New OPCW at Pijnacker-Nootdrop

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New OPCW at Pijnacker-Nootdrop

OPCW and Municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp Sign Location Agreement for New Centre for Chemistry and Technology

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 â‚¬2.3 million to the ChemTech Centre Trust Fund that was provided by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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.

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.

Luxembourg Contributes €42,000 to Support OPCW’s Syria Activities and Centre for Chemistry and Technology

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Luxembourg Contributes €42,000 to Support OPCW’s Syria Activities and Centre for Chemistry and Technology

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).

Luxembourg Signing Ceremony in Support of OPCW’s Syria Activities.

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’’.

Ambassador Hoscheit of Luxembourg and OPCW Director-General.

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.

The magic of Christmas at Kurhaus

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The magic of Christmas at Kurhaus

H.E. Mr. Nicolas Plexidas, Ambassador of Greece and his family.

On a  the festive month of December, the Kurhaus Hotel made it official: the holiday season starts here. 

The Grand Hotel Amrâth Kurhaus showed its best for the season with beautiful Christmas decorations at its elegant ball room, the Kurzaal.

The hotel interiors became a fairy tale after the lighting of a 14-meter-tall Christmas tree on the day of 5th December, a date which traditionally marks the start of Christmas celebrations in the city of The Hague. 

Hundreds of guests gathered for the annual tree lighting ceremony, with many representatives from the diplomatic community of The Hague, as well as the Dutch society attending the ceremony to share the magic of the lighting moment at the Hotel Kurhaus. 

Dr. Stanislav Vassilevsky, Charge d’affaires of Belarus, Mr. Wilhen Nehomar Diaz Lara, Charge d’affaires of Venezuela, Ms Danae Parmaki, Embassy of Malta

With the dĂ©cor in champagne, bronze, purple colours, the event was musically graced by performances of OG3NE together with a live band, while the staff was on duty to guide and serve the guests at every moment.

For mny in the room that night, the ceremony of lighting the Christmas tree at the Kurhaus surely epitomised an unofficial kick off to the holiday season.

H.E. I Gusti Wesaka Puja, Ambassador of Indonesia.

Fatou Bensouda – Statement to the UN Security Council on the Situation in Darfur

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Fatou Bensouda – Statement to the UN Security Council on the Situation in Darfur

Pursuant to UNSCR 1593 (2005) by Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

18 December 2019 –  ” In June, when I last briefed this Council, I emphasised that recent events in Sudan presented a unique opportunity to ensure that the suspects against whom warrants of arrest have been issued by the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”) in the Darfur situation finally face justice in a court of law.

I urged the authorities in Sudan and this Council to seize that opportunity. I also expressed my hope that Sudan would begin a new era of cooperation with my Office, and more generally, the Court.

Today, emboldened by events over the last six months, I repeat those messages, with greater confidence that Sudan will honour its commitments to deliver justice for the victims in the Darfur situation.

During the last six months, Sudan’s extraordinary transition has continued. On 17 August, the Constitutional Declaration, which set out a political framework for the following 39 months, was signed by the Transitional Military Council and the Forces for Freedom and Change. On 21 August, the new Sovereign Council was sworn in, composed of six civilians and five military personnel. Shortly thereafter, a new Cabinet was inaugurated, led by Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok.

These political changes have already yielded a number of positive developments in relation to the Darfur situation. Foremost amongst these is the Juba Declaration, signed on 11 September by the Sovereign Council and a coalition of armed groups across Sudan, including in Darfur. This declaration sets out a comprehensive roadmap for peace across Sudan with the ultimate aim of a national peace agreement. Given the correlation between peace, stability and atrocity crime prevention, it is essential that all sides commit to this initiative and that the ongoing crimes in Darfur stop.

As you are aware, there are ICC arrest warrants for the five suspects in the Darfur situation, and each of these remain in force, notwithstanding the ongoing developments in Sudan.

In response to my last report to this Council, the representative of Sudan confirmed that investigations by the Sudanese public prosecutor were ongoing in relation to Messrs Omar Al Bashir, Abdel Raheem Hussein and Ahmad Harun. All are believed to be in detention in Khartoum. The specific whereabouts of the remaining two Darfur suspects, Messrs Ali Kushayb and Abdallah Banda, are unknown.

Mr Al Bashir has been tried in Sudan for financial crimes. Last week, on 14 December, he was reportedly sentenced to two years in detention. A statement issued by Sudan’s public prosecutor shortly after the verdict indicated that a number of other cases are pending against Mr Al Bashir, including in relation to the 1989 coup that brought him to power and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

In my last report to this Council, I emphasised that pursuant to the fundamental principle of complementarity enshrined in the Rome Statute, the primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute crimes rests with national criminal jurisdictions. In response, the representative of Sudan noted this reference to complementarity, describing it as “positive.”

I was encouraged by the fact that he also emphasised that “fighting impunity is a noble cause of justice” and that this “falls primarily within the responsibility of the relevant national investigative and judicial institutions.” While this position is entirely consistent with the Rome Statute, the principle of complementarity ensures that while States have the primary responsibility for bringing perpetrators to justice, the ICC’s jurisdiction is engaged if States are inactive or otherwise unwilling or unable to exercise that duty genuinely.

With this in mind, in the present circumstances, notwithstanding recent media reports in relation to Mr Al Bashir, the Office is not aware of any concrete information suggesting that the suspects in the Darfur situation are currently subject to domestic investigation or prosecution for the same criminal conduct alleged in the relevant ICC arrest warrants.

Unless and until Sudan can demonstrate to ICC judges that it is willing and able to genuinely investigate and prosecute the Darfur suspects for the crimes alleged in their respective arrest warrants, then these cases will remain admissible before the ICC.

Sudan must ensure that the five ICC suspects in the Darfur situation are brought to justice without undue delay, either in a courtroom in Sudan or in The Hague. In this way, this Council’s referral of the Darfur situation to my Office can finally yield tangible results in court for the victims this Council sought to protect, and progress can be made towards resolving this Council’s referral of the Darfur situation to the ICC. 

In June, I made it clear that my Office is ready to engage with Sudan. Since that time, I am encouraged by public statements made by high-level Sudanese officials, which indicate a clear commitment to accountability in Sudan.

Notably, Prime Minister Hamdok declared before the UN General Assembly on 27 September that “[t]he Sudan is […] determined to uphold its commitment to the principles of international law, international human rights, as well as to the efforts aimed at eradicating all forms of discrimination, exploitation, injustice and inequality.” In early November, the Prime Minister reportedly visited Darfur, including camps for internally displaced persons, where Darfuris reportedly appealed for justice.

On 17 October, in response to the special report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (“UNAMID”), the Sudanese representative told this Council that Sudan is “a new country that seeks to join the international community as a peace-loving member that seeks international cooperation, is committed to international law and respects the basic rights of its citizens.” 

A commitment to international law must include Sudan’s duties under the United Nations Charter, pursuant to which Sudan is bound by this Council’s decisions, including its decision to refer the Darfur situation to the ICC. A respect for international human rights and the basic rights of Sudan’s citizens must include a willingness to ensure accountability for the gross human rights violations against Darfuri Sudanese citizens, as alleged in the ICC arrest warrants.

Sudan now has the opportunity to demonstrate this commitment to international law, and respect for international human rights, by complying with its obligations arising from Resolution 1593 and working with my Office. I have consistently emphasised that this cooperation is crucial to the Office’s independent and impartial investigations in the Darfur situation. In this regard, it is my sincere hope that in the near future, my Office will be granted access to Sudan to facilitate our work and to discuss the way forward.

Sudan has a legal duty to cooperate with my Office, pursuant to this Council’s Resolution 1593 and the jurisprudence of the Appeals Chamber of the ICC. Cooperation with the ICC would clearly demonstrate to this Council and the international community writ large that Sudan is committed to achieving justice for the victims in the Darfur situation, and that it has followed through on its declared commitments and assurances with visible and practical steps. 

Despite the positive developments in Sudan, including in relation to the peace process, crimes in Darfur regrettably continue. These crimes must stop.

The Darfur situation remains a priority for my Office and I am pleased to report that substantial progress has been made in the investigations during the reporting period. In addition, my team continues to monitor events in Darfur and where circumstances require, I will investigate and where appropriate, prosecute those most responsible for crimes in Darfur that fall within the Court’s jurisdiction.

Clashes between government forces and Abdul Wahid al-Nur’s Sudan Liberation Army (“SLA-AW”) have reportedly continued in the Jebel Marra area, resulting in approximately 60 civilian casualties. 

Unfortunately, this fighting has also led to the displacement of over 2,300 people in Darfur, mostly women and children, and exacerbated already unstable living conditions in camps for nearly two million internally displaced persons in the region. 

I am deeply troubled by the fact that sexual and gender-based violence, as well as grave violations against children, have persisted in Darfur throughout this ongoing armed conflict. Since June 2019, UNAMID has reported sexual and gender-based violence against 17 victims, including seven minors, and grave violations against 84 children, including 35 girls. Although UNAMID has identified the perpetrators of these atrocities as mostly SLA-AW fighters, they have also noted violations by the Rapid Support Forces (“RSF”), among other groups.

Additionally, during July 2019, UNAMID reported that SLA-AW elements were responsible for the temporary abduction of several local and international staff members from international non-governmental organisations around Golo, Jebel Marra, and the looting of critical humanitarian equipment.

This disturbing incident closely follows the alleged seizure of UNAMID facilities by the RSF that I mentioned to the Council earlier this year. I am pleased to note that UNAMID now reports that Sudanese authorities have provided assurances that these facilities would be handed over to the Darfur state for the purposes of health, education, and other services.

It is with these essential human rights monitoring functions in mind that I commend the Council on its adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2495, extending the mandate of UNAMID until 31 October 2020. 

In my statement before the Council in June 2019, I also expressed deep concern regarding the alleged attacks by government forces on peaceful protestors in Khartoum on 3 June. As you will recall, these government forces allegedly comprised the RSF, whose members include former Janjaweed militias linked to systematic human rights abuses in the Darfur region between 2003 and 2008. Subsequently, the new administration has created a commission of inquiry to investigate human rights violations that occurred in the course of these attacks. I express my sincere hope that this investigation is conducted in an independent, impartial, and fair manner by the competent domestic authorities.

In relation to recent judicial activities, on 30 October 2019, a confidential status conference was held by the Trial Chamber in Mr Banda’s case. The purpose of this was to discuss the status of the case and the way forward to ensure Mr Banda’s appearance at trial. As I mentioned, Mr Banda’s arrest warrant has not been executed and he remains a fugitive from the Court.

Following this status conference, the Chamber made a number of requests, including for submissions from the Prosecution and the Defence on their respective positions on trials in absentia in the specific circumstances of Mr Banda’s case. These confidential submissions were filed on 13 December 2019, and the parties now await further direction from the Chamber.

It would be remiss of me not to express my sincere gratitude for the principled support and cooperation that my Office continues to receive from a number of States. I welcome, in particular, the public statements that members of this Council have made to encourage Sudan to cooperate with my Office. It is time to embark on a new chapter in the relationship between Sudan and my Office rooted in a commitment to finally bring those most responsible for the atrocity crimes perpetrated against the people of Darfur to justice. My Office is ready and willing to do so, and we hope that our extended hand of cooperation in the pursuit of justice is met favourably by the new authorities in Sudan.

My Office also continues to benefit from essential support provided by various organisations and individuals committed to the cause of justice in Darfur. In particular, I express my sincere and heartfelt appreciation to Darfur victims groups. Many courageous women and men in these groups work tirelessly to ensure that justice in the Darfur situation remains a critical issue in Sudan’s transition. I am humbled and inspired by their strength, courage and determination.

I will finish where I began, with a request for reinvigorated support and engagement of Sudan and this Council in the Darfur situation.

Sudan continues in its extraordinary journey. Its publicly stated commitments to international law, international human rights and justice, have created a renewed expectation for accountability in the Darfur situation. Sudan is now on a path towards greater peace and stability. If this can be achieved, justice for the victims will be essential to comprehensive and enduring peace in Darfur.

In the process of its transition, Sudan has benefited from the support of this Council and the UN system, the African Union and multiple States and regional organisations. Now a principled caucus must rally to strongly support and encourage Sudan in its pursuit of justice in Darfur.

In response to the special report on UNAMID on 17 October, the representative of Sudan told this Council that the “Sudan of today is totally unlike the Sudan the Security Council has come to know over the past three decades.” These are promising words that need to translate into action.

I now invite Sudan, with the support of this Council, and all stakeholders in the Darfur situation, to work with my Office, and in doing so, to demonstrate that the Sudan of today is unambiguously committed to achieving the long awaited justice for the victims in Darfur. As it has been most eloquently said in these timeless words: “[t]he arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

We must seize the opportunity now to take concrete steps towards ending impunity for the alleged crimes in Darfur. Before you and the representatives of Sudan today in this august body, I reiterate my Office’s willingness to engage in dialogue and cooperation with Sudan towards ensuring justice is finally served for the victims of atrocity crimes in Darfur – either in a Sudanese court, or before the ICC.”

Premier of Alberta visits Bavaria

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Premier of Alberta visits Bavaria

Dr. Florian Herrmann, Head of the State Chancellery and Minister of State for Federal and European Affairs and the Media, received the Premier of Alberta (Canada), H.E. Jason Kenney, on December 18, 2019 for a discussion at the Bavarian State Chancellery in Munich.

Dr. Florian Herrmann, received H.E. Jason Kenney, here in a working lunch at the Bavarian State Chancellery in Munich. Foto: Joerg Koch/ Bayerische Staatskanzlei Fotograf: Joerg Koch joerg@joergkochfoto.de; +49-175-1815173;

The Minister of State Dr. Herrmann said: “Alberta and Bavaria are strong regions that value and maintain international partnerships equally. Especially in the areas of artificial intelligence and vocational training there is a lot of potential for our further cooperation. “

Photography Joerg Koch/ Bayerische Staatskanzlei Fotograf: Joerg Koch joerg@joergkochfoto.de; +49-175-1815173.

The North Atlantic Alliance / NATO turns 70-years-old

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The North Atlantic Alliance / NATO turns 70-years-old

In the picture Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister, Luxembourg; US President, Donald J. Trump and NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg.

By Guido Lanfranchi.

Seventy years after its foundation, NATO remains a key player in the international scene. On December 3rd and 4th, the Allies’ leaders gathered in London, in order to celebrate the Alliance’s achievements and to outline its future strategy. 

On April 4th, 1949, representatives from twelve countries across North America and Europe signed the North Atlantic Treaty, also known as the Washington Treaty, which paved the way for the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – NATO. Seventy long years have passed since then, and much has happened over these decades. The Iron Curtain rose and fell, the 9/11 attacks triggered the first and only NATO collective response, and seventeen new members (soon to become 18 with North Macedonia) joined the Alliance. 

Family portrait of NATO Heads of State and/or Government with ceremony for NATO 70th Anniversary

After these tumultuous times, in 2019 NATO found itself celebrating its 70th anniversary. While the Alliance’s Foreign Ministers celebrated the April 4th anniversary in Washington, in early December it was instead the leaders’ turn. The Heads of States and Governments of the Allied countries, as well as NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, gathered in London, the city that had hosted the first NATO headquarters.

Family photo with Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince of Wales, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and NATO Heads of State and/or Government. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II welcomed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the leaders of the Alliance’s 29 member countries to London at a Buckingham Palace reception on Tuesday evening (3 December 2019). The event comes ahead of Wednesday’s meeting of NATO leaders, where Allies are expected to take decisions to further strengthen and modernise the Alliance.

The leaders were received on the evening of December 3rd by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. During the following day, the leaders met in order to discuss the challenges lying ahead of the Alliance, as well as the new strategy needed to tackle such challenges.

The summit came in the wake of some tensions among Allied states. In early November, French President Emmanuel Macron had claimed that NATO was experiencing “brain death”, pointing at coordination problems in the foreign policies of the Alliance’s states.

These comments were openly opposed by a number of fellow NATO leaders, as well as by NATO officials – with Mr. Stoltenberg travelling to Paris in late November to discuss the issue. Another contentious issue for the Alliance had arisen a while earlier, when Turkey had launched a military operation in Northern Syria – a decision openly criticized by other NATO Allies such as France. 

NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mircea Geoana, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, , Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, General Tod Wolters (SACEUR); General Andre Lanata (SACT).

Despite any tensions, in the December summit leaders agreed to the so-called “London Declaration”, a nine-points document in which NATO members praised the Alliance’s achievements in the last 70 years, declared their continued commitment to trans-Atlantic security, and outlined some of the current challenges faced by the organization.

The document defines NATO as “the strongest and most successful Alliance in history”, praising it for ensuring the security of members’ territory and citizens, as well as promoting shared values such as “democracy, individual liberty, human rights, and the rule of law”. Moreover, the document points at a wide array of challenges faced by NATO, ranging from “Russia’s aggressive action” and China’s rise on the global stage, to terrorism, instability, as well as hybrid and cyber threats – including in the field of communication. 

The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

In order to face these challenges, NATO leaders called for joint action. “To stay secure, we must look to the future together” – the document recites, stressing the need not only of cohesion among Allies, but also of strong cooperation with other organizations such as the European Union and the United Nations. Moreover, the leaders officially invited Mr. Stoltenberg – in full coordination with the North Atlantic Council – to initiate a “forward-looking reflection process”, with the aim of further strengthening “NATO’s political dimension including consultation”. 

The document’s closing lines fully encapsulate the message that the leaders tried to convey: “In challenging times, we are stronger as an Alliance, and our people safer. Out bond and mutual commitment have guaranteed our freedoms, our values, and our security for seventy years. We act today to ensure that NATO guarantees those freedoms, values, and security for generations to come”.

Full declaration available on NATO’s website: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_171584.htm. 

Photography by NATO.


About the author:

Guido Lanfranchi is a student and young professional in the field of international affairs. He has pursued his studies both at Leiden University and Sciences Po Paris, where he is currently enrolled. In parallel, he has been gaining professional experience through internships (first at the Council of the European Union, and currently at Clingendael Institute), as well as by working as reporter and associate editor for Diplomat Magazine The Netherlands. His research and work focus on the Middle East and Africa, and especially on conflict situations in these regions.

The Ambassador of Colombia, H.E. Mr. Alvaro Andrés Motta Navas

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The Ambassador of Colombia, H.E. Mr. Alvaro Andrés Motta Navas

Ambassador of Colombia and Permanent Representative to the International Organizations based on The Hague, Alvaro Andrés Motta Navas, worked from 2017-2019 as a Co-Judge of the Constitutional Court, Council of State and Supreme Court which is the highest honour designation for a lawyer in Colombia.

Elected by the High Courts to assume the duties of the Magistrate, temporarily, in cases where it is necessary to complete the deciding majority. Additionally, he served from 2011 to 2019 as Arbitrator in the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá as well as “Amicus curiae” in constitutional processes undertaken in Courts in other countries.

Ambassador Motta Navas’ experience has included different positions at the management and advisory level in the Colombian public administration, as well as in the private sector. Through the course of the years, he has worked as a litigation lawyer and legal adviser for several public and private institutions. In addition, he was a consultant for Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), among other important organizations.

Ambassador Motta Navas also has an extensive career in academia, with more than 20 years involved as a law professor in some of the highest ranked universities in Colombia, Latin America and Europe. Ambassador Motta has written numerous publications on legal matters and has experience as Director of the Master and Specialization in Constitutional Law of the Javeriana University (2010-2018), and as Counsellor of the National Council for Accreditation of Higher Education in Colombia.

He holds a PHD in Law by the University of La Laguna, Spain, where he also obtained a Diploma of Advance Studies and Research Sufficiency (D.E.A) in Philosophy of Law, a Master of Political Action and Citizen Participation in the Rule of Law by Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Madrid (ICAM) and the Francisco de Vitoria University (Spain), he completed a Post-Graduate degree in Giuristi d´impresa from the University of Bologna, Italy, and has a Bachelors in Law from the Javeriana University, Colombia with a specialization in Constitutional Law, from the same university.

The Ambassador of Serbia, H.E. Ms. Ksenija Milenković

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The Ambassador of Serbia, H.E. Ms. Ksenija Milenković

H.E. Ms. Ksenija Milenković is the new Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. She previously held posts as the Deputy Head of the Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union in Brussels and was the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of European Integration.

Moreover, she was the advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia on foreign policy and European integration. She has a wide array of diplomatic experience since 1998 and is a specialist on European Integration.

H.E. Ms. Ksenija Milenković, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia

Being the Serbian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Milenković strives to strengthen both bilateral economic ties and increase mutual political dialogues between the Dutch and Serbian communities. According to her, since Serbia established diplomatic ties with the Netherlands in 1899, the two countries have maintained warm ties. In fact, last year was the 120th anniversary between the two countries.

“We had a very important visit in November 2019, when Minister Blok came to Belgrade. For many years, we had not had a bilateral visit of the Dutch Foreign Minister. It was really good to have Minister Stef Blok there”.

She calls for and hopes the two will continue to work on intensifying those ties.

The Italian Charity Cooking Contest

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The Italian Charity Cooking Contest

In the picture H.E Mrs. Brândusa Predescu, the Ambassador of Romania, H.E. Mr. András Kocsis, the Ambassador of Hungary, H.E. Mr. Jens-Otto Horslund, the Ambassador of Denmark, H.E. Mr. Nicolas Plexidas, the Ambassador of Greece, the co-host H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini and H.E. Mr. Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn, the Ambassador of Switzerland.

Text and pictures by Naldo Peverelli.

He has only been ambassador to the Netherlands for Greece for two weeks, nevertheless, H.E. Mr. Nicolas Plexidas attended the Italian Charity Cooking Contest at the European Space Agency (ESA-ESTEC) in Noordwijk as one of his first official activities in the Netherlands.

At the event which was hosted by Mr. Franco Ongaro, Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality at ESA-ESTEC and the Ambassador of Italy, H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini, during the Italian Gastronomy Week, H.E. Ambassador Plexidas won the first prize for his extraordinary moussaka!

H.E. Mr. Nicolas Plexidas, Ambassador of Greece.

He prepared his dish in a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere with his cooking colleagues, H.E. Mr. András Kocsis, the Ambassador of Hungary, together with H.E. Mr. Jens-Otto Horslund, the Ambassador of Denmark,  H.E. Mrs. Brândusa Predescu, the Ambassador of Romania, H.E. Mr. Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn, the Ambassador of Switzerland as well as with the co-host H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini.

The Ambassadors contestants at work. ESA ESTEC Italian Charity Cooking Contest.

Dressed for the occasion they were judged by the Chairman of the Jury Mr. Rajiv Mehra, the famous Dutch (Michelin star), Chef Marcel van Lier, from the Netherlands, cooking teacher Gisella Vandoni, from Italy,  culinary journalist Marina Vizzinisi, Telegraaf chief editor, Willem Kool, from the Netherlands and of course Mr. Franco Ongaro, from Italy.

H.E. Mr. Jens-Otto Horslund, the Ambassador of Denmark at the kitchen.

The Ambassador Mr. Perugini asked a number of his colleagues to participate in the gastronomy contest, however, only the bravest dared to actively take part, and enter the beautiful kitchen of ESA with ingredients specifically picked for the preparation of their dishes.

Ambassador Predescu with Chairman of the Jury Mr. Rajiv Mehra.

All of the guests present at the evening event enjoyed the courses, which they could see being prepared in the kitchen via a closed loop video system on several TV screens placed in the restaurant!

The Ambassador of Denmark explaining his dish to the grand culinary jury.

After finishing their dishes, the ambassadors presented them to the judges, who noted that they indeed tried to give it an Italian touch! This was of course very much appreciated by the Ambassador of Italy, Mr. Andrea Perugini.

The Ambassadors at work.

What is more, the evening programme had a noble cause, as all of the proceeds from this event were subsequently donated to ESA Humanitarian Relief Fund.

The Ambassador of Switzerland.

Reception in honor of Abu Bacarr Marie Tambadou & Bob Rae

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Reception in honor of Abu Bacarr Marie Tambadou & Bob Rae

H.E. Mr. Shahidul Haque, Foreign Secretray of Bangladesh.

The Hague, 10 December 2019, the ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Dr. Hissa Abdulla A. Alotaiba, Bangladesh, H.E. Sheik Mohammed Belal, the Charge d’affaires a.i. of Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nasser A. Alghanoom and Malaysia,  Dr. Norhisyam Mohd Yusof organized a reception on the occasion of the visit of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of The Gambia H.E. Mr. Abubacarr Marie Tambadou,  the Minister of Foreign Affaires of Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. Shahidul Haque along with the Honorable Mr. Bob Rae, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Canada to Myanmar.

Minister Tambadou and Mr Rae are in The Hague in connection with the  Gambia’s application against Myanmar before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the alleged violation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention). 

Also present the Director of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Hassan Ahmed Abedin, representing the Secretary General Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen.

H.E. Mr. Abubacarr Marie Tambadou, The Gambia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

The Reception jointly organized by the Embassies of Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Malaysia in The Hague was attended by the President of the International Criminal Court, H.E. Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, the Director-General of the OPCW, H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, Gambia’s Legal Team, Dutch politicians and senior government officials, also Ambassadors, members of diplomatic corps, representatives from The Hague-based international organizations, representative from the OIC Secretariat, members of international media and international civil society organizations and Rohingya representatives.

The Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh H.E. Mr. Shahidul Haque in his speech, explained the historical background of how Bangladesh has been bearing the brunt over decades of the systematic persecution against the Rohingyas in the Rakhine State by the Myanmar authorities.

Narrating the horrors unleashed on the Rohingya people on 25 August 2017 in the Rakhine State by Myanmar authorities, the Foreign Secretary highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s humanitarian drive to open the borders for the persecuted Rohingyas despite Bangladesh’s multi-dimensional constraints.

Reception in honor of Abu Bacarr Marie Tambadou & Bob Rae.

He also touched upon Hon’ble Prime Minister’s bringing the perpetrators’ accountability issue before the international community in the UN General Assembly first in 2018.

Thanking the international community for their support to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue, the Foreign Secretary urged them to raise their voice to ensure justice for the persecuted Rohingyas. He also lauded The Gambia for its instituting the case against Myanmar at the ICJ under the 1948 Genocide Convention and thanked the OIC to back The Gambia in this endeavour. 

The Minister of Justice of The Gambia Abubakar Tambadou highly praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her hosting the persecuted Rohingyas and extending all the support to them. He expressed his appreciation to the OIC for its support and endorsement to The Gambia to file the case against Myanmar before the ICJ to ensure accountability for the genocide committed against the Rohingya by Myanmar.

Bob Rae, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Canada to Myanmar.

He termed that Gambia’s fight against Myanmar is not the fight between two States rather the fight of international community for humanity. He urged international community to extend their political, diplomatic and moral support to ensure justice for the Rohingya genocide victims.

The Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Bob Rae, who visited the Rohingyas’ camp and talked about the grave humanitarian crisis and violation of human rights of Rohingyas, also highly lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for hosting around a million persecuted Rohingyas and extending support to them. Referring to the joint statement issued by the governments of Canada and the Netherlands on 9 December 2019 to support The Gambia in all possible means for the case against Myanmar, he urged all governments to extend their support to The Gambia as well. 

The Ambassador of UAE, the Charge d’Affaires of Saudi Arabia and Malaysia and OIC representative in their speeches also praised Bangladesh for hosting of the persecuted Rohingya people and assured their support to The Gambia for the case against Myanmar at the ICJ. 

Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands, Sheikh Mohammed Belal, received the guests at the reception on behalf of the host countries of Bangladesh, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia.

The Gambia made today their oral submissions of the case against Myanmar before the ICJ. 

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