The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted families, livelihoods and businesses around the world.
We are confident of both our current steps to ensure business continuity throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, and also of our future once the current pandemic recedes. We can all recall recent challenges Qatar and the Qatar Financial Centre
(QFC) have faced and overcome where we have emerged stronger than before. Today, again, we all face an impact on our operations, but nevertheless are convinced of our platform’s and our country’s ability to not only weather but navigate the current storm successfully.
“While Qatar will of course witness the impacts of COVID-19, we have faith in the resilient Qatari economy which is well-equipped to navigate turbulent conditions and withstand challenges, as well as the QFC platform where firms are continuing to turn to us to expand their business in Qatar. In fact, we are very quickly approaching our 1,000 firm milestone which is nearly two years ahead of the target date.
Sheikha Alanoud bint Hamad AL THANI, Managing Director of Business Development – QFC
Swarovski is pleased to announce Giovanna Engelbert as Creative Director. Giovanna Engelbert will oversee the full creative direction of the company and re-imagine the product portfolio across all divisions.
First products designed by Giovanna Engelbert will be showcased in the Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
“Our 125-year history is witness for the power of our company to transform and reinvent itself and I am pleased to welcome a brilliant creative mind and strong female leader like Giovanna to our company.
With her remarkable track record in the industry and compelling point of view, she will explore new frontiers and become a vital part in writing the next chapter of our success story”, says Robert Buchbauer, CEO Swarovski.
Mme. Sigrid Kaag, ministre du commerce extérieur et de la coopération au développement.
« La crise révèle à quel point nous sommes dépendants les uns des autres. À quel point nous sommes liés, et vulnérables. Cette crise requiert, en conséquence, une approche internationale. Une approche qui soutienne autant que possible les pays fragiles. »
La ministre du commerce extérieur et de la coopération au développement, Sigrid Kaag, a partagé avec les ambassadeurs francophones des renseignements sur l’actualité de la crise au cours d’une réunion organisée en ligne, le 18 mai dernier, par l’ambassadeur d’Arménie, S.Exc. M. Tigran Balayan, en sa qualité de coordinateur du groupe des ambassadeurs francophones à La Haye.
« La solidarité internationale est plus nécessaire que jamais », a déclaré la ministre, et cela pour deux raisons.
« La première est d’ordre moral : nous avons la responsabilité d’aider dans la mesure du possible les populations vulnérables à échapper au véritable désastre humanitaire qui les menace.
La seconde est d’ordre rationnel : ce choix est dans notre propre intérêt commun ». Et la ministre de préciser que, si ces raisons pouvaient à première vue paraître quelque peu contradictoires, elles ne l’étaient nullement en réalité.
S.Exc. Mme Laura Dupuy Lasserre, Ambassadeur de l’Uruguay.
Comme à l’accoutumée, le message de Mme Kaag a été clair et précis. Les ambassadeurs ont pu à leur tour formuler des observations sur des questions les intéressant plus particulièrement. Ainsi, l’ambassadeur d’Uruguay, S.Exc. Mme Laura Dupuy Lasserre, a plaidé pour une plus grande ouverture du commerce et l’abolition des quotas d’importation, afin de soutenir l’économie internationale, et souligné la nécessité de lutter contre la montée du protectionnisme ; dans ce contexte, elle a appelé l’attention des participants sur les mesures restrictives qui entravent l’importation dans l’Union Européenne des viandes originaires d’Uruguay.
S.Exc. M. Luis Vassy, ambassadeur de France. Photographie par OPCW.
Pour sa part, S.Exc. M. Luis Vassy, ambassadeur de France, a abordé la question du montant de la coopération en pourcentage du PIB dans un moment de crise où les besoins sont plus importants que jamais.
« La crise du coronavirus aggrave la pauvreté, l’instabilité et l’insécurité dans les zones vulnérables du monde. Nous en connaissons tous les conséquences, notamment le terrorisme et les migrations clandestines. Au niveau international, nos économies sont tellement imbriquées que la récession mondiale provoquée par la pandémie a d’énormes répercussions – pour tous.
Le FMI appelle cette crise « le grand confinement » : la pire récession économique depuis la grande dépression des années trente. Il prévoit une contraction de l’activité économique mondiale de l’ordre de 3 à 8 % » a indiqué la ministre.
S.Exc. M.Abdel Sattar Issa, ambassadeur du Liban, a remercié la ministre Kaag pour sa collaboration dans le cadre de la situation prévalant actuellement au Liban.
Les mesures progressives de confinement et de distanciation physique, ainsi que les dates de mise en œuvre de décisions concrètes telles que la fermeture des écoles, le travail à distance, l’interdiction des rassemblements ou encore les contrôles aux frontières, ont divergé d’un pays à l’autre.
Les courbes épidémiologiques ont à leur tour connu des progressions différentes. Aux Pays Bas, le contrôle des frontières sera d’application jusqu’à la mi-juin, et la ministre a souligné que la priorité sera d’ouvrir les frontières vers l’Europe et à l’intérieur de celle-ci, tout en précisant que la question était encore à l’étude. « C’est encore très tôt pour tirer des conclusions », a-t-elle observé.
« Que vaut l’épreuve de force lancée contre le virus par les pays à l’intérieur de leurs frontières si elle ne s’accompagne pas d’une approche internationale ?
Il est crucial de mener une action énergique, multilatérale et coordonnée, à deux titres au moins : afin de réduire le risque d’une seconde vague de contamination ; et pour sortir de la récession. L’économie mondiale ne pourra réellement se redresser qu’une fois que tous les pays auront levé leur confinement. »
En effet, selon les mesures prises, les scientifiques prévoient la possibilité d’une deuxième, voire d’une troisième vague.
Dans un avis publié en urgence la semaine dernière, à la demande de la chambre des représentants, le conseil consultatif pour les questions internationales (AIV) a insisté sur l’importance d’une approche coordonnée.
En parlant du rôle des Pays Bas dans le contexte de la crise mondiale causée par propagation du virus, Mme Kaag a noté ce qui suit :
« Le développement futur de la pandémie dépendra en grande partie de la réaction des pays dotés d’un système de santé vulnérable, mais aussi de notre capacité à coopérer et à échanger des informations.
Le contexte de la lutte contre la maladie rend la crise prodigieusement complexe en Afrique et dans certaines parties du Moyen-Orient, en particulier dans les zones les plus fragiles et instables. En outre, comment lutter contre la propagation du coronavirus dans une zone de conflit ou un camp de réfugiés ? Le respect de la distanciation physique y est impossible.
Le confinement, la fermeture des frontières, la paralysie du commerce et la fuite des capitaux ont des conséquences extrêmement déstabilisantes dans les pays en développement : perte directe de revenus et pénurie alimentaire. »
Le Programme alimentaire mondial des Nations unies, a-t-elle indiqué, annonce une famine aux proportions historiques ; la pauvreté mondiale sera en nette augmentation, en particulier sous l’influence combinée des retombées de la pandémie de la COVID-19 et du changement climatique.
« J’ai libéré début avril un budget de 100 millions d’euros en faveur de la prévention, de l’aide humanitaire d’urgence et de l’atténuation des dommages socioéconomiques dans les pays en développement» a-t-elle ajouté.
S.Exc. M. Abdelouahab Bellouki Ambassadeur du Maroc.
La Ministre Kaag a également mis en exergue les efforts du gouvernement néerlandais en matière de préservation de la santé mentale et de soutien psychosocial. La semaine antérieure, les Nations Unies avaient mis la communauté internationale en garde contre l’impact de la pandémie sur la santé mentale. Le climat actuel d’anxiété, d’incertitude et d’instabilité socioéconomique entraîne en effet inévitablement une grande détresse psychique.
Enfin, l’ambassadeur du Maroc, S.Exc. M. Abdelouahab Bellouki, que la ministre a remercié de son intervention pour permettre aux néerlandais surpris par la fermeture des frontières de regagner les Pays-Bas, a souligné que cette réunion en ligne constituait un moment historique.
S.Exc. M. Tigran Balayan, Ambassadeur de l’Arménie.
C’était de fait la première fois qu’une réunion de cette nature se tenait, et les participants ont été unanimes à exprimer leur appréciation et leur gratitude à S.Exc. l’ambassadeur Balayan pour avoir pris l’initiative et avoir veillé à l’organisation de cette réunion pionnière.
Ambassador Franc But & Ambassador Francisco Ribeiro de Menezes – Image by Slovenian Embassy to Germany.
Thursday, 14 May 2020, Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia to the Federal Republic of Germany: Portugal’s Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Mr. Francisco Ribeiro de Menezes and Slovenia’s Ambassador H.E. Mr. Franc But met in Berlin to discuss further activities in the framework of the German-Portuguese-Slovenian presidency trio. A focus was given to potential digital engagements.
This novel trio begin with Germany taking the helm of the European Council from July 2020, followed by Portugal from January 2021, and subsequently Slovenia in July 2021. Incumbent holder of the presidency is Croatia, for the very first time.
Portuguese Ambassador Ribeiro de Menezes was accredited on 19 February 2020 before the German Federal President, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Arusha, The Hague, 16 May 2020 – Today, Félicien Kabuga – one of the world’s most wanted fugitives who is alleged to have been a leading figure in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda – was arrested in Paris by French authorities as the result of a joint investigation with the IRMCT Office of the Prosecutor.
In reaction to today’s arrest, Mechanism Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz stated:
The arrest of Félicien Kabuga today is a reminder that those responsible for genocide can be brought to account, even twenty-six years after their crimes.
Our first thoughts must be with the victims and survivors of the Rwandan genocide. Advocating on their behalf is an immense professional honor for my entire Office.
For international justice, Kabuga’s arrest demonstrates that we can succeed when we have the international community’s support. This result is a tribute to the unwavering commitment of the United Nations Security Council, which established the Mechanism to continue the accountability process in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.
I would like to extend our appreciation to France and its law enforcement authorities, particularly the Central Office for Combatting Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide and War Crimes and the Office of the Procureur Général of the Paris Cour d’Appel. This arrest could not have been made without their exceptional cooperation and skill.
It is important to also recognize the many other partners whose contributions were essential, including law enforcement agencies and prosecution services from Rwanda, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United States, EUROPOL and INTERPOL. This arrest demonstrates the impressive results that can be achieved through international law enforcement and judicial cooperation.
Earlier this year my Office visited the Ntarama genocide memorial in Rwanda to honor the memory of the victims and renew our commitment to justice. Today’s arrest underlines the strength of our determination.
Kabuga was indicted by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 1997 on seven counts of genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, attempt to commit genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, persecution and extermination, all in relation to crimes committed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Following completion of appropriate procedures under French law, Kabuga is expected to the transferred to the custody of the Mechanism, where he will stand trial.
French police arrested Kabuga in a sophisticated, coordinated operation with simultaneous searches across a number of locations.
By H.E. Rawan Sulaiman, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the Netherlands.
Today, May 15th, we Palestinians commemorate the catastrophe (al Nakba), the forced expulsion and displacement by Zionist militias of about three quarters of the Palestinian population from their cities and villages, making them refugees. Also my own family was made a refugee; forcibly moved out of Jaffa. Seventy two years of segregated life under military rule, occupation, and in refugee camps is what has followed. Also today, the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs will convene to discuss the threat of annexation; Israel’s next step in its colonial conquest of Palestine that was recently agreed upon by its new government and facilitated by the Trump administration’s so-called ‘Peace Plan’.
The fact that annexation is now at the table should not come as a surprise to anyone, as by its actions Israel has proven again and again to be interested only in stealing maximum Palestinian land with minimum Palestinian remaining on it. By this design, Israel has ensured confinement of Palestinians in the areas where they already lived, while promoting the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and their associated regime. Now only 13% of East Jerusalem is zoned for Palestinians, mostly already built-up, and only 1% is left of the so-called Area C, which represents 60% of the West Bank, all the while illegal Israeli settlements spread all over Palestinian territory.
On this land there are now two sets of rules and rights dividing two peoples. It needs no reminding that in this conflict, one party is the inherently violent occupier, a system established and maintained by military force, while the other is confined and occupied, deprived of its basic human rights, sovereignty and freedom. A situation resembling Apartheid.
To obscure this reality, aggressive and coordinated campaigns of our oppressor and their supporters have been set up to continuously rewrite history, framing us as; violent, barbaric and anti-Semitic. The other myth, that Palestine was ‘empty’ before it was ‘made to bloom’, persists even today in the form of disregard and denial of our existence; our history, our heritage and our nationality. These distractions and myths are pushed aggressively, as without them it becomes impossible to defend the current situation with rational, moral and legal arguments.
If one does not remember and acknowledge the severity of the catastrophe of what the Nakba was, namely the loss of our historic homeland, one cannot comprehend the magnitude of the sacrifice Palestinians agreed to when giving up 78% of it, in the hopes of finding peace in the form of the two-state solution.
This internationally agreed solution for us is not a goal in itself, but justice and peace, in that specific order, are.
Now, even this historic compromise is openly rejected and subverted by Israel in the pursuit of further annexation of Palestinian territories, in ultimate breach of any commitment to peace, international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2334, and the UN Charter.
The international community was clear in its condemnation of Israel’s illegal actions. The Security Council, the General Assembly, the International Court of Justice, and now the ICC Prosecutor, all converged in their stance on the illegality of these policies and practices and in their call on Israel to put an end to them. But these calls have been disregarded.
The International consensus was clear, but because it was never followed up with consequences, Israel proceeded in its course at will. A bully condemned without consequence only feels emboldened. They see that others recognize their power, but since they go unchallenged, they continue to claim, seize, and steal whatever they wish through threat or use of violence. Colonial powers never act out of goodwill. The cost of the enduring occupation, now more than ever, needs to outweigh its benefits.
What is more at stake, are fundamental principles of the rules-based multilateral order, that have always and unequivocally been upheld by international responsible players such as the Netherlands and the EU. These principles include the absolute inadmissibility of the acquisition of land by force, and with it the prohibition of annexation. What will be done to uphold the credibility of this principle, when Israel proceeds with annexation nevertheless? As a member of the Quartet, the EU is a key player in making sure that we salvage the two-State solution before it is too late, as the alternative is perpetual conflict and a system of subjugation and discrimination against a population confined in fragmented areas, akin to Apartheid. No country of moral standing can remain friends with such a situation.
The Nakba is commemorated each year by every Palestinian because the wound is still open and the instruments of oppression and expulsion are still active. Those who were made refugees still did not see their right of return, enshrined in international law, respected and fulfilled. Nevertheless, we have unequivocally declared our readiness to immediately resume peace negotiations under international auspices and based on the longstanding terms of reference, building on the progress achieved in previous rounds of negotiations.
The State of Palestine has proposed the convening of an international peace conference that can provide the necessary impetus and momentum for these negotiations that should lead to a final peace agreement resolving all final status issues within one year. That is the path we should be engaged in, and that can only happen if the path to annexation is blocked.
In the picture H.E. Mr, Peter Hoekstra and his wife Diane.
The Embassy of the U.S. in The Hague published a fresh new online newsletter today with the latest reports about their activities. In the welcome address, the Ambassador of the USA, H.E. Mr, Peter Hoekstra and his wife Diane stressed that “Staying in touch is now more important than ever.”
This newsletter will become a periodic update on U.S. policy, the Dutch-American relationship, and happenings at the Embassy in The Hague and Consulate in Amsterdam.
“Our first note will be a disappointing one.” said ambassador Hoekstra “For us, the Independence Day celebration has always been a time to connect with our friends. It is a highlight for all of us at the Embassy. Unfortunately, this year it will need to be canceled. We want to be in total support of the Dutch government’s efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic. “
The Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Jorge Arreaza, announced that the case presented by Venezuela before the International Criminal Court earlier this year, which concerned the imposition of unilateral US sanctions on his country, has been assigned to the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber III.
Mr Arreaza had come to The Hague last February 13th to present a formal request to the ICC’s Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, asking the Court to investigate US unilateral sanctions imposed on Venezuela as crimes against humanity.
The referral, consisting of a 60 pages long briefing, detailed the negative impact of the US sanctions on the Venezuelan economy – an impact that, according to the Venezuelan government, amounted to a violation of the human rights of the Venezuelan people, and specifically their right to health, food, and economic development.
“It is an economic war against the peoples who want to make their own decisions and who are willing to do anything to assert their sovereignty and self-determination. Sanctions are a means of achieving a change of government, with a terrible, devastating impact on the people of Venezuela. This is similar to the persecution of the Jewish people during the holocaust. ” he explained.
The Venezuelan Foreign Minister gave an example of private Venezuelan business people whose accounts in the US and Europe are closed without reason.He also mentioned unilateral coercive measures against VIASA, the national airline that has more than 2,000 workers.
“It’s persecution; it’s a modality that includes the use of force through the economy; it is a war through the economy, which generates death, destruction and disease in Venezuela. We came today to present our demand before the ICC; thus using international law we can all stop the barbarism that is causing the US Government. We ask the ICC to determine responsibilities and prosecute those responsible for the suffering of the Venezuelan people.”
The Foreign Minister explained that Venezuela, as a member of the ICC, could denounce the alleged crimes taking place on its territory, thus falling within the jurisdiction of the court – which was created to punish international atrocities such as war crimes and genocide.
During his short stay in The Hague, Mr Arreaza talked to the media after his visit at the ICC. In this context, he stressed that “the consequences of US coercive unilateral measures are crimes against humanity, a death sentence for tens of thousands of Venezuelans per year and violate both international laws and the United Nations Charter.”
To follow-up the referral by Venezuela, the International Criminal Court opened a preliminary investigation on February 19th, resulting in the current assignment of the case to Pre-Trial Chamber III.
Over time, the US has been imposing increasingly broader and tougher sanctions on Venezuela, targeting the government in Caracas and supporting instead the leader of the political opposition. The latest rounds of economic sanctions have been enacted through executive orders, in which the US has accused Venezuela of “human rights abuses and anti-democratic actions.”
The sanctions prohibit the Venezuelan government from accessing their accounts in the US and cut the ties between the US and the Venezuelan markets, including in the trade of oil and other goods.
While the current investigation focuses on crimes allegedly suffered by Venezuela, the ICC also has an already ongoing investigation into crimes allegedly committed by the Venezuelan government. The investigation – which has been assigned to the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the Court in September 2018 – came to birth after six American states (Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru) filed a request alleging crimes committed by the Venezuelan government in the context of the demonstrations and the political unrest takin place in the country, and especially the use of force against political opponents.
In line with these states’ claims, Human Rights Watch has also claimed that Venezuelan security forces have tortured and killed civilians, using excessive force against them.
In particular, it has been alleged that state security forces have frequently used excessive force to disperse and put down demonstrations, and that they have arrested and detained thousands of members of the opposition – several of whom have been allegedly subjected to severe abuse and ill-treatment in detention. It has also been reported that some groups of protestors used violent methods, resulting in members of security forces being injured or killed.
On February 19th, the ICC decided to assign both requests, the first from the group of American Countries against Venezuela and the second from the government of Venezuela against the United States, to Pre-Trial Chamber III.
“Legal decision by the International Criminal Court assigning the complaint presented by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (referred by the Court’s Prosecution),” tweeted Minister Areaza.
Legal decision by the International Criminal Court assigning the complaint presented by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (referred by the Court's Prosecution) to the Pre-Trial Chamber IIIhttps://t.co/CfMsYwDpVp
Johan Ramirez, Vice-President of Venetur and H.E. Ms. Haifa Aissami Madah, Ambassador of Venezuela to International Organizations.
Often known for having the largest oil reserves in the world, Venezuela is also famous for another dark product: cocoa. With its perfect grains, Venezuelan cocoa excels by the world’s quality standards, and it is often the main ingredient of premium chocolates produced globally.
A Venezuelan delegation of chocolatiers and chocolate producers, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Foreign Trade, MITCOEX, came to Amsterdam earlier this year to participate in the Chocoa International Fair. The group of Venezuelans attending the event was accompanied by Johan Ramirez, Vice-President of Venetur and led by H.E. Haifa Aissami Madah, Ambassador of Venezuela, Permanent Representative to the International Organizations.
Among the producers attending the fair there was Arvicacao, with Ocumare cocoa from La Primogenita Farm, and Cakawa Chocolates, a business venture led by Venezuelan women dedicated to producing and promoting a unique collection of fine dark chocolate.
Their stand – which contained an exclusive selection of Venezuelan cocoa – was one of the most visited during the fair.
In the picture Soraya Achkar and Ester Rojas, from Cakawa Chocolate and Wilhen Diaz Lara, Chargé d´Affairs a.i., Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in The Hague.
Soraya Achkar and Ester Rojas, a professor and an art teacher and one of the business’ founders, recounted how the adventure started. “We started making chocolates five years ago as a hobby, seeking to distract ourselves from the intellectual work of teaching, and also looking for a different source of income that could give us independence.
Then, we started to get more and more interested in making the chocolate, bean to bar process, choosing cocoa beans, as well as putting in our personality, creating original combinations of texture and flavours with Venezuelan cocoa of creole and trinitarian origins”.
The Venezuelan production of cocoa – she explained – features a wide variety of beans.
“We started with beans from Barlobento, Bahia de Barinas, Rio Caido, Rio Caribe, Bahia de Patanemo, Sur del Lago, Carabobo, Carenero. These are very distant regions, each having its own characteristic flavour depending on the composition of the soil. Visiting the plantations for years, we created a solid relationship with the producers, assisting them in taking care of the post-harvest process.”
“The farmers taste the chocolate we make with their beans” – she continued – “and we discuss how long the beans will dry to get the flavour we are looking for, or how long the fermentation process needs to be to get the best aroma. Then, we receive the selected beans, and we make a second selection at the lab. Our products are 100% original chocolate, coming in tablets of 40, 86, and 90 grams. For the filling, we use only local tropical fruits and fruits from the Amazonas. We work with doctors, gyms, and different companies who want their chocolate with medical specific standards or with their logo”.
The fair proved to be a useful venture for the chocolate producers. “We are delighted with our participation in the Chocoa Fair. We have made exciting contacts with customers who want to buy our product” – Ester Rojas explained, stressing that “Venezuelan chocolate is unique for its quality”.
“Joris Ivens and Viet Nam, 75 years of solidarity “
In appreciation for the contribution of Joris Ivens to the achievement of peace and national independence of Vietnam, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – Nguyen Phu Trong – decided to posthumously confer the Friendship Order on Joris Ivens. Therefore , a ceremony took place at the Embassy of Viet Nam in The Hague on Thursday, 16th of January 2020.
The ceremony was well attended. A delegation of the Nijmegen based European Foundation led by board member Mr Andre Stufkens was present at the ceremony. Colleagues of Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa, from Tanzania, Chile, Belarus, ASEAN and others also came by.
Madam Annemiek Nooteboom and the Ambassador of Viet Nam.
On the program, were speeches and the screening of Joris works.
Mr Gerben de Jong, a former Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam delivered a powerful speech. He was followed by Mr Andre Stufkens who also delivered a speech and presented the book Joris Ivens and Vietnam to Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa.
H.E. Ngo Thi Hoa after her discourse, presented the instruments pertaining to the Order of Friendship to madam Annemiek Nooteboom, a representative of the Ivans family. Madam Nooteboom express her gratitude for the honor that has been bestowed on Joris Ivams posthumously.
A resume of Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa discourse follows hereby.
” Joris Ivens is a well-known filmmaker of the Netherlands and the world in the 20th century, who is famous for his documentary films. He was nicknamed the “Flying Dutchman” as he spent most of his life travelling around the world to make films condemning inequality, injustice, war and imperialism.
In 1965, Joris Ivens first came to Vietnam at the invitation of the Vietnamese Government. He made the short film “Le Ciel, La Terre” to protest the US bombing in Vietnam. This is the very first film Ivens made about the Vietnam war, which is a realistic report of the ongoing war in both regions of the country. It shows the audience the massive consequences of the conflict on the lives of the Vietnamese people. A year later, he returned to Vietnam to film “Far from Vietnam” in order to continue protesting against the war that was waging in the country.
Mr. Gerben de Jong, a former Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam, madam Annemiek Nooteboom, a representative of the Ivans family, H.E. Mrs. Ngo Thi Hoa, Ambassador of Vietnam and MrAndre Stufkens.
When Ivens came to Vietnam for the third time in 1967, he created the film “The 17th parallel – People’s war” in Vinh Linh, Quang Tri province. The film won the Lenin International Peace Prize in 1967 and became a hit with international peace-loving audiences. It was also in this place in 1977 that the Medical Committee Netherlands – Vietnam established the Dong Ha or Ha Lan hospital to help locals affected by the war.
Ivens was one of the foreign filmmakers honored to meet President Ho Chi Minh – the national hero of Vietnam – and had valuable footage of Uncle Ho, as shown in the film Vietnam Honors Dutch Cineast Joris Ivans.
The film captured President Ho Chi Minh’s images and words during a meeting with young heroes from 2 parts of the country in Hanoi; just a few months before the President died. This was one of the last films to record the words of President Ho Chi Minh.
The documentary films of Joris Ivens voiced the desire for peace for the Vietnamese people with the world, from which Vietnam has received valuable support from international friends; contributing to the victory in the struggle for national liberation. The victory of the Vietnamese people on April 30th, 1975 certainly had the participation and support of many international film artists including Ivens and his wife, Marceline Loridan, who always protected justice, despite having to put themselves in danger and even facing death. They always believed in a brighter future for Vietnam.
In addition to contributing valuable historical films to Vietnam, Ivens also had a great influence on filmmaking methods for Vietnamese cinema and television. He is considered to be the initiator of the direct cinema style in Vietnam, which is a style of capturing reality and representing it truthfully.
The valuable historic documentaries of Joris Ivens as well as many other materials have been handed over to the Vietnam Film Institute by the European Foundation Joris Ivens and the Medical Committee Netherlands – Vietnam in recent years.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to them for their efforts in preserving and transferring these valuable materials to the Vietnam Film Institute. All of these films and materials have been preserved and widely introduced to the public audience and future generations of Vietnam and the Netherlands in order to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between our 2 nations.
It is also our way of dedicating our appreciation to the legendary filmmaker. In addition, the Vietnam Film Institute produced a documentary in 2018 titled “Joris Ivens and the Wind of Vietnam”, in order to honor Joris Ivens, his life and work. This film won 2 Silver Kite Prizes and the Silver Lotus Prize last year.
I am very happy to announce that in appreciation for the contribution of Joris Ivens to the achievement of peace and national independence of Vietnam, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – Nguyen Phu Trong – decided to posthumously confer the Friendship Order to Joris Ivens. We are honored to have here with us Mrs. Annemiek Nooteboom, who will receive the Order on behalf of Joris Ivens’ family.
Today, we will have the opportunity to listen to the presentations and remarks on Joris Iven’s life and career from friends who have been the companions of Vietnam for many years/”
A lavish Vietnamese dinner-buffet concluded the Joris Ivens ceremony.
