Globally, the effect is enhanced, something totally disastruous.

The medical aspect of our life is political too.We depend totally on the policy in the sanitary field. From this standpoint, the COVID-19 epidemics revealed unspeakable shortcomings as far as the citizen’s medical safety is concerned, especially in Western Europe. West-European states considered to be the flag-bearing ones in the field of sanitary assistance were unable to manage the spread of the infection nationally and made unacceptable blunders when tried to confront the challenge. Worldwide, Italy toppled China as number of death and is showing no signs of being able to manage the situation. The Italian physicians are overburdened, close to breaking down nervously and psychically and then the situation might become dramatical. The fact that in what concerns the total number of infected people worldwide, out of a total of 155 countries affected by the virus, Spain is on the fourth place, Germany is on the fifths and France on the seventh. 

The Geographical Component 

Geopolitics summs up the two facets of reality: politics and geography. 

The geographical evolution of the new coronavirus seems to be natural and surprising at the same time.

It is natural as it emerged in a specific period for the viral diseases of the winter-spring season, falling within the pattern of the flues that mankind is confronting since generations. 

It is surprising because by ignoring the laws of probability, it emerged in the most favourable place for a rapid spread (a country gathering around 20% of the world’s population, in a crowded city inhabiting more than 12 mil people) which became extremely difficult to control and at the most suitable time (during the Chinese New Year’s period when population movements from a place to another, nationally and internationally, too, peaked; the mass of people engaged in this back-and-forth process is estimated at around 3 bil). [1]

It is also surprising in the virus geographical evolution that, with some exceptions, there were the adversary states or, without being hostile, the ones which do not completely accept the US policy (China, 81,000 affections; Iran,14,000 affections; France, 5,400 affections; Germany, 5,800 affections) as well as the places representing, in most cases, the craddle of human civilisation (China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Spain). [2] 

It seems also strange that the ground zero of the virus action moved all of a sudden some thousands of  kilometers away to the west, to Western Europe,  while states with great land masses, some of them in China’s proximity, such as the Russian Federation, India or Kazakhstan, the presence of  COVID-19 is timid, almost inexistent.

A serious impact was resented in the field of peoples’ transhumance, a very dynamic aspect during the last years. The emergency of the new coronavirus brought about a unprecedented reflux in what concerns the labour migration, especially in Europe. In Romania only, around one million persons who were working in Italy, Germany, Spain or Great Britain returned home during three weeks only. The return home of such a mass of people, many of them presumed of carrying the virus created a multitude of problems, including  in the sanitary field and which are difficult to solve by the authorities of the indigenuous states and imposed expenditures that will be very hard to recover during the next period.

The epidemic which disrupted Europe showed to everybody, once more,  that the European Union proves unable to manage crisis situations. The Union’s bodies, the Commissions and Committies in their entirety, circumvented the important decisions and left the member states to cope with the situation as anyone was able to. 

As if the European Union did not exist as a superstate entity. No serious research was genuinely conducted and, therefore, no ways of coordinating the medical, economic, financial or psychological efforts were found at the Union’s level. Moreover, the migration of labour as a result of the epidemics spread, with its adjacent devastating effects on the European level which were left to chance. Voices in the European mass-media are already labelling the European Union as a paralysed body with a huge bureaucracy blocked in the past, with an impermissible inertia for the century we are living in. A construct whose end is looming. After Brexit, COVID-19 epidemics raises another red flag on the foundation of the European political and economic bloc.

The relocation of the new coronavirus ground zero to Europe had as an immediate result the taking off the pressure from the migration wave from the war areas in the Middle East. 

The acute frictions between Turkey and the European Union calmed down and the explosive tensions from the Turkish-Greek border softened for the time being. 

Terrorist type organisations or the organisations pursuing immediate financial gains benefitted from the extraordinary online interest for the COVID-19 issue had crossed the strict geographical borders and activated their hackers who launched phishing-type cyberattacks and infested the servers of the big companies, banks or main state institutions. An impressive number of persons and institutions fell prey to hackers before the cyber security specialists reacted. The amount of damage is not known, yet the first estimates point to billions of dollars.

A less analyzed aspect with an extraordinary impact on the global human community is the psychological effect of the emergence and geografical spread of COVID-19. The trust in governments and in the state’s attachment to the citizen were shaken. Separately or organized in small and big communities set up empirically most of the times, people have been isolated, considered guilty towards their fellow humans, ostracised through brutal methods some times, panicked. Family did not represent anylonger a safe haven, friends are not trusted anymore as they might become harmful for one’s self health. 

The sports and cultural communities and, for the first time since WWII, the religious ones restricted their activities or simply abolished them. Panic seems to become the only driving force of the individual’s action.

Assumptions and opinions

Just like the emergence, behaviour and the geopolitical implications of COVID-19 were impossible to foreshadow, it is just as difficult to assume the issuance of assumptions concerning the future evolution of the situation from a geopolitical standpoint.

It is indeed much too early to draw resolute conclusions. Yet having at hand the so far information, the countless analysis, the conclusions and the forecasts of the specialists in the field and looking attentively to the general picture and its dynamics it is worth risking to make some assumptions and to issue some opinions.

No doubt a devastating economic shock will shake the planet.

After the epidemic wave goes, the return to the normal condition will be hard and will last much longer than it is estimated at present. 

The states hurt by the destabilisation brought by the desperate and necessary measures to limit the epidemics manifestation, states which seem to have been hand-picked,  will reach their limits in what concerns the financial and economic survival.

The politicians, formally united now in front of the danger they amplified themselves (to prove the voting citizen how capable they are at controlling it), will attack each other savagely. Governments will change overnight and huge debts will accumulate everywhere as a result of the populist measures taken to keep them in power. 

The most affected countries will indebt themselves beyond the limits imposed so far for keeping a stability status. 

The rich and poor divide will widen and, although the real profiteers as a result of the mess generated by fighting COVID-19 are not known for the time being, yet those who will get poorer are already known.

The model and the lessons of using such a weapon (if this virus was a weapon) will be known and they will be in the future at the heart of similar actions imposed by situations of domestic crisis, by deadlocked interstate relations or situations foreshadowed to be to the benefit of one or another of the world’s great powers.  

The emergence, mutation, effects and the dangers attributed to COVID-19 represented an excellent exercise in what concerns the targeted use of the media power. Guidelines for the ways media could be used in the future are already in place for maintaining a panick state, for isolating the persons considered dangerous, for manipulating the society to the benefit of those who are politically, economically or financially interested. 

China, for instance, used cleverly almost to the limit the situation created by COVID-19 and succeeded in annihilating the dangerously growing domestic protests against the government and silenced the Hong Kong stubborn protesters. Moreover, it acquired quite for free thousands of western investments that were dumped locally by the managers and shareholders out of fear. Beijing proves under these circumstances too that it is a main global player by offering material support to Italy and to other countries requesting it and uses very skilfully the opportunity to enhance its position in Europe. 

The US has altered the citizen’s agenda in the discourse of the presidential candidates and the president  Donald Trump was nominated the Republicans’ candidate for the coming elections.

The Russian Federation proved it is not disturbed by such a scenario and, moreover, seems to be until now one of the winners of the situation especially having in mind the situation in Europe.

The Western European states proved weak and derailed, overwhelmed by the situation and an easy pray to all kind of speculations. The European Union excelled in words and promises but proved to be practically unprepared and helpless. The EU could not protect seriously any of the member states and, moreover, left Italy, the main Union’s ”sick man”, without any support. Up to March 20, 2020, Brussels was unable to prove its capacity of leading the Union go through this crisis leaving each and one of the states to manage on their own. In doing so, the EU almost nullified its chances of being a first class geopolitical global player and I don’t think it will come back (if it ever comes back)  too soon.

The phychological effect on the globe’s population will affect for a long time the human communities, no matter the geographical area they are living in. The experience of forced isolation of man by man, removing by exceptional government measures  of trust among friends, relatives, children, parents, terrifying by fear and cultivating panick while calling for calm and rationale will  surely be case studies as well as starting points for other actions of the same type.

There are voices saying that in the shadow of fear and panick induced intentionally or not by this virus the future of mankind is foreshadowed. Although such an opinion can be exaggerated, a seed of truth seems to come out. 

If this COVID-19 was not a weapon, the future COVID will surely be.

It seems we are coming closer to what has been suggested on the eve of the financial and economic crises which rocked the world a decade ago. The emergence of a new geopolitics – geopolitics of survival. 

Does really the COVID-19 pandemic represent the signal, the necessary landmark for the need to search for  a new way to perceive, analyse and judge the world we are living in?

————————————————————————————-

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51240355

[2] Data relate to16.03.2020. Source:”CONAVID-19 Global Case by the

Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University”

Intelligence officer, now retired, Teodor Paladewas born in Bucharest in 1943. He wes military attache in India, held important positions in the Ministry of National Defence and, after retirement, in the Government of Romania.His articles, covering a large area of interest, are published by many online and printed outlets in Romania and abroad. 

Ghana National Day 2020

Editor
-
0
Ghana National Day 2020

H.E. Ms. Sophia Horner Sam, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana in the Netherlands, H.E. Ms. Sophia Horner Sam, hosted a reception celebrating the country’s 63rd Independence anniversary in The Hague on 6 March 2020.

On 6th March, 1957, Ghana became the first Sub-Saharan nation to gain independence from British colonial rule. Many distinguished Guests, Ghanaians and friends of Ghana, gathered to celebrate this momentous day in The Hague.

It was a kaleidoscope of  colours with an elegant ambience. The evening commenced with vocal rendition of the Ghana national anthem by Ms. Louisa Fofie, while the Netherlands national anthem was sung by Ms. Marissa Nyamekye. 

Dr. Stanislav Vassilevsky, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Republic of Belarus, H.E. Ambassador Lounès Magramane, Ambassador of Algeria, H.E. Mr. Abdel Sattar Issa, Ambassador of Lebanon, H.E. Mr. Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Ambassador of Rwanda, H.E. Mr. Vusimuzi Philemon Madonsela, Ambassador of South Africa and H.E. Mr. Oji Nyimenuate Ngofa, Ambassador of Nigeria.

The program included dancing and drumming demonstration by the GAM Cultural Group. Ms Augustina Austin was the moderator. Many heads of Mission were on hand to celebrate the occasion. 

H.E. Ms. Sophia Horner Sam and Ghana Northern Chief, Yakubu Alhassan in a gorgeous traditional dress.

Back home in Ghana, the national celebration included a traditional parade, however this time it was held at Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital. This is the second time that the celebration is being held outside Accra the capital of Ghana. Among many of those in attendance was Dr. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Diplomats celebrating Ghana National Day.

Ambassador Sophia Horner Sam addressed the gathering after cordially welcoming everyone. The Ambassador subsequently delivered a  speech filled of historical details that will make all Ghanaians proud. Well, of course not only Ghanaians, but also people of African descent as well as those who advocate freedom. 

The Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana, the Ambassador of Sudan, H. E. Mr. Kamal Bashir Ahmed Mohamed Khair and Deputy Head of Mission pf Ghana, Mr Mohammed Habib Idris.

Ambassador Horner Sam continued:  “It is my honour to welcome you all to the celebration of the 63rd anniversary of the independence of Ghana. Exactly 63 years today on 6th March, 1957, Ghana became the first Sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence from British colonial rule, and it opened up a new chapter of possibilities not only for Ghana, but for the African continent. 

Ghana’s independence changed the world because it was a freedom that many throughout the world, especially people of African descent, celebrated and held as a symbol of hope. It influenced the independence movement throughout Africa, and in 1960 alone, 17 African countries gained their independence.

Ambassador Horner-Sam, Ms Tiphaine Jouffroy, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to OPCW, Mr. Habib Idris and Ms Nana Afia Twum Barima, First Secretary, Embassy of Ghana.

The freedom torch that was lit 63 years ago by our Founding Fathers led by our first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah continues to glow across the African Continent. Following the consolidation of the African Union, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) has been established with Accra, Ghana as its headquarters.  Trading under the agreement begins in July 2020 and it will be the world’s largest free trade area by number of countries once it is fully up and running. 

Today Ghana is a beacon of democracy, political stability in the African continent, and it is among the fastest growing economies in the world. The Government of Ghana, in pursuit of its Development Agenda is committed to transparent and accountable governance, a strong economy geared towards the creation of jobs, the rapid expansion of infrastructure for accelerated growth, and to invest in the people of Ghana for the creation of productive human resource base.

As the 63rd  independence anniversary of Ghana is celebrated under the theme  “consolidating our gains”,  I wish to state that, the current Government under the leadership of H. E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has embarked on flagship programmes to speed up Ghana’s developmental process. Notable among these initiatives are the “Free Senior High School Education”, “One District, One Factory”, “One Village-one Dam”,and “Planting for Food and Jobs”.

These policies and programmes are beginning to yield positive results towards the growth of the Ghanaian economy and need to be built upon. It is against this background that Ghana continues to call for partnerships from the Dutch private sector to team up with Ghanaian companies and take advantage of the numerous investment opportunities in our country.

Ms Augustina Austin, moderator.

It has however not been all smooth sailing since our nation achieved its independence. Ghana has faced challenges in her efforts to achieve sustained socio-economic development. The resilience of the people of Ghana and the support of our development partners, including the Netherlands, have remained important in our quest for accelerated development.

 Ghana and the Netherlands have maintained a long-standing relations dating back to the 16th Century. Since Ghana’s independence in 1957, the Netherlands has been a reliable and dependable development partner and today, the Ghana-Netherlands relations cover almost all sectors of Ghanaian national life including Cultural, Economic, Environment, Trade, Health, Education and matters relating to Governance.

Let me seize this opportunity to express the gratitude of the Government and people of Ghana for the Kingdom of Netherlands’ invaluable contributions to the development of Ghana over the years. It is our hope that the relationship that exists between our two countries will continue to grow from strength to strength. 

Ms. Josephine Frantzen, head of the division for West Africa, the Sahel and the Great Lakes at the Sub-Saharan department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate all Ghanaians as we celebrate this important day. By all means, let us modestly enjoy the day as much as we can, but let us also resolve even more to “hold in high esteem our heritage won for us through the blood and toil of our Fathers, and pledge ourselves in all things to uphold and defend the good name of Ghana”.

Drummers GAM Cultural group – National Day of Ghana

The second speaker at the reception was Ms. Josephine Frantzen, head of the division for West Africa, the Sahel and the Great Lakes at the Sub-Saharan department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands,

An exquisite Ghanaian buffet concluded the festive evening.

Coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated EU’s inefficiency, says expert

Editor
-
0
Coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated EU’s inefficiency, says expert

He admitted that a common coordinating agency to manage the situation with the spread of the novel coronavirus would be set up in Brussels

ROME, March 18./TASS/. A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has demonstrated European Union’s inability to pursue common policy and its incompetence, that will cost the EU the loss of influence, President of Vision & Global Trends, Tiberio Graziani told TASS on Wednesday.

“These past weeks have demonstrated to the globe total inadequacy of the EU. This pandemic will be ruinous for the EU as a merely bureaucratic apparatus, but this situation is pushing the member countries towards solidarity and overcoming the differences,” the political analyst said.

He drew a parallel between the current situation and other problems of the European Union. “Behind the screen of words and statements, the EU in fact has no common strategy in any sector whatever. Let us take the energy sector, it sees no common policy either, and this is absurd in itself for the group of countries that have no own energy resources, that have to import energy resources,” he went on to say.

“The EU is a rather chaotic structure controlled by bureaucrats with limited responsibility,” he said.

“The same applies to the sanitary crisis, during which each country takes its own decisions. But all these decisions are subordinated to the dictates of the European Central Bank. However, for all the widespread shortage of liquidity, it is the European Central Bank that can play an essential role,” Graziani said.

He admitted that a common coordinating agency to manage the situation with the spread of the novel coronavirus would be set up in Brussels. “But certain states are already going their own way in solving the problems, and it will be difficult for the European Commission to establish centralized coordination,” the expert believes.

“The loss of influence and authorities of the EU as the deciding entity is more realistic than exodus from the EU,” he said. According to Tiberio Graziani, real reforms in the EU will eventually become possible after the pandemic ends.

In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. On March 11, 2020, the WHO officially characterized the situation with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic. The disease has spread to over 130 countries. The number of coronavirus infection cases in the world has exceeded 200,000, while 8,000 people have died, the World Health Organization (WHO) Secretary General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced Wednesday.

https://tass.com/world/1132149

Celebrating Mărțișor by the embassies of Romania and Moldavia

Editor
-
0
Celebrating Mărțișor by the embassies of Romania and Moldavia

A concert at the Romanian Embassy

In the picture Her excellency Ms. Brândusa Ioana Predescu, Ambassador of Romania, and Her Excellency Ms. Tatiana Pârvu, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova with singer Danna.

By Virginie Peccoud.

Her excellency Ms. Brândusa Ioana Predescu, Ambassador of Romania, and Her Excellency Ms. Tatiana Pârvu, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova, have hosted a very special event on Friday 6 March. A concert was organised to celebrate an eight thousand years old tradition that both countries share.

Mărțișor representing the arrival of Spring is a token believed to bring luck, health and joy. It comes from word March and was originally red and white, colours that protect against the evil. Furthermore, this tradition at the beginning of Spring honours the comeback of nature and new starts. The emphasis during the ambassador’ speeches was put on what Romania and Moldova have in common: history and culture.

Celebrating Mărțișor by the embassies of Romania and Moldavia.

The emotional value of the Mărțișor is crucial for the ambassadors as it was also a symbol of resistance during deportation of thousands of Moldovan people to Siberia by the dictator Joseph Stalin, between 1943 and 1956. In this time, people were forcibly relocated in Siberian’s settlement for forced labour. About one hundred thousand Moldavians were deported and sixteen thousand died. The Mărțișor was forbidden as it represented national traditions and identity.

This event was to remember this dark part of history and to proudly transmit traditions to other people and to younger generations. Women were also honoured as it was two days before International women’s day and Mother’s Day in Romania and Moldova.

Danna, a Romanian singer performed six songs for the audience, including the legendary “Isn’t she lovely” by Stevie Wonder. She changed the lyrics that were initially written to celebrated the birth of Wonder’s daughter to address the song to mothers. 

In the end, the event was well attended with an excellent buffet accompanied with Romanian wines mainly the notorious Nonius Fetească Neagră Shiraz.

Germany Contributes €1M to Future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology

Editor
-
0
Germany Contributes €1M to Future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology

Permanent Representative of Germany to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Christine Weil and H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, OPCW Director General.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – 13 March 2020 – The Government of Germany has contributed €1,000,000 to a special Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store. This project will result in the construction of a new facility, the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”).

The contribution was formalised during a ceremony at the OPCW Headquarters between OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Permanent Representative of Germany to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Christine Weil.

Ambassador Weil remarked: “We are proud to contribute €1M to the new ChemTech Centre, a major future-oriented project of the OPCW. With the new Centre, the OPCW will gain important capabilities, including in the field of training and capacity-building for young scientists from all regions.”

The Director-General expressed: “I thank the Government of Germany for this major contribution to the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology that will further build the capabilities of our Member States to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.”

Director-General Arias appealed to all OPCW States Parties 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. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.

So far, thirty-seven States Parties and the European Union have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the ChemTech Centre project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.

UNIPACE international postgraduate education programmes

Editor
-
0
UNIPACE international postgraduate education programmes

Vision & Global Trends proudly announces its partnership with the International University for Peace of Rome (UNIPACE), office of the United Nations University for Peace.

The partnership aims to the promotion and the intermediation regarding the recently launched UNIPACE international postgraduate education programmes, both focused on studies on the China-led “Belt and Road Initiative”.

Presentation of the University

The University for Peace (UPEACE) is an intergovernmental organization with University status, established by treaty at the United Nations General Assembly in 1980 and having its main campus in Costa Rica. Its stated mission is “to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace with the aim of promoting among all human beings the spirit of understanding, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, to stimulate cooperation among peoples and to help lessen obstacles and threats to world peace and progress, in keeping with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations”.

The current Rector of UPEACE is Dr. Francisco Rojas Aravena. The creation of the University for Peace was set in motion by a treaty and endorsed by resolution 34/111 of 14 December 1979 of the United Nations General Assembly. By this Resolution, the UN General Assembly established an international commission which, in collaboration with the Government of Costa Rica, was requested to prepare the organization, structure and setting in motion of the University for Peace.

Thereafter, by Resolution 35/55 of 5 December 1980, the UN General Assembly endorsed the treaty establishing the University for Peace by adopting the International Agreement for the Establishment of the University for Peace (UPEACE) along with the Charter of the University for Peace. The University has the unique status of not only being a dedicated institution for higher education in Peace and Conflict studies, but also an international treaty body organization mandated by the United Nations General Assembly.

It offers master’s degree and doctoral programmes (now starting our blended program focused on the Belt Road Initiative in Rome) at its main headquarters in San José, Costa Rica, and carries out various activities related to the international peace and security objectives of the United Nations (UN) through centres and offices located in Rome, Addis Abeba, New York, Honduras, Geneva, Bonn, The Hague, Manila and Beijing, and through partnership arrangements with numerous other institutions worldwide.

The University for Peace is part of the academic wing of the UN system, and has observer status at the UN General Assembly, while maintaining its independence in academic, financial and management matters. The UN Secretary-General is the Honorary President of UPEACE.

The UN General Assembly maintains a constant interest in the activities of UPEACE, and in periodic resolutions calls on the UN Secretary-General to report to it on its activities.

Accordingly, the UN Secretary-General reports to the General Assembly of the UN periodically on the progress of UPEACE. The Council of the University for Peace is the supreme authority of the University.

It is composed of five ex-officio members viz. the Rector, two representatives designated by the UN Secretary-General and by the Director-General of the UNESCO, the Rector of the United Nations University, two representatives designated by the Government of the host country and the Chancellor of UPEACE. In addition, the Council comprises ten representatives of the academic community or other persons eminent in the field of peace and security appointed by the Secretary-General of the UN in consultation with the Director-General of the UNESCO.

The University has “unique world-wide authorization to award academic degrees, recognized by all countries which are members of the General Assembly”.

Dr. Tiberio Graziani.

The Italian Office – The Entrusted Entity

In November 2015 University for Peace (UPEACE, Costa Rica) governing bodies signed a cooperation agreement with President prof.eng. Gianni Cara, already responsible for Europe of the ‘World Organization for Peace’. The agreement established a delegated office in Italy, which works alongside other existing offices in Holland, in Japan, in Philippines, in Chile, and Ethiopia.

The International University for Peace – Rome – was identified by UPEACE as the legal entity with the task to establish the Roman office, whose aim is to provide innovative and qualified courses. Furthermore, there were established a headquarters in Rome and a Device Operations Section based in Naples (Complesso Altamira), located in a very innovative business accelerator area.

It is committed to creating and sustaining the conditions to become a model for cross-university collaboration, and to expand and to reach East and Southern Europe, the Mediterranean area, the Middle East, the Equatorial Africa, the Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Belt Road Initiative Program

The BRI can be considered as the largest international cooperation plan of the century, paving the way to many opportunities as well as challenges in need for a response. So we designed a program, including an MBA and two PhDs focused on this complex topic as it needs a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach to be explored and studied and understood completely, in order to fully unlock its potential. Meanwhile, UNIPACE will generate its own BRI knowledge database, of critical relevance for all BRI Partners: in this way, contributing the objective of grasping the ‘triangle’ connecting education, research and innovation.

Uniting key fields, our research projects interact on an unprecedented level. The core objective of this program will focus on the ‘sharing’ element, where knowledge and research outputs, as well as their related benefits, will be shared among participants and their Home Institutions in the name of global cooperation and peaceful coexistence, the only real warranty for the future. This way, so

‘BRIdge the gap’ could be our motto and the best wish for all students, who would like to follow this international path with the potential to make a global impact.

The BRI could be the most important contemporary geopolitical tool of our century. We must appreciate the Chinese determination to promote dialogue of minds and cultural exchanges and UNIPACE President, Prof. Eng. Gianni Cara, hopes that his students become modern-day Marco Polos, as cultural ambassadors among China and all its Partners, as he has the awareness that innovation can make the difference in training, and can become the most powerful personal growth driver.

Postgraduate Programmes

Master in Business Administration (MBA)

Academic Supervisor: Prof. Valerio MALVEZZI

The UNIPACE MBA is an intensive blended programme tailored for high-performing professionals who want to further improve their careers and their work profiles.

Following a competitive selection process, this MBA delivers a one-year long condensed learning experience through teamwork, personalized feedback, coaching, and curated readings, to take fast-tracked leaders to a higher level.

Key programme benefits: master management skills in highly diversified business, social and political environments; develop the mindset of an entrepreneur (creativity, capability of taking risks and managing the unknown with confidence); become a more reflective, self-aware and strategic member of a general managment team; develop yourself, your organization and your career path.

With one coach every ten students, we are able to closely follow our students in their activities and their work.

UNIPACE delivers the programme via in-person classes, integrated with its highly innovative platform, which enables access to a wide variety of online contents as video lessons, curated resources, video, streamings, articles, and books. Students can also opt for a fully online/distance learning experience.

The MBA is configured as a “workshop” programme”, designed to empower the creative and analytical skills of the participatns and is designed and built to form “responsive professional figures” that will acquire an organic and up-to-date view of the activities of managers operating today; the disciplined contributions have been selected and revised in high usability perspective, as well as the awesome case history, in which the protagonists are going to tell successful professional stories that are rooting a period of severe economic crisis.

The MBA is composed of the following core modules, for a grand total of 60 ECTS that are attached to the workload of a full-time year of formal learning (from 1 500 to 1800 for an academic year).

  • Operations Management;
  • Leadership and Team-Building Skills;
  • Financial Management;
  • Strategic Management;
  • Financial Reporting;
  • Risk Management;
  • Advanced Marketing;
  • Innovation Management;
  • Applied Statistics;
  • Human Resource Management and Development;
  • CSR;
  • e-Commerce;
  • Digital and Internet Economy;
  • Multimedia Design for Business and Economics;
  • Social Network Business;
  • Web Content Economics;
  • IT Skills;
  • English Language.

Core topics are integrated by the following courses, delivered by staff from the Univerity for Peace Headquarters:

  • Decision-making;
  • Operating under Ambiguity:
  • Understanding Worldviews;
  • Risk-taking;
  • Critical Thinking;
  • Storytelling;
  • Marketing;
  • Strategy;
  • Driving Innovation;
  • Securing Buy-in;
  • Management;
  • Making change happen.

Upon completing the MBA, students will be granted the “alumni” status, gaining access to our global alumni network, and alumni groups on social networks.

Participants will be asked to sit an intermediate and a final test, in order to check on their progress.

Applications and enrolments are open throughout the year. The course is 1-year long.

In order to apply, students are requested to fill in the MBA application form.

Application forms can be requested to the reference persons listed at the end of this document.

Only applications sent via email will be considered.

Tuition fee is set at 19 000 USD.

Students can choose if attending the programme in blended format (in-presence + online/distance learning) of in a fully online experience (100% distance learning).

Excellent candidates will be considered for an internship period at the United Nations premises in Rome.

Students who successfully completed the MBA Programme will have to possibility to be enrolled directly at the second year of the PhD Programme, after passing an integration examination.

PhD Programmes

PhD in Economics Academic Supervisor: Prof. Valerio MALVEZZI

PhD in Political Science Academic Supervisor: Prof. Enea FRANZA

UNIPACE launches the first edition of its research-based PhD Programmes: PhD in Economics, and PhD in Political Science.

PhDs are three years long; the title will be awarded after the completion and defense of a doctoral final dissertation (thesis) presenting original research on a topic of interest, contibuting to the extension of knowledge in the chosen field.

The workload corresponds to 180 ECTS, ranging from 1 500 to 1 800 working hours per academic year.

Applicants are required to write their thesis in English.

The research-based setting helps students in giving them the possibility to study and pursue research independently, under the supervision of a thesis advisor assigned by the University. Students will be invited to join seasonal conferences and activities in Rome, and they will receive from the start of the Programme the necessary oonline resources to conduct their research from their location of preference. The final PhD disseration shows the significant contribution of the candidate to his research filed: thus, research topics will be developed and finley tuned on the basis of the PhD candidates’ professional and academic profile, as well as on their research project proposals.

Both PhD Programmes will have a focus on multi-disciplinary studies and research related to the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), with the goal of establishing a proper “knowledge hub” related to this international initiative. This research track seeks to attract students who are interested in those institutional changes, considered crucial in understanting this transformation, specifically in regard with the global impetus and multiple scales of politics and the economy.

Core modules will provided by the Departments of the University, in the macro areas of:

  • Law;
  • Economics;
  • Environment and Land;
  • Media and Social Sciences;
  • Criminology;
  • Health Sciences;
  • Artificial Intelligence;
  • Pedagogy and Educational Research;
  • OBOR.

Applications and enrolments are open throughout the year. The course is 3-years long.

In order to apply, students are requested to fill in the PhD application form.

Application forms can be requested to the reference persons listed at the end of this document.

Only applications sent via email will be considered.

Tuition fee is set at 12 000 USD per academic year.

Students can choose if attending the programme in blended format (in-presence + online/distance learning) of in a fully online experience (100% distance learning).

Excellent candidates will be considered for an internship period at the United Nations premises in Rome.

Students who successfully completed the MBA Programme will have to possibility to be enrolled directly at the second year of the PhD Programme, after passing an integration examination.

—————————-

Reference persons:

Vision & Global Trends: Dr. Tiberio GRAZIANI – tiberio.graziani@vision-gt.eu

Liaison for International University for Peace, Rome: Prof. Giuliano LUONGO – giuliano.luongo@unipaceroma.org

Philippines’ “War on Drugs” Information Tour in Europe

Editor
-
0
Philippines’ “War on Drugs” Information Tour in Europe

Secretary Martin M. Andanar with Ambassador Jaime V. Ledda. Photography by Anton Lutter.

By Anton Lutter.

February saw a much appreciated tour of Mr. Martin M. Andanar, the Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) visiting cities like Paris, Brussels, The Hague, London and Geneva informing Filipino community leaders, journalists, politicians and officials about – amongst others – the accomplishments of the President Rodrigo Duterte’s War on Drugs. 

One part of the mission of the PCCO is to inform and raise awareness of the public about the policies, programs, and projects of the Presidency. It is during President Duterte’s midterm that Secretary Andanar has taken it upon himself to inform us what’s at stake and what the results are considering the War on Drugs. In 2016, Duterte was elected on a platform of combating the illegal drugs trade and corruption, which up until now is overwhelming backed by the Philippines people resulting in continuous high popularity, now being at an all-time high.

To illustrate the effects narcotics has on family life the documentary “Gramo” was shown to fully packed venues. Particular gruesome is the murder, by a man high on drugs, of his own wife and even more shocking is the reaction of their young child who cannot encompass what occurred. Sadly enough this is not the exception. As the President iterates if the breadwinner is on drugs the whole family is destroyed. There’s no food on the table, the wife is abused, children cannot attend school, poverty continued. This is the real human rights offense. 

President Duterte has vowed to the Filipino’s to fight this evil, with all his might. His straight-talking message underlines the importance of his mission. There’s no sugarcoating here. Of course, this is not to the liking of the do-nothings, who’s legacy to the current government and the Philippines people is what it says: nothing. The 2016 presidential election changed all that, the Clean-Up Guy got voted in! And clean up he can. As Mayor of Davao City he got rid of crime making it the safest city in The Philippines becoming a hugely popular destination for tourists. 

These challenges are obviously not easy. You just don’t solve a problem that for decades has been neglected. As President Duterte explains himself: With the sheer magnitude of the illegal drug problem, I am cognizant that we still have a long way to go in addressing this deeply rooted societal. 

The Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy states clear a vision for the future: by 2022, the Philippines will be able to achieve drug-free communities, provided by an extensive framework for law enforcement and penalties for violations. At the same time adopting a compassionate approach to the victims of drug use by encouraging treatment and rehabilitation. Sofar a broad array of projects have been implemented, bringing together families, schools, communities, faith-based groups and many more. 

To name just a few examples of the many activities which make up the War on Drugs campaign: Kids Against Drugs Program, which educates children to say no against drugs; Barkada Kontra Droga, organizing youth who advocate a healthy, drug-free lifestyle within their peer groups; Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils, established to help eradicate illegal drugs within communities at the village and ward level; Yakap Bayan Program, which provides former illegal drugs users and their families financial assistance (educational, medical and burial), cash and food for work, livelihood assistance, family counseling, and enrollment to the Family Drug Abuse Prevention Program and Special Drug Education Center.

It’s obvious these huge tasks take leadership and perseverance.  So, what has been achieved under the guidance of President Duterte? Facts speak louder than words: since July 2016 150.000+ anti-drugs operations conducted, 223.000+ persons arrested, Euro 715.000.000+ worth of drugs seized, 500+ narcotics dens and clandestine laboratories have been dismantled, 485.000+ surrendered to reformation programs, 34.000+ wards or villages have been declared drug-free and more than 2.800 children have been rescued form illegal drugs activities. Next to that almost 1000 government workers have been arrested in anti-drugs operations. Duterte’s message to the servants of the state leaves no room for interpretation: if you’re involved in narcotics, you’re going down. 

Many have died because of illegal drugs and its trade, at the same time many more have been saved and that’s what really counts. So, what’s at stake is obvious, the future of The Philippines and its children. The Filipino’s are very aware of this, 82% support the War on Drugs of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. 

1...314315316...867Page 315 of 867