Mr Aizaz Khan, Counsellor, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to Multilateral Organizations and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – 6 March 2020 – The Government of Pakistan has contributed €10,000 to a special Organization 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 Alternate Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the OPCW, Counsellor Mr Aizaz Khan.
The Director-General expressed: “I thank the Government of Pakistan 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.”
Alternate Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the OPCW, Counsellor Mr Aizaz Khan and Director General H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias.
Mr Aizaz Khan stated: “Pakistan has always been and remains a strong supporter of the Convention. Our contribution to the ChemTech Centre project demonstrates our support for research and development in cutting-edge technologies to make the world a safer place. It will strengthen our collective security by building further capacity to perform core tasks such as verification and inspections.”
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-four 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.
Wednesday, 4 March 2020, Berlin, Germany: Qatari Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met in Berlin accompanied by the country’s Ambassador to Germany, Mohammed bin Jaham Al Kuwari.
Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Heiko Maas explicitly thanked his Qatari counterpart for Qatar’s commitment to peace in Afghanistan. The talks between the USA and the Taliban took place in Qatar and led to the conclusion of an agreement last weekend; a first between the USA and the Taliban forces. The next step is now to take the next step in intra-Afghan negotiations.
The German position is clear: peace can and will only be achieved if the Afghans are reconciled among themselves. Germany and Qatar have already worked together in the past and promoted intra-Afghan dialogue. Germany and Qatar are also working closely together on Sudan.
Qatar is a member of the group “Friends of Sudan” initiated by Germany, which supports the country on its path towards stability and peace. Both Foreign Ministers are convinced that Sudan is at a decisive turning point following the peaceful revolution.
The transition to democracy and stability also requires good coordination of international support.
In the picture Chairperson Nadja Swarovski – Picture by Swarovski.
Thursday, 27 February 2020, London, UK: Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board, was announced as the winner of the ‘Business Leader of the Year Award’ at the inaugural Positive Luxury Awards held at the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel in London.
At a ceremony that celebrated sustainability and innovation within the luxury industry, Nadja Swarovskiwas commended for her inspiring leadership in this sector, and for her efforts to push the boundaries of sustainability performance at Swarovski.
Recognising her work strengthening Swarovski’s impressive sustainability credentials, the judging panel noted Nadja Swarovski’s launch of the company’s commitment to Conscious Luxury in 2018, producing crystals, lab-created stones, genuine gemstones and jewellery which are responsibly sourced and crafted with care.
Nadja was inspired by her great-great-grandfather, Daniel Swarovski, who founded his company in the Austrian Alps 125 years ago, and laid out the principles of responsibility, innovation, creativity and collaboration that the company still follows today.
Today that legacy lives on in Swarovski’s commitment to Conscious Luxury within Fashion, Jewelry and Interiors; its Positive Production in Austria, Thailand, Vietnam and India; its international Sustainability programmes within the organisation; and in the Swarovski Foundation, which supports institutions globally focusing on the environment, education and human empowerment, as well as the Swarovski Waterschool which is active in five continents.
Nadja Swarovski has also driven the company’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and its partnership with the UN Global Compact and the UN Women’s Empowerment Program to implement more sustainable practices within the organization.
Nadja also spearheaded the Conscious Design initiative launched in 2019 in collaboration with Central Saint Martins, demonstrating Swarovski’s inspirational leadership within the luxury industry to promote sustainability and spark positive change.
In the picture H.E. Mr. I Gusti Wesaka Puja, Ambassador of Indonesia.
By Roy Lie Atjam.
The Hague, 27 February 2020. The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia hosted a seminar at its Aula Nusantara KBRI Den Haag. The objective of the focus group was to discuss dealing with greater Jakarta floods in times of climate change.
Over two hundred individuals from all quarters of society attend the seminar. The welcome and opening of the seminar was done by H.E. Mr. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia in the Netherlands.
Professor Wiwi Tjiook M.Sc. – Suryadi, F. Ph.D., IHE Delft Institute for Water Education speaker at the seminar – Dealing with the greater Jakarta.
In his address Ambassador Puja extemporaneously shared valuable information on Jakarta’s history and the phenomena of flooding which has been menacing the metropole. The flooding issue should beyond any doubt settle for Jakarta to assume her position among theLiveable Cities of the world.
Ambassador Puja expressed his gratitude towards the Liveable Cities Taskforce IDN-NL, the Indonesian diaspora, for relentlessly lending their support to the seminar.
The various speakers that took to the rostrum after Ambassador Puja’s delivery among them, Wiwi Tjiook M.Sc. – Suryadi, F. Ph.D., IHE Delft Institute for Water Education; – Prof. Arifin, Hadi S., Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) – via Skype; – Booister, Nikeh M.Sc., SWECO – via Skype.
Issue of Certificates Ceremony.
They dealt with items such as:
Evolution of Jakarta flood policies, climate change and urban water management
Flood mitigation approaches for Jakarta
Regional development in Jakarta’s delta in times of climate change
Furthermore, the program was made up of a plenary and a breakaway session.
Participants received a certificate and were cordially invited to part take of the buffet-dinner.
Cross section of the audience. Dealing with Greater Jakarta’s conference.
Mike Pompeo (USA), Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (Qatar), Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah (Oman), and Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (Turkey) – Picture by US State Department.
Saturday, 29 February 2020, Doha, State of Qatar: the USA administration has announced a peace agreement vis-à-vis the Taliban, that paves the way for the US to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan after 19 years on the ground.
The provisions of the deal include the withdrawal of all American and NATO troops from Afghanistan, a Taliban pledge to prevent al-Qaeda from operating in areas under Taliban control, and talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
The United States agreed to an initial reduction of its force level from 13,000 to 8,600, followed by a full withdrawal within 14 months, if the Taliban honour their commitments.
This preliminary agreement is contingent on further internal negotiations between the Taliban and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Qatar and Oman are pivotal diplomatic partners when mediating with the Taliban.
The King’s Commissioner for Friesland and five distinguished Dutch citizens were rewarded for their contributions to the development of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and the Netherlands
In the picture H.E. Mr. Rumen Alexandrov, Ambassador of Bulgaria during the awards ceremony.
At an official ceremony held on January 29th, 2020 at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in The Hague, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the country H.E. Mr. Rumen Alexandrov presented awards to six distinguished Dutch citizens for their long-standing contribution to the development of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and the Netherlands.
The event was organized in the framework of the 110th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands celebrated in 2019, as well as the forthcoming 20th anniversary since the establishment of the successful twinning partnership between the Bulgarian sea capital Varna and the dutch city of Dordrecht.
The special guest of the event was the King’s Commissioner for the Dutch province of Friesland, Drs. Arnoud Adrianus Maria “Arno” Brok, who also served as a Mayor of Dordrecht in the period from 2011 to 2017. Thanks to his continuous support, the twinning partnership between Varna and Dordrecht has been significantly developed over the years and in various areas of mutual interest – economic and cultural ties, implementation of social and charitable projects, promotion of people-to-people contacts and tourism.
Guests attending the ceremony of awards to six distinguished Dutch citizens for their long-standing contribution to the development of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and the Netherlands.
On behalf of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Ambassador Alexandrov awarded Commissioner Brok with the high state honour – the Order of the Madara Horseman – 1st degree, for his significant contribution to the development of bilateral relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
In addition, five prominent Dutch citizens – Mrs. Gea Davids, political advisor in the Dordrecht municipality, as well as Mr. Rob Scheelbeek, Mrs. Madeleine Noteborn, Mr. Leendert Korteweg and Mrs. Andrea van den Boogaard from the Twinning Dordrecht-Varna Foundation were honored with the Golden Laurel Twig Award of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.
King’s Commissioner for the Dutch province of Friesland, Drs. Arnoud Adrianus Maria “Arno” Brok and Ambassador Alexandrov.
In his welcoming speech, H.E. Ambassador Rumen Alexandrov noted that the work of the Bulgarian diplomatic service in strengthening and developing bilateral relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands would not have been successful without the enthusiasm, dedication and continued support of these Dutch citizens and friends of our country.
The Ambassador noted that the numerous successful projects implemented, as well as the plans for the coming years in the framework of the twinning partnership between the cities of Varna and Dordrecht, give him confidence that the cooperation at the local level will continue successfully in the future and for the mutual benefit of the citizens of our two partner European countries.
Among the numerous guests, who attended the ceremony at the Embassy of Bulgaria in The Hague were also H.E. Countess Van Zuylen van Nijevelt – den Beer Portugael, H.E. Mrs. Bea ten Tusscher, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bulgaria, the Mayor of Dordrecht – Mr. Wouter Kolff, Prof. Ekaterina Trendafilova, President of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, officials of the royal governance of the Friesland province and of the Municipality of Dordrecht, many ambassadors, as well as prominent Bulgarian and Dutch citizens.
The event was widely covered by several Dutch television and regional print media, as well as in the social media platforms Facebook and Twitter.
H.E. Mr I Gusti Wesaka Puja, Ambassador of Indonesia. Photography by A. Lutter.
By Anton Lutter.
Already a quarter of a century ago Queen Beatrix accompanied with, then crownprince, Willem-Alexander, visited Indonesia. Next week for the third time a Dutch sovereign will be on a state visit to the Republic of Indonesia, economic superpower and one of the largest democracies in the world.
A large delegation from the Dutch business community will also travel to Indonesia. The Ambassador of Indonesia H.E. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja hosted a lunch for them in a pre-departure event. Among the many high-level guests were representatives of the Royal Household, VNO-NCW, Indonesia Nederland Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and many others.
Ambassador Puja’s speech focused on the ties that both our countries binds:
“The relations between Indonesia and The Netherlands remain excellent. We have had major trade and business delegations headed by yours truly, the Prime Minister Mark Rutte for numerous occasions and a working visit by Indonesia led by President Joko Widodo in April 2016. This time the state visit by His Majesty the King would bear a very significant and historical moment for both Indonesia and The Netherlands. This is one of the most culminating highlights in the ever-existing friendly relations between Indonesia and The Netherlands since the last state visit of Queen Beatrix to Indonesia 25 years ago.”
“Many things have changed in the course of 25 years. As for Indonesia,” the ambassador continues, “our history ran from one chapter to another. A lot of reforms in Indonesia have been made. We have made a transformational course from the brink of economic collapse towards growing to an over one trillion-dollar economy. This shows the resilience of our people and how we bring ourselves to be able to grow this fast and quite so far.”
Today Indonesia is one of the ASEAN Countries with the highest industry-to-GDP ratio, has a stable economic growth with an average of 5.2% annually at a projected period from 2020 to 2024 and a triple B rating on the investment status. Next to that Indonesia has been reforming its laws, policies and regulations to boost foreign investments and ease of doing business.
“In the course of 25 years since the last state visit, the relations between Indonesia and The Netherlands have matured, has endured the test of time and has brought our two-peoples linkages even closer. Yes, our relation is unique because our history is interwoven. Yet, we have brought our uniqueness to complement one another and bring mutual benefits to our own people.” Ambassador Puja ended his speech with wise words considering the future of Dutch-Indonesian relations after the state visit: “There’s a proverb, “you reap what you sow”. There is nothing more to say”.
The wonderful lunch consisted of a variety of dishes from the islands which will be visited by their Majesties: Java, Kalimantan and Sumatera. Next to that movies showcasing Indonesia’s economic development as well as the plans for a new capital city where shown to the public.
Pianist Patrick Wijnhamer and violinist Drummado Wijnhaver, musicians of Dutch-Indonesian descent, gave an excellent performance of various classical pieces, making the pre-departure event “seize your opportunity in Indonesia” a successful affair.
In the picture Mr. Phakiso Mochochoko, the Director of Jurisdiction, Complementary and Cooperation Division of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor.
By Aurore Heugas.
In November 2019, the International Criminal Court (ICC) granted a request to open an investigation to find out the truth about alleged crimes committees against the Rohingya.
On February 4, Director of Jurisdiction at the Complementary and Cooperation Division of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, Phakiso Mochochoko, gave a press conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to offer more details about what the investigation will entail.
“Investigator from the Office of the Prosecutor will now seek to uncover the truth about what happened to the Rohingya people in Myanmar which brought them here to Bangladesh,” declared Phakiso Mochochoko.
Myanmar is not a party to the ICC, but Bangladesh is, which is why the Court’s Judges have authorised the investigation with broad parameters. The Prosecutor will be able to investigate “any crimes which fall within ICC jurisdiction and committed, at least in part, on the territory of Bangladesh, insofar as the crimes are sufficiently linked to the situation,” explained Mr Mochochoko. The investigation will then be able to cover all alleged crimes committed from the time Bangladesh joined the ICC in June 2010 and will cover any future crimes linked to the situation.
The press conference stressed the importance of confidentiality during the investigating process. Details will therefore not be publicized during the currently ongoing investigating phase. It “is crucial not just for the integrity of the investigation, but also for the security of all involved, including the victims and witnesses”.
As a concluding statement, Phakiso Mochochoko acknowledged that while the expected outcome of the investigation is justice, it will not repair the damaged done to the Rohingya people. “It cannot bring back loved ones lost to the violence. It will not directly affect how they live in the camps. It will not have an impact on their current situation.”
What it aims to do however is make sure these stories are not forgotten and that the people responsible for the crimes committed face the just consequences, face justice.
Monday, 2 March 2020, Emirate of Sharjah, UAE: His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Emir of Sharjah, patronised the official opening Al Faya Retreat and Al Badayer Oasis, part of Sharjah Collection; a Shurooq hospitality arm managed by Mysk from Shaza. Projects that are transforming the central region in Sharjah, changing historical edifices and creating a destination for people that would like to discover the landscape of the UAE, being far from a busy city.
The retreat is located near the Fossil Rock and is a 10-minute drive away from the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism project, another destination developed by Shurooq offering visitors a remarkable set of adventurous activities such as desert tours, thrilling dune bashing experiences as well as a number of desert experiences for all family members.
The Emir of Sharjah was accompanied by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chair of Shurooq; Sheikh Faisal bin Saud Al Qasimi, Director of the Sharjah International Airport Authority; Khalid bin Jassim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA); Mohammed bin Obaid Al Zaabi, Head of the Protocol and Hospitality Department; Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of Shurooq; amongst other personalities.
H.E Mr. Gamaliel Nkurunziza, Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi.
The Embassy of Republic of Burundi together with the Burundian Community in The Kingdom of Netherlands had the pleasure to organize the celebration of the New Year 2020 on February 22nd.
The Burundian embassy would like to give big thanks to each and everyone who attended this New Year’s reception. We can honestly say that it was a successful event.
