Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani – Picture by Qatar News Agency.
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, Doha, State of Qatar: HH The Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani issued the Emiri decree number two of 2020 appointing his former Chief of Diwan, HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani as the country’s novel Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. The new prime minister was born in 1968. Since 2014, he had been Chief of the Amiri Diwan, an office that liaises interactions between the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, government ministries and non-government entities. In fact, he began working for the then Sheikh Tamim since March 2006, when he joined his office at the Diwan.
At the sworn-in ceremony, Qatar’s Deputy Emir, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, was likewise present.
For the second time the Stichting Chaj together with the Embassy of Israel and the City of The Hague recognised International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a very special lecture at the Peace Palace to highlight the influence of the Holocaust on the development of international law.
The organisers succeeded in lining up several most impressive speakers, like the acting mayor of The Hague, H.E. Mr. Johan Remkes, the President of the International Court of Justice, H.E. Judge Abdulqami Ahmed Yusuf, Mr. Arie Sznaj, the Ambassador of Israel, H.E. Mr. Naor Gilon, H.E. Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova, and the keynote speaker Professor Philippe Sands QC.
Dr Ekaterina Trendafilova, President of the Specialist Chambers.
Mr. Remkes welcomed everyone by stressing that one lesson from the Holocaust is that we should never let those who initiate or participate in atrocities escape judgment and that education is the key to democracy. He quoted Maria Montessori in saying that all politics can do is keep us out of war, but establishing lasting peace is the work of education.
The Mayor of The Hague, H.E. Mr. Johan Remkes.
Judge Yusuf in his usual quiet and considered way, all the more impressive because of his evident deep concern with the subject, pointed at the danger of dividing humanity into “us” and “the Other”. During the Holocaust, the “Other” were the Jews, the Sinti and Roma, Gays, and the mentally infirm. It is almost impossible now to imagine a group of men sitting quietly planning the murder on an industrial scale of millions, only because they were the “Other”. The many genocidal atrocities against other groups since 1945 shows that we haven’t learned much.
Among the selective guests, Belgium’s Permanent Representative to the OPCW, H.E. Mr. William Roelants de Stappers.
That is why we must remember and always take action against racism and prejudice, We should never allow the denial of the right of existence of entire groups. It not only denies the humanity of the victims, but it diminishes the humanity of the perpetrators and bystanders equally. We must act against the precursors of genocide. It is only through our actions that we can honour the victims.
Remember your humanity in times of inhumanity.
Mr. Arie Sznaj gave a moving account of how his grandfather as the only one of his large family escaped the razzias and murders in Lviv (then called Lemberg). In 1939 over one-third of Lembergs 350,000 inhabitants were Jews and almost all perished.
Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova in her introduction to Professor Sands told how she became a jurist because she dreamt of a society where the rule of law prevails. And to protect this rule of law citizens sometimes have to take a stand against their government for what is right. Sometimes that requires lying down on the train tracks, as the Bulgarians did when the government wanted to deport Bulgarians Jews by train.
Philippe Sands, an internationally renowned lawyer, educator, writer, actor, and descendant of Holocaust survivors spoke partly about the history of the concepts Genocide and Crimes against Humanity, partly about his family history and partly about the tension between the two concepts.
Contrary to intuitive thinking the two concepts are not age-old fundamental aspects of the law. They were formed in the twentieth century by two men who -incidentally- came from and were educated in the same city, Lemberg. A further coincidence is that the grandfather of Professor Sands also hailed from the same place and was educated by the same teachers. Background matters. Background directs who initiates laws, what laws are developed, how they work and how they come into being.
One of these men, Hersch Lauterpacht, escaped the horrors of the Holocaust by fleeing first to Sweden and then to the U.S., where he was offered a chair by Duke University in Durham. He developed the concept of Crimes against Humanity. The other, Rafael Lemkin, escaped to England, where he worked first at the London School of Economics and later in Cambridge. He developed the concept of Genocide (and coined the phrase). It is a subset of Crimes against Humanity in that it is intended to target a specific group of people, racial, religious, ethnic or cultural. These concepts were first used in the Nurnberg trials, where for the first time a supranational legal concept was considered more powerful than the national law.
They helped to convict people like Seyss Inquart for his crimes in The Netherlands and Hans Frank who was directly responsible for the deaths of the families of Lemkin and Lauterpach. No longer should people be able to hide behind national laws to protect themselves from persecution. The power of the sovereign state was no longer absolute.
Professor Sands spoke at length about the tension between the two concepts. “Genocide” is seen as it were as the crime of crimes and gets front-page news, Crimes against Humanity much less so. Yet, there is a drawback to the concept of Genocide. By definition it divides the actors involved into perpetrator groups and victim groups, making the segregation stronger. But since 1945 most of the horrific events have been acts against groups. Primo Levi held that ‘Many people -many nations- can find themselves holding, more or less wittingly, that “every stranger is an enemy”. Only education and information can counter that.
Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp.
International law now reigns supreme over national laws, when we care to use it. The Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was arrested in Britain on the indictment of a Spanish prosecutor for acts committed in Chile. The country of Myanmar was ordered to act swiftly to protect the Rohingya or face the Security Council. And so today, in the City of Peace and Justice, there is not only the International Court, but the International Criminal Court, and various special tribunals that confront both sovereign states and individuals with laws that are crafted to protect both individuals and special groups. It isn’t perfect, but it is working and growing in power and experience.
Dr. Jurist Alfred Kellermann with other guests.
Later this year Professor Sands hopes to publish the sequel to his successful East-West street.
It was a packed auditorium where the 350 attendants, ambassadors, judges, lawyers and those lucky enough to get registered listened riveted to their chairs by the quality and importance of the speeches. To represent the many Dutch jurists that were killed during the Holocaust, six children lighted candles to six jurists, while their names and a brief c.v. were read.
One can only hope that this event, held this year for the second time, will become a tradition so fitting for this city and the Peace Palace.
H.E. Mr. Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Ambassador of Rwanda.
By Roy Lie Atjam.
The Hague, “Visit Rwanda” hot on the heels of successfully participating in the annual Vakantiebeurs (14-17 Jan) the Embassy of Rwanda in the Netherlands organized a networking event with the theme Visit Rwanda.
It was at the Hotel Hilton, on 20 January 2020. A concise group of Dutch travel media professionals and celebrities had been invited.
Son and spouse of Ambassador, Mr de Wit, Ambassador Karabaranga and Louis van Gaal.
Special guest was the Football personality Mr. Louis van Gaal who visited Rwanda in 2019 and had the honour to be one of the name givers at Kwita Izina, the annual gorilla naming ceremony.
H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga, flanked by his spouse welcomed the honourable guests and thanked each and everyone for their contribution since they have experienced Rwanda as a holiday destination. The Ambassador invited all to share experiences and provide information to the RDB – Rwanda Development Board and the Embassy, in order to improve the quality of the cooperation with the media & travel industry.
Mrs Linda Mutesi, marketing manager at RDB.
RDB’s marketing manager Mrs Linda Mutesi gave a presentation, her focus was on where the destination Rwanda stands today and the marketing strategy for the coming years.
Mr Greg Bakunzi of Amahoro Tours and a guest.
The special guest Mr Louis van Gaal remarked, “It has been an honour for me to name a baby Gorilla. My advice to Dutch people is the following, If you intend to visit Rwanda, don’t look at t\its tragic past, but look at how Rwanda is today!
Ambassador Karabaranga, Louis van Gaal, Harry Betist from Travelproof.
It’s unbelievable how in only 25 years President Paul Kagame has managed to changed Rwanda. People of Rwanda are friendly and polite. Its nature is incredible! Rwanda is clean, hotels and food very good.”
Louis van Gaal with Ambassador and Embassy team: Willem Versteegh, Joy Uwanziga, Ambassador Karabaranga, Louis van Gaal, Lydia Sibo and Herbert Ndahiro
Without any doubt, it has been a Rwandaful evening !
In the picture H.E. Mr Dilyor Khakimov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
ByRoy Lie Atjam.
The Ambassador of Uzbekistan in the Netherlands H.E. Mr Dilyor Khakimov, organized a presentation and a networking coffee event to promote Uzbekistan Agro-industry. The presentation took place at the Provinciezaal of Nieuwspoort The Hague on 20 January 2020.
The keynote speaker was to be the Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr Jamshid Khodjaev. Unfortunately, Minister Khodjaev had to call off the visit as he had to attend to urgent matters at home. However, Minister Khodjaev will be coming to The Hague ulteriorly.
Mr Ulugbek Khusainov, Chief Inspector of the President’s Administration, Madam Kamila Irgasheva, Ambassador Dilyor Khakimov and Mr Boy Frank, representative of the Uzbek commerce chamber in the Netherlands.
The presentation went ahead, Madam Kamila Irgasheva, Head of the Division of the Ministry of Agriculture delivered a lively and informative presentation. There was a panel composed of: Mr Ulugbek Khusainov, Chief Inspector of the President’s Administration, Madam Kamila Irgasheva, Ambassador Dilyor Khakimov and Mr Boy Frank, representative of the Uzbek commerce chamber in the Netherlands. Scores of potential Dutch investors attended the event as well as Ambassadors and diplomats. Among them the Ambassador of Turkey and the Charge d ‘Affaires a.i of Belarus.
The evening proceeded with testimonials of companies already active in Uzbekistan and a two minutes each pitches of companies envisaging to leap into the upcoming Central Asia market of Uzbekistan.
A distinguish guest, Ambassador Khakimov and H.E. Ambassador Şaban Dişli, Ambassador of Turkey.
Uzbekistan is open for dialogue and is interested in expanding pragmatic cooperation with all partners based on equality, mutual benefit, respect and consideration of each other’s interests. Uzbekistan does not develop relations with one country or organization by restricting cooperation with the other side.
Agro Uzbekistan
The Government of Uzbekistan has institutions in place to facilitate prospective investors. For instance, there are investment protection and support schemes: Government guarantees investment protection, Government bodies don’t have the right to interfere in investor activities, investors activities are not subject to nationalization.
Investment stimulation activities :
Granting tax and customs benefits, as well as preferences for terms determined to depend on the type of activity and volume of investment.
A 24/7 Call Centre, tax facilities and so much more has been put in place. The Ministry of Agriculture contact data http//www.agro.uz
Already investing in Uzbekistan are Coca Cola, Hyundai, Boeing. Samsung, Hyatt and others.
Export, main outlet markets for Uzbek products are Russia, Kazahkstan, Baltic countries and even China. The phenomena Green Corridors, a simplified customs clearance system is gaining ground. Uzbekistan is vying the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
The Uzbek diaspora in the Netherlands presented tokens to Ambassador Dilyor Khakimov and some others in the Uzbek community.
Ambassador Dilyor Khakimov, can look back on a successful evening, good exposure of the Uzbek Agro-industry. Bravo.
The Ambassador of Austria, H.E. Dr. Heidemaria Gürer and The Ambassador of Chile, H.E. Dr. Maria Teresa de Jesus Infante Caffi.
Photography and text by Catherine Dailey.
Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Heidemaria Gürer transformed the “salons” of her magnificent residence into an authentic Viennese Coffee House last Friday. A tribute to Viennese Coffee Culture, listed as one of Austria’s contributions to UNESCO’s intangible world cultural heritage since 2011, provided a festive occasion to introduce scores of invited guests to centuries old coffee house traditions.
A Viennese Coffee House at the Residence of Austria.
All of Ambassador Gürer’s guests appreciated her attentiveness to detail in re-creating an authentic Viennese Coffee House on the Koninginnegracht. Beneath elegant Bohemian crystal chandeliers, classical music performances were given by both a pianist and a cellist throughout the afternoon. Seated at tables featuring marble tabletops and on authentic bentwood chairs in the style of “Michael Thonet”, guests were offered a selection of famous Viennese patisseries such as mohnstreudel or apfelstreudel (apple strudel), which are typically featured on traditional coffee house menus.
Chilean Ambassador H.E. Ms. María Teresa InfanteCaffi and Ambassador María Jesús Alonso Jiménez of Spain were among the many who visited the “Viennese Coffee House” to enjoy Her Excellency’s gracious hospitality.
Reinildis van Ditzhuyzen, the well-known specialist on the Dutch Royal House, etiquette expert, historian, writer, commentator and author of “Hoe hoort het eigenlijk?”
Ambassador Gürer also invited Reinildis van Ditzhuyzen, the well-known specialist on the Dutch Royal House, etiquette expert, historian, writer, commentator and author of “Hoe hoort het eigenlijk?” to give a presentation on Viennese Coffee Culture.
Guests discovered that coffee is always served in a porcelain cup and saucer on a tray together with a small glass of water. These are essential Viennese coffee culture traditions! Other special features of a Viennese Coffee House are the presence of newspapers – a tradition dating to 1720; professional staff dressed in timeless black and white uniforms; board games such as chess. Poetry readings and music performances are also often featured.
Viennese Coffee House at the Austrian Residency in The Hague.
Extended opening hours—often from 7:00 am until 12:00 are also traditions. One can enjoy an informal inexpensive meal at nearly anytime of the day or night at Viennese Coffee Houses. When combined, all elements contribute towards creating an inspiring atmosphere which fosters a tradition of free thinking and creativity amongst artists, intellectuals and others.
Van Ditzhuyzen’s also briefly referred to Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) during her presentation. Modern Austrians remember “Sisi” as the “Lady Diana of the 18th Century – one of history’s tragic figures whose life, and death, has inspired countless poems, stories and films. The empress was even the subject of a recent musical bearing her name – “Sisi.” Even centuries after her death, interest in her life remains strong and today’s visitors to Vienna follow Sisi’s “tourist trail” and visit Habsburg Court landmarks which were part of her life.
When planning a long weekend to visit Vienna, allow time to research and enjoy the city’s coffee house culture. Café Central, Café Landtmann, Café Sperl and Café Mozart are four well established coffee houses boasting more than a century of tradition. Visitors to the seat of the “House of Habsburg”, enjoy the historic, UNESCO listed capital city for palaces, parks and museums and experiencing life with the locals by participating in Viennese coffee house culture.
The end of January is an important time to remember the horrors of the Holocaust. It is 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, the most massive industrial murder machine the world has ever seen. For this occasion the National Committee Four and Five May had commissioned the design Studio Roosegaarde to design a monument to commemorate the 104,000 Dutch Jews, three quarters of the Dutch Jewish population at the time, who were deported and murdered.
Rabbijn Katzman.
The monument consists of 104,000 stones that were distributed to a great many cities and towns all over the country, where they were placed in a circle of light and where they will remain until February 2nd.
The Hague chose this occasion not just to commemorate the murdered Jews, but also the city’s Roma and Sinti, who were rounded up, deported and murdered.
Laura Renberg, speaking for the Liberal Jewish Community in The Hague.
The event started at the Library of the Municipal building, where Alderman (Wethouder) Bert van Alphen gave an impassioned impression of his visit to Auschwitz with a group of high school children. He recalled that, much as he knew about the horrors of the Shoa, he was unprepared for the vastness of these killing grounds.
Three of these teenagers recounted their impression of the visit, where they were awed in the presence of what until then had been as far away to them as anything they learned in their history lessons. One young girl came away with the conviction that her generation should ensure that such horrors would never happen again. Then Laura Renberg spoke for the Liberal Jewish Community in The Hague rendering the deportations more personal by telling the stories of several deported families.
Adding a stone to “Levenslicht”.
After a musical interval by a trio from the Royal Gypsy Orchestra it was the turn of the Roma and Sinti. Helena Franchimont read from the memoires of het Mimi, her grandmother and Lalla Weisz related that on May 14th 1944, all 578 Roma and Sinti were rounded up. Luckily many carried Italian passports and were freed. The remaining 245 were deported to Auschwitz, interned in a special “Zigeunerlager” and murdered.
The several hundred people who had gathered at the Library then walked over to the Rabbijn Maarsenplein, where Rabbi Katzman conducted a short service at the Jewish Monument. This was followed by the speakers of the evening adding their “Stones of Light” to the ephemeral monument. The city derives credit for this styleful and inclusive ceremony.
The Hague, Netherlands—16 January 2020—The Government of Cyprus has contributed €25,000 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 Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Elpidoforos Economou and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias.
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 Cyprus to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Elpidoforos Economou.
The Director-General expressed: “I thank the Government of Cyprus for this 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.”
Ambassador Economou expressed his full confidence in the OPCW and Cyprus’ commitment in supporting the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. He stated: “The ChemTech Centre will be a valuable resource for the OPCW and its Member States, both by ensuring that the organisation remains relevant and fit for purpose and by providing several collective benefits, including training and capacity-building assistance.”
H.E. Ambassador Elpidoforos Economou and H.E. Mr Fernando Arias.
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, boost its investigative capability, and enhance capacity building activities. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.
So far, twenty-nine States Parties and the European Union have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.
In the picture the Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Jean-Marc Hoscheit, the Secretary General of Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, H.E. Ms Sylvie Lucas and the Director General of the OPCW H.E. Mr Fernando Arias.
The Hague, Netherlands – 22 January 2020 – The Secretary General of Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, H.E. Ms Sylvie Lucas, met today with the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
Ms Lucas and the Director-General discussed a range of issues related to the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Director-General also briefed her on the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store through the construction of the ChemTech Centre (“ChemTech Centre”). They also discussed other initiatives undertaken by the OPCW in the areas of national implementation, international cooperation, and assistance and protection.
The Director-General expressed his deep gratitude to Ms Lucas for Luxembourg’s recent valuable support of OPCW activities, in particular its financial contributions to the Trust Fund for Syria Missions, as well as to the Trust Fund to support the project to build the ChemTech Centre.
ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, regarding the situation in Guinea: “Construction of the new courtroom in Conakry is an important step towards holding long-awaited trial and to see justice done”.
I welcome the recent news on the official start of construction, within the premises of the Appeals Court of Conakry, of a new courtroom to host the trial of the events of 28 September 2009 at the Conakry stadium, which is the focus of my Office’s ongoing preliminary examination in the situation in Guinea.
This is an important step forward in the implementation process towards holding this long-awaited trial. In this regard, I note with appreciation the statement by the Minister of Justice of Guinea, Mr Mohamed Lamine Fofana, that the new courtroom should be operational in time for the trial to begin on the announced date of June 2020, in line with commitments made by his Government during my Office’s mission to Conakry, in October 2019.
With this date now fast approaching, it is vital that domestic authorities and all other concerned stakeholders proceed swiftly with the remaining necessary material preparations and step up efforts to ensure that the trial begins within the announced timeline.
The victims of the Conakry Stadium events deserve to see justice done without further delay. In the upcoming months, in accordance with its status as a State Party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Guinea can and must demonstrate its will and ability to finalise its efforts to address impunity for the horrific events of September 2009.
My Office will continue to closely follow and support Guinean authorities’ efforts towards this goal in conformity with the principle of complementarity. To further this objective, my Office looks forward to its continued engagement with the authorities, including through its regular missions to Conakry.
In the context of its on-going preliminary examination of the situation in Colombia, a delegation from the Office of the Prosecutor (“Office”) of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”) conducted a mission to the Republic of Colombia from 19 to 23 January 2020. The purpose of the mission was for the Office to engage in constructive discussions with the Government authorities to assess progress of national proceedings in relation to the areas of focus identified in the interim report on the situation, published in November 2012. In addition, the Office held valuable talks with representatives from international organisations and members of civil society, whose views and concerns continue to inform the Office’s assessment of the situation.
The delegation’s engagement with the authorities and other stakeholders focused in particular on national proceedings addressing the promotion and expansion of paramilitary groups; forced displacement; sexual and gender-based crimes; and, the killings known as “false positives”. In addition, the Office held consultations relating to legislative and other developments that could have an impact on national proceedings relating to Rome Statute crimes.
The delegation further held consultations relating to the development of indicators and benchmarks in order to assess the current national efforts to provide accountability for Rome Statute crimes, including the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (“SJP”), as well as proceedings carried out under the ordinary justice and the Justice and Peace Law systems.
While the Office is yet to define the content of such benchmarks and conditions, initial consultations with the Colombian authorities and other stakeholders were carried out in the context of the visit. The Office stresses that its assessment of the national efforts is still ongoing and will continue alongside the development of the indicators mentioned above.
The Office looks forward to the continued engagement with the Government of Colombia, international organisations and civil society on this and other aspects of the preliminary examination.
The Office restates its support to Colombia’s peace process and the implementation of exhaustive measures to achieve justice, in line with its obligations under the Rome Statute. In this sense, the Office reiterates the importance of the SJP and the necessity to maintain its integrity and independence, as well as the need to provide it with the necessary resources and support to carry out its important mandate.
The Office stands ready to support the SJP’s efforts to develop adequate mechanisms, techniques and procedures, with a view to reaching decisions, which are both legally and factually compatible with the admissibility requirements of the Rome Statute.
The Office further notes the importance of developing rigorous and effective measures and systems for the proper implementation, verification and monitoring of the sanctions imposed by the SJP, in particular those imposing restrictions on liberty.
Finally, the Office stresses the importance of national agencies fully cooperating with the SJP, including by timely providing the information necessary for the SJP to fulfil its mandate, in particular the transmission of information gathered in all relevant judicial proceedings. Such cooperation should also include facilitating the voluntary appearance of persons before the SJP, and taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of those persons.
The Prosecutor expresses her gratitude to the Government of Colombia for providing its support to the Office delegation’s visit and facilitating the meetings with national authorities.
The Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC conducts independent and impartial preliminary examinations, investigations and prosecutions of the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. Since 2003, the Office has been conducting investigations in multiple situations within the ICC’s jurisdiction, namely in Uganda; the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Darfur, Sudan; the Central African Republic (two distinct situations); Kenya; Libya; Côte d’Ivoire; Mali; Georgia and Burundi. The Office is also currently conducting preliminary examinations relating to the situations in Colombia; Guinea; Iraq/UK; the Philippines; Nigeria; Ukraine; and Venezuela.
