Monday 16 December, The International Institute of Social Studies bid farewell to 144 successful MA graduates in Development Studies. During the graduation ceremony, the fresh ISS alumni collected their well-deserved MA certificates.
We wish them all success in their future endeavours!
Photography by ISS.
From left to right: Wouter van Ransbeek, Robert Icke, Michael Loubser (© Simon Schoo).
British director and writer Robert Icke has committed himself to Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, as Ibsen Artist in Residence. This new way of supporting talent is established by the Philip Loubser Foundation.
The Ibsen Artist in Residence supports artists with an international reputation, so that they can enhance their relationship with ITA.
The Philip Loubser Foundation ensures that Robert Icke will be part of the team of ITA-directors for two seasons. The famous British director will create new work with the ITA-ensemble and will be working together with Ivo van Hove and Wouter van Ransbeek. The Ibsen Artist in Residence will receive a yearly budget to use for his or her own artistic development, in or aside from ITA.
The agreement has been signed by ITA director Wouter van Ransbeek and the board of the Philip Loubser Foundation, in the presence of the ITA supervisory board and Robert Icke.
Michael Loubser on behalf of the Philip Loubser Foundation: ‘The Philip Loubser Foundation is proud to be associated with the new Ibsen Artist in Residence at ITA, once again celebrating the name of the great Henrik Ibsen.’’
Robert Icke: ‘It was an honour to create the production Oedipus in 2018 with the ITA-ensemble – one of the world’s foremost acting ensembles. To be Artist in Residence with this company is a great opportunity for me to take the next step in my own work as an artist.’
Wouter van Ransbeek: ‘I see it as ITA’s responsibility to introduce new national en international talents towards creating large-scale productions at the right time in their careers. With Robert Icke – after Simon Stone as house director – we once again commit an international artist with an immense theatrical talent to ITA. We are certain that ITA will prove to be an exciting place for Robert’s further development.’About Robert Icke
Robert Icke (1986) is a British director and writer. He previously made a well-received modern version of Oedipus at ITA. In the spring, Robert Icke will create Children of Norawith the ITA-ensemble, his first production as Ibsen Artist in Residence.
About the Philip Loubser Foundation
The Philip Loubser Foundation (PLF) has a long tradition of supporting talent in dance and music in collaboration with renowned international institutes such as the Royal Ballet School, the English National Opera and the Royal College of Music. The Ibsen Artist in Residence follows the International Ibsen Fellowship, aimed at international young directors.
The Hague, Arusha,20 December 2019
The Registrar of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), Olufemi Elias met with the President of the Seventy-fourth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Tijjani Muhammad-Bande of Nigeria, at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Registrar Elias briefed His Excellency Muhammad-Bande on the key activities and developments at the Mechanism. Registrar Elias underscored the importance of the support of Member States in a number of key areas of Mechanism’s work. Registrar Elias further outlined the budgetary requirements of the Mechanism in 2020, emphasising the need for support by the Members States in this process, for an effective and timely implementation of the Mechanism’s remaining judicial workload and ongoing functions at both branches of the Mechanism.
His Excellency Muhammad-Bande expressed his unwavering support for the mandate and work of the Mechanism, stressing that its operations are essential for the continued development of international criminal justice.
Registrar Elias is currently in New York in connection with the consideration of the Mechanism’s budget submission for 2020 by the Administrative and Budgetary Committee (Fifth Committee) of the United Nations General Assembly.
12 December 2019, Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany: Premier Dr. Reiner Haseloff received H.E. Mr. Wu Ken, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, for his inaugural visit to the State Chancellery. Dr. Jürgen Ude, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economics, Science and Digitization, was likewise present during the meeting from the Saxony-Anhalt side.
The discussion partners exchanged views on current political issues and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
China is one of Saxony-Anhalt’s most important foreign trade partners. In 2018, goods worth almost 805 million euros were delivered to the People’s Republic, more than ever before. Imports also peaked in 2018 at around 1.6 billion euros.
Delegation and business trips to China take place regularly, most recently at the end of October 2019 under the direction of State Secretary Dr. Ude, who among other things took part in the opening of the investment and cooperation forum of the Chinese-German “Hidden Champions Qingdao 2019”. Representatives from Saxony-Anhalt will also be present at the annual logistics trade fair in Shanghai.
At the beginning of September, a delegation from the south-western Chinese province of Guangyxi visited Saxony-Anhalt to discuss future opportunities for cooperation.
In the office of the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad in Shanghai there is an economic representative office of the state of Saxony-Anhalt with a special range of services for companies from our state for market exploration and market entry in China.
Several investments by Chinese companies have been implemented in recent years. In 2013, for example, Greatview Asepctic Packaging started production of aseptic packaging material in the Star Park near Halle (Saale) with the support of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Due to the good capacity utilisation, the plant has been expanded in the meantime.
In the state capital Magdeburg, a regular China regulars’ table is held.
All universities in Saxony-Anhalt maintain cooperative relations with corresponding institutions in China. More than 1,000 students from China are enrolled at the universities in the federal state, most of them at the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences.
A number of cultural institutions in Saxony-Anhalt also have contacts in the People’s Republic. A delegation from the China Design Museum was a guest at the opening of the new Bauhaus Museum in Dessau. The exhibition “Bauhaus imaginista” was also shown in Hangzhou in 2018. This year, the Michaelstein Monastery accompanied a double bass lecturer at the Zhejiang Conversatory of Music as well as some of her students during their participation in the master classes for double bass “Bass Europe Academy”.
The Kunstmuseum Moritzburg Halle houses the second largest European collection of Chinese coins. The special exhibition “China’s Money” took place there in 2017.
There are currently five school partnerships and three city partnerships between China and Saxony-Anhalt.
For further information:
Government of Saxony-Anhalt: https://europa.sachsen-anhalt.de/internationales/aktuelles-internationales-2019/antrittsbesuch-des-chinesischen-botschafters/
Picture by Saxony-Anhalt State Chancellery, I. Berger.
Sunday, 15 December 2019, Emirate of Sharjah, UAE: His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the Khorfakkan Beach project, in the presence of HH Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), as well as a number of senior representatives from Sharjah’s state entities and project supervisors, including Shurooq’s Executive Chairman, HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal.
This first-of-its-kind large scale redevelopment and redesigning project in the Eastern region of Sharjah was launched in October 2018 by Shurooq. The project has been developed with the support of a myriad of government entities in Sharjah.
During the inaugural festivities, His Highness The Emir of Sharjah, Sheikh Dr. Sultan III Al Qasimi was given a detailed account of the project and its facilities. The AED 95 million project aligns with Shurooq’s strategy to integrate tourism and family destinations across the emirate of Sharjah, enhance the touristic appeal of Khorfakkan city and Sharjah’s east coast in general, and generate new business and investment interest in the area.
With the opening of the Khorfakkan Beach project, visitors can have direct access to the new beach experience through the recently launched 89 km Sharjah-Khorfakkan highway, which has cut down travelling time between the two cities to 45 minutes.
Founded in 2009, Shurooq aims to achieve social, cultural, environmental and economic development on the basis of Sharjah’s distinct Arab and Islamic culture and to seamlessly add to the fabric of the emirate. It strives to develop the emirate and encourage investment by adopting the best international standards in providing high-end services that help draw local, regional and international investment.
For further information:
https://shurooq.gov.ae
https://diplomatmagazine.eu/2019/05/05/moving-forward-with-shurooq/
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Photography credits to Shurooq
Monday, 2 December 2019, Brussels, Mission of the State of Israel: Premier of Bermuda (UK Overseas Territory), David Burt, on a business trip to various EU countries made a stopover in Brussels wherein he paid a working call on the Israeli Head of Mission to the European Union, Aharon Leshno-Yaar.
Ambassador Aharon Leshno-Yaar was accredited on 14 October 2016 to the European Union. Prior to arriving in Brussels, he served as the Deputy Director General, Head of UN and International Organisations Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel. On his part Premier Burt is his territory’s thirteen head of government since 2017, and distinguishes himself for placing Bermuda on the map globally.
For further information
Premier of Bermuda: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_David_Burt
Ambassador Richard Grenell and Premier Armin Laschet – Picture by Land NRW, Mark Hermenau.
Thursday, 12 December 2019, Düsseldorf, NRW, Germany: NRW Premier Armin Laschet received the Ambassador of the United States of America to Germany, Richard A. Grenell, for a bilateral meeting at the State Chancellery. This is the Ambassador’s second visit to the State Chancellery after his inaugural visit in May 2018.
Premier Armin Laschet hailed the visit following the statement below: “Ambassador Richard Grenell’s visit shows how close transatlantic relations between North Rhine-Westphalia and the USA are. We attach great importance to a continuous exchange and deepening of close friendship with the United States.”
The Premier continued: “The USA is the most important partner outside the European Union, it is the world’s leading technology nation and of crucial importance for security in Europe. All the more reason for me to be committed to a personal exchange with Ambassador Grenell in order to jointly advance the transatlantic dialogue. Especially today, multilateral solutions and free trade without protectionism are important, also for jobs in North Rhine-Westphalia”.
US-NRW ties
Ambassador Grenell was accompanied during his visit to the State Chancellery by the US Consul General in Düsseldorf, Fiona Evans.
The USA is one of North Rhine-Westphalia’s most important foreign trade partners. At the same time, US companies are among the largest investors and foreign employers in North Rhine-Westphalia. North Rhine-Westphalia is home to more than 1,600 US companies. In 2017, they invested a total of around 13 billion euros. German cities and municipalities are partnered with a total of 32 US cities and municipalities.
The number of school and university cooperations between North Rhine-Westphalia and the USA has increased since 2016. In total, there are 122 school partnerships (2016: 99) and 288 cooperations between universities and colleges (2016: 220).
For further information
Government of NRW: https://www.land.nrw/de/pressemitteilung/ministerpraesident-armin-laschet-empfaengt-us-botschafter-richard-grenell-0
Ambassador Grenell’s maiden visit to NRW: https://diplomatmagazine.eu/2018/06/04/us-ambassador-grenell-in-nrw/
“Today, I announce that following a thorough, independent and objective assessment of all reliable information available to my Office, the preliminary examination into the Situation in Palestine has concluded with the determination that all the statutory criteria under the Rome Statute for the opening of an investigation have been met.
I am satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation into the situation in Palestine, pursuant to article 53(1) of the Statute. In brief, I am satisfied that (i) war crimes have been or are being committed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip (“Gaza”) (for specifics, see paras. 94-96); (ii) potential cases arising from the situation would be admissible; and (iii) there are no substantial reasons to believe that an investigation would not serve the interests of justice.
As there has been a referral from the State of Palestine, there is no requirement to seek Pre-Trial Chamber’s authorisation before proceeding to open an investigation, and I do not seek to do so.
However, given the unique and highly contested legal and factual issues attaching to this situation, namely, the territory within which the investigation may be conducted, I deemed it necessary to rely on article 19(3) of the Statute to resolve this specific issue.
Earlier today, I therefore requested from Pre-Trial Chamber I a jurisdictional ruling on the scope of the territorial jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”) under article 12(2)(a) of the Rome Statute in Palestine.
Specifically, I have sought confirmation that the “territory” over which the Court may exercise its jurisdiction, and which I may subject to investigation, comprises the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza. Such determination is made strictly for the purposes of determining the Court’s ability to exercise its jurisdiction and the scope of such jurisdiction under the Statute.
As I have observed in my submissions before the Chamber, determining where I can investigate in the unique circumstances of this situation should be resolved before I commence an investigation, and not settled only later by judges after my investigations are completed. This foundational question should be decided now, and as swiftly as possible in the interests of victims and affected communities; potential witnesses and their related protection needs and obligations as well as the conduct of the investigations and the efficiency of the judicial proceedings, not to mention providing clarity for the States concerned. As such, as a prosecuting office, we believe this is the responsible step to take in the circumstances of this situation.
By seeking this ruling, I have invited the Chamber to rule expeditiously, while also permitting victims, relevant States, and others to participate in these proceedings, as appropriate. By engaging in an open and transparent manner in obtaining a ruling on this important issue, I hope that the process would not only assist the Chamber in its determination, but also endow its decision, and my ensuing investigation, with greater clarity and reinforced legitimacy.
It is necessary for this specific matter before the Chamber to be resolved without undue delay so that my Office can take the appropriate next steps accordingly.”
OPCW and Pijnacker-Nootdorp Signing Ceremony, Land Purchase.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands —19 December 2019 —The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Mayor of Pijnacker-Nootdorp, H.E. Mrs Francisca Ravestein, signed the land purchase agreement and the deed of transfer for the plot of land upon which the OPCW will construct its new Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre). The signing ceremony took place at the City Hall of Pijnacker-Nootdorp.
The ChemTech Centre will be built in the Heron Business Park, an industrial park established by the municipality. Work on the design of the building is scheduled to begin in January 2020, with construction of the building planned to be completed by the end of 2022. The purchase of the plot in Business Park Heron was made possible by a voluntary contribution of €2.3 million to the ChemTech Centre Trust Fund that was provided by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The €33.5 million project to build the ChemTech Centre seeks to strengthen the OPCW’s scientific and operational capabilities to respond to current and emerging chemical weapons threats, as well as its capabilities to provide capacity building support to OPCW Member States.
OPCW’s Director-General expressed his gratitude to Mayor Ravestein and the Municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp for the cooperation, flexibility and support. He also thanked H.E. Ambassador Paul van den Ijssel, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the OPCW and the Government of the Netherlands for the generous funding provided to purchase the land and make the project a reality.
The Director-General remarked: “The ChemTech Centre will play a vital role in allowing the organisation to keep pace with developments in science and technology. It will provide new and expanded facilities to allow us to meet the needs of our States Parties, and thereby contribute to international peace and security.”
The Mayor of Pijnacker-Nootdorp remarked: “Today we reached an important milestone by signing the land purchase agreement for the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology. This means a lot for our municipality and it will stimulate our local economy. We are proud to welcome the OPCW at Heron Business Park.”
The Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Paul van den Ijssel stated: “The new laboratory is an indispensable part of the future OPCW. Soon, Pijnacker-Nootdorp will be the host of the most successful disarmament organisation in the world.”
The signing ceremony was attended by a number of officials including: Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Paul van den Ijssel; Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the OPCW and Chairperson of the Chemical Weapon Conventions’ Conference of the States Parties, H.E. Mr Krassimir Kostov; Permanent Representative of Italy to the OPCW and the Chairperson of the OPCW Executive Council, H.E. Ambassador Andrea Perugini; Permanent Representative of Philippines to the OPCW and Regional Coordinator for Asia, H.E. Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda; Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the OPCW and co-coordinator of the Friends of the Laboratory Group, H.E. Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja; Permanent Representative of Ukraine and Regional Coordinator for Eastern Europe, H.E. Ambassador Vsevolod Chentsov; Permanent Representative of Finland to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Päivi Marjaana Kaukoranta; Permanent Representative of Japan to the OPCW, H.E. Mr Hidehisa Horinouchi; Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the OPCW, Ms Desirée Humphreys; Second Secretary, Permanent Representation of Canada to the OPCW, Ms Andrijana Beslic; EU Liaison Officer, European External Action Service, H.E. Ambassador Mika-Markus Leinonen; and the Alderwomen and Aldermen of Pijnacker-Nootdorp including Ms Ilona Jense-van Haarst, Ms Hanneke van de Gevel, Mr Peter Hannevanger, and Mr Frank van Kuppeveld.
The Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Jean-Marc Hoscheit and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands —17 December 2019 — The Government of Luxembourg will make two contributions totalling €42,000 to support a number of major projects and activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
A contribution of €25,000 will support the activities of the Trust Fund for Syria Missions at the OPCW. This Trust Fund supports the Organisation’s missions and contingency operations related to the Syrian Arab Republic including the work of the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT), the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), and the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT).
Another contribution of €17,000 will be made to the OPCW Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store through the construction of a new 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 Luxembourg to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Jean-Marc Hoscheit.
Ambassador Hoscheit remarked: “Luxembourg’s voluntary contributions, earmarked today, on the one hand, for supporting the OPCW’s missions related to Syria, in particular the Investigation and Identification Team, that will identify the perpetrators of chemical weapons use in Syria, and, on the other hand, for setting up the new Centre for Chemistry and Technology, express the full support of my country for the work of the Director-General and the OPCW staff and our confidence in the professionalism, objectivity and efficiency of this organisation.’’
He added that “These contributions also reflect Luxembourg’s deep conviction that any use of chemical weapons, anywhere, at any time, by anyone, whatever the circumstances are, is unacceptable and any person acting against these fundamental principles must be called to account for their actions’’.
The Director-General expressed: “I thank the Government of Luxembourg for these major contributions, to the new OPCW ChemTech Centre and to the Trust Fund for Syria Missions. Both will further build the capabilities of our Member States to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.”
So far, twenty-eight 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.
