Qatar’s top envoy encounters Ghorfa

Editor
-
0
Qatar’s top envoy encounters Ghorfa

Ambassador Mohammed Al Kuwari & Ghorfa SG Abdulaziz Al Mikhlafi – Picture by Ghorfa.

Wednesday, 27 November 2019, Berlin, Germany: Qatar’s top envoy to Germany, H.E. Ambassador Mohammed bin Jaham Al Kuwari, has only been in office but a few days, however, he already took his time to pay a introductory call upon the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Secretary-General, Abdulaziz bin Othman Al Mikhlafi, to discuss manners to further develop the economic ties between Qatar and Germany, and to buttress up enterprises from both sides.

Ambassador Al Kuwari was accredited before German Federal President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday, 21 November at Bellevue Castle. He arrived to Germany after having served as his homeland’s chef de mission to Spain. 

For further information:

Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry e.V.: https://ghorfa.de/de/grosses-interesse-an-saudisch-deutschen-kooperationen/

Accreditation of Ambassador Al Kuwari in Germany: http://www.bundespraesident.de/DE/Home/home_node.html#-gallery

A modern taste of the ancient

Editor
-
0
A modern taste of the ancient

Wines of Armenia

In the picture H.E. Mr. Tigran Balayan, Ambassador of Armenia, H.E. Mr. Dilyor Khakimov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan and Anahit Chalikian, Counsellor at the Armenian Embassy during the testing.

The Armenian Embassy in The Netherlands and the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia, in collaboration with Diplomat Magazine and Royal Beverages Group & Drink Rituals, organized a wine tasting at Crowne Plaza in The Hague. The event targeted especially wine experts, distributors and sommeliers.

In 2016 the government of Armenia recognised the production of high quality wine and brandy as a priority sector of their economy, and it started organising tasting of Wines of Armenia around the word. China, Germany, Belgium were recently touched by this international wine tour, with the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia participating in tasting competitions and international wine exhibitions not only for experts, but also for the public. 

Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia also works in the field of wine education for local and international professionals, as well as for the population living in wine regions. Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia supports viticulture and wine projects around the country.

Wines of Armenia.

For instance, the Foundation created a new legal framework for the production of Wines of Armenia, and it initiated a marketing and tourism campaign promoting these Wines in the local and international market.

Since its creation in 2016, Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia has accomplished a great number of projects and missions abroad, bringing the attention of thousands of people to their unique wines, working constantly in improving the quality of wine production, raising the winemaking reputation and competitiveness of the country, contributing to develop Armenian wine culture, and promoting export of wine and the wine consumption culture in Armenia. 

Jevgenia Davidyan, from Drinkrituals serving wine to the guests.

Lianna Abelyan, Head of International Projects, and Frunzik Harutyunyan, Deputy Director, Head of Viticulture and Winemaking Department, came together from Yerevan with fourteen of the best wine produced in their country; sparkling, whites, rosés and reds – all unique products to be introduced to the Dutch market.

Frunzik Harutyunyan, Deputy Director, Head of Viticulture and Winemaking Department during his presentation of Wines of Armenia.

Harutyunyan started his presentation with visual images and a film showing the wine zones and wine production, as well as the beginning of the Armenian tradition on wines. He explained the historic roots of the Wines of Armenia, passing by the more than 300 original varieties only found in their territory. As a producer and wine expert himself, his presentation was lively, authentic and rich in information and personal comments. He showed the particularity of each wine to the many experts, highlighting the original and unique flavours of the Armenians wines based on the grapes varieties only growing in Armenia. And that is exactly what makes the uniqueness of Armenian wine’s aroma and flavours.

Wines of Armenia’s testing.

From the sparkling Karas, a brut with some citrus and flowering flavours produced by the winery Tierras de Armenia, to the white Tushpa White by Tushpa Wine Cellar, a wine with creamy flavours produced in the legendary and biblical land of Ararat, where also the absolute fabulous Armenian brandy is produced, to the fruited taste of Takar Red Classic by the Armenia Wine company, or our favorite Kataro Dry Red, Khndoghni by Anush winery – the tasting experience was unique.

Well-known vinologists, sommeliers, wine bloggers and wine critics, wine connoisseurs and wine lovers took part in this wine tasting that officially lasted from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm – although people kept re-tasting and talking until late. It was certainly a good occasion to come together and discover new products and tastes.

This event was a good occasion for sommeliers and distributors to come together and discover new products and tastes. We received good reviews about the Wines of Armenian’s quality – surely another important step to the conquest of the Dutch wine market for Armenia. And it was certainly a successful evening.


ICC President addresses United Nations General Assembly and calls for global support

Editor
-
0
ICC President addresses United Nations General Assembly and calls for global support

ICC President Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji presents the report of the ICC to the UN General Assembly. ©UN Photo/Mark Garten.

On 4 November 2019, the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, addressed the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to present the Court’s annual report, detailing the Court’s activities, ongoing cases, key judicial decisions and reparations processes. In his address to the UNGA, as well as in all his meetings, President Eboe-Osuji stressed the need for sustained cooperation and global support for the Court. 

In his address, the President first expressed the Court’s appreciation to the UN for the “continued, invaluable support and assistance that the organisation provides to the ICC”. This broad-ranging assistance is “truly critical for the Court’s work,” the President said.

While expressing the Court’s gratitude for the close cooperation received from many States, the President underlined that the lack of successful cooperation “presents a major obstacle to the Court’s ability to carry out its mandate”. He recalled that more than half of the outstanding arrest warrants relate to situations referred to the ICC Prosecutor by the UN Security Council. 

“It remains unacceptable that allegations of criminal conduct of the gravity implicated in these cases are not properly heard before a court of law. It is unacceptable from the point of view of the victims, it is unacceptable from the point of view of the international community, and it is unacceptable from the point of view of the rule of law,” the President stated, urging the Security Council to take concrete measures to ensure compliance with the Court’s requests for cooperation.

Referring to controversies and “direct political threats issued against the Court” in the context of the Afghanistan situation, the President said: “the Court must do its work undeterred by these threats and controversies, whether from civil society members acutely disappointed about judicial decisions they do not like, or from anxious state officials intent on preventing judicial decisions they do not want. The international community and every one of its members must ensure that threats of any kind are not made to the independence that the Court needs to serve its mandate to humanity.”

President Eboe-Osuji reiterated the ICC’s essential values and dividends to the world: “With a permanent international criminal court now in place, even the most powerful men can no longer be certain that they will escape unpunished, if they commit (against their fellow humans) the heinous acts that the Rome Statute forbids.” The President further highlighted the ICC’s correlative value of deterrence. “This is a value that cannot be emphasised strongly enough. There are, indeed, many reasons to insist that the mere existence of this permanent judicial mechanism for accountability does truly serve – at the very least – as an inconvenient obstacle to freewill on the part of those inclined to commit inhumane crimes on a scale that is massive or widespread.”

The President also insisted that “there can be no sustainable development, where conflicts, atrocities and fear reign supreme. […] The effects of conflict impede growth not only in the countries directly embroiled in war; they also impede regional development in addition to the migration problems that they generate.” “All of this is to say that preventing conflicts and the atrocities they breed, and addressing them purposefully and unapologetically through the rule of law, comprise an objective with far-reaching significance for the most critical aspects of human life: including economic development”, he stated.

Finally, the President urged all States that have not yet done so to join the Rome Statute, the Court’s founding treaty: “Each ratification adds another brick to the wall that protects humanity from the gravest crimes imaginable. Each ratification helps reduce the space for impunity,” he said.

During his visit to New York, President Eboe-Osuji is holding meetings with a number of senior United Nations officials, as well as members of the diplomatic community. He will be briefing the New York Working Group of the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, as well as Ambassadors of the Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries and the Group of African States in New York. At these meetings, the President will engage in discussion on the Court’s activities and challenges as well as ways to enhance the functioning of the Rome Statute system as a whole, including measures recently taken to expedite the Court’s proceedings.

ICC President Speech to the United Nations General Assembly

Annual report of the International Criminal Court to the United Nations General Assembly

Burundi Ambassador in the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Gamaliel Nkurunziza

Editor
-
0
Burundi Ambassador in the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Gamaliel Nkurunziza

H.E. Mr. Gamaliel Nkurunziza has been named the new Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The new Ambassador – a Law graduate – is taking up his first post abroad after professional experience in his country’s judiciary and foreign affairs sectors.

The Republic of Burundi has a new Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The post previously occupied by H.E. Ms. Vestine Nahimana has now been assigned to a new Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Gamaliel Nkurunziza, who has already started to take up his duties in The Hague in late 2019.

Born in Burundi’s Ngozi Province in 1978, Mr. Nkurunziza holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, and he has had different professional experiences in his country’s bureaucracy. From 2005 to 2014, he has held several positions in the country’s judiciary. Notably, he has worked in his Ngozi Province, first as Magistrate, and later as Attorney General at the Province’s Appeal Court. Moreover, he has also occupied different positions as Substitute Prosecutor and Prosecutor in other Provinces across Burundi. During these times, Mr. Nkurunziza has also held the Presidency of the Red Cross in Kayanza Province for three years (2011-2013).

After this experience in the judiciary, Mr. Nkurunziza moved into the governmental sector, becoming an Advisor to Burundi’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and also joining the Independent National Commission for Human Rights in Burundi as a Commission Member (2014-2018). After this experience, Mr. Nkurunziza joined his country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he worked as Director General in charge of Diaspora, Non-Governmental Organizations and Non-Profit Organizations until 2019, when he was named Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Burundi in the Netherlands.

The diplomatic community of the Netherlands warmly welcomes Ambassador Nkurunziza and wishes him a pleasant experience in The Hague! 

Ethiopian Ambassador Bezuneh in Bremen

Editor
-
0
Ethiopian Ambassador Bezuneh in Bremen

Tuesday, 26 November 2019, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Germay: Mayor and President of the Senate of Bremen, Dr. Andreas Bovenschulte welcomed the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Germany, Mulu Solomon Bezuneh at 3 p.m. for her inaugural visit to the city-state. Accordingly the Town Hall was flagged. 

The Ambassador signed the city-state’s Golden Book in the Upper Hall of the Town Hall. Thereafter an tête-à-tête was held between Mayor Dr. Bovenschulte and Ambassador Bezuneh  in the Güldenkammer.

Ambassador Bezuneh was thereafter accompanied by Honorary Consul Thomas Gerkmann to the Bremen City-State Diet and the Bremen Chamber of Commerce (IHK for Bremen and Bremerhaven), where the chef de mission held a round table discussion on the future of the East African country.

In October, the news that Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2019 for his peace policy towards his neighbour Eritrea caused worldwide headlines. 

For further information

 Government of Bremen: https://www.senatspressestelle.bremen.de/detail.php?gsid=bremen146.c.327558.de&asl=bremen02.c.730.de

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Hessian Peace Prize 2019: https://diplomatmagazine.eu/2019/10/01/hessian-peace-prize-for-ethiopian-pm-ahmed/

Picture by Bremer Senatskanzlei.

Lublin and Bavaria deepen ties

Editor
-
0
Lublin and Bavaria deepen ties

Minister of State Dr. Florian Herrmann & Marshall of the Voivodship of Lublin, Jarosław Stawiarski – Picture by Bayerische Staatskanzlei.

Monday, 25 November 2019, Munich, Bavaria, Germany: the Marshall of the Voivodeship of Lublin, Jarosław Stawiarski, paid a visit to the Bavarian Minister of State for Federal and European Affairs and Media, Dr. Florian Herrmann at the State Chancellery. 
The Voivoideship of Lublin is a region located in southeastern Poland, and named after its capital, the historical city of Lublin. 

Marshall Stawiarski is a former Deputy Minister of Sport and Tourism of Poland. 

For further information: 

State Government of Bavaria: https://www.bayern.de/service/fotoreihen/?frid=in121576&fbclid=IwAR159IvlX0ZtsFV471Y8rikJ_IZB-BB69E4JSKekZFUCCGqGBScQGt6Y7jc

Jarosław Stawiarski: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarosław_Stawiarski

Three Winners Receive 2019 OPCW-The Hague Award for Outstanding Contributions to a World Free of Chemical Weapons

Editor
-
0
Three Winners Receive 2019 OPCW-The Hague Award for Outstanding Contributions to a World Free of Chemical Weapons

Prof. Christopher Brett, President of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Dr Robert Mikulak, the former Permanent Representative of the United States to the OPCW, and Cheng Tang, an expert on chemical demilitarisation from the People’s Republic of China, received 2019 OPCW-The Hague Award.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands —25 November 2019 — The OPCW-The Hague Award was presented to three recipients today during a ceremony held during the Twenty-Fourth Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The award recognises individuals and institutions that have made an outstanding contribution towards the goal of a world permanently free of chemical weapons.

During the ceremony, OPCW’s Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, congratulated the award recipients and stated: “The winners of this award have earned our admiration through their sustained and devoted efforts in chemical disarmament and the peaceful uses of chemistry. Our mission is an enduring one. It requires constant vigilance and action. This year’s recipients will surely inspire others to take up this noble mission.”

The Award, which is also supported by the Municipality of The Hague, highlights the deep-rooted collaboration between the OPCW and its host country, the Netherlands, in countering the threat posed by chemical weapons and honouring actors involved in implementing the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

OPCW

In her remarks, the Deputy Mayor of the City of The Hague, Saskia Bruines, said: “I am extremely proud to be able to present this prestigious award here in The Hague. We are celebrating the special work of the OPCW, the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize winner. This important international organisation has been located in The Hague for over twenty years. The mission of the OPCW can be traced back to the first Hague Peace Conference in 1899 where a ban on certain chemical weapons was declared. Now, a hundred and twenty years later, and with the help of this year’s winners of the 2019 OPCW- The Hague Award, we are closer than ever to a world free of chemical weapons.”

Dr Robert Mikulak
https://youtu.be/Vo7b9G9Qw8k

Dr Robert Mikulak, the former Permanent Representative of the United States to the OPCW, stated: “The CWC establishes the very important norm, which prevents chemical agents being used in warfare. Science can and has been misused and perverted, and I have found ways to counter that by bridging the gap between scientists and politicians. The OPCW-The Hague Award will help me to continue this important work.”

Dr Robert Mikulak (United States of America) is an eminent expert on chemical and biological weapons arms control and the former Permanent Representative of the United States to the OPCW from 2010 to 2015. Dr Mikulak has made substantial contributions to chemical disarmament through his extensive involvement in the negotiations of the CWC, and his work as the US representative to the OPCW Preparatory Committee. Currently, he is a member of the OPCW Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and is an expert advisor on chemical and biological weapons issues at the United States Department of State.

Mr. Cheng Tanghttps://youtu.be/YhdG2QBmeX8

Mr Cheng Tang, an expert on chemical demilitarisation from the People’s Republic of China, said: ‘’We are now living in an era of unprecedented scientific advancement and technological innovation with equally unparalleled access to, and diffusion of, scientific knowledge. As science can both improve and potentially undermine the ability to maintain an effective disarmament regime, it is imperative to strengthen the science review process and evaluate its implications for the Chemical Weapons Convention.”

Mr Cheng Tang (People’s Republic of China) is an expert on chemical demilitarisation. He is currently the Chair of the OPCW Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and an advisor to the Chinese National Authority. Involved in the text negotiations of the CWC in Geneva from 1990 to 1992 as well as the removal and destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons, Mr Tang has actively worked for the goal of a world free of chemical weapons. 

https://youtu.be/jWE5xr1javE
Prof. Christopher Brett

The award for the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) was accepted by President-elect Prof. Christopher Brett. He said: “IUPAC is extremely honoured to be a recipient of the highly prestigious OPCW-The Hague award. It represents recognition of IUPAC’s strong and lasting cooperation with OPCW to serve humankind through contributing knowledge and advances in the science and technology of chemistry at the worldwide level, helping to achieve the goals of CWC, as well as providing OPCW with the tools and materials for informing society about the responsible uses of chemistry.”

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is an international federation of chemists that was established in 1919. Consisting of members, associates, and affiliate institutions from around the world, the organisation played an instrumental role in the development and promotion of The Hague Ethical Guidelines on Chemistry.  IUPAC has actively cooperated with the OPCW to produce educational materials, teaching modules and joint-OPCW symposia on CWC related topics. A strong advocate for the peaceful uses of chemistry, IUPAC has provided extensive and longstanding support to the OPCW in promoting the objectives of the CWC.

In 2013, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.

To preserve the legacy of this achievement, the OPCW established the OPCW-The Hague Award in collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague in 2014.

The OPCW-The Hague Award recognises individuals and institutions that have made an outstanding contribution towards the goal of a world permanently free of chemical weapons.

Parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan

Editor
-
0
Parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan

H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan will be held according to the international requirements.

The upcoming parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan, scheduled for December 22, 2019 will be transparently taking into account international requirements, which are fully taken into account by the Election Code which adopted in June. This was announced on October 21, 2019 by Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

“During the development of the code, the experience of more than 50 countries was studied. I especially want to emphasize the consideration of the recommendations of the missions of international election observation organizations, including the OSCE/ODIHR, SCO, CIS, the World Association of Electoral Bodies, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, proposals of the Venice Commission, as well as international electoral principles and standards, “said Abdusalomov.

According to him, the Electoral Code, the adoption of which was initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, brought together the norms of nearly 30 previously existing legislative documents, including five laws regulating relations related to the preparation and conduct of elections of the country’s president, deputies of the Legislative Chamber, members of the Senate, deputies regional, district and city kengashes that regulated the activities of the CEC, as well as guarantees ensuring the free expression of the will of citizens.

In accordance with the Electoral Code, election commissions are now authorized to consider complaints from individuals and legal entities about violations of suffrage, conduct checks on these complaints and give written answers within three days. Moreover, the election commissions are obliged to respond to appeals received less than six days before the election or on election day.

The Electoral Code also excluded the restriction on the participation in elections of persons held in prison for crimes that do not constitute a great public danger.

“I want to emphasize the strengthening of public control and the expansion of the powers of civil society institutions during the elections. Now, along with political parties, representatives of self-government bodies have also been given the opportunity to observe the elections, this will enhance transparency and public accountability of the electoral process,” Abdusalomov said. In his opinion, the fact that the Electoral Code establishes a 30 percent quota for women when nominating candidates for deputies is of great importance.

Unified Electronic Voter List

An important innovation of the launched election campaign was the unified electronic voter list (EESI), which currently includes 20.5 million citizens of Uzbekistan. EESI will allow the formation of a single electoral portal, allowing the electorate to receive all the election data on the CEC website. Work in this direction by the CEC began about a year ago after the adoption of a decree of the president of the country on measures to introduce modern information and communication technologies in the electoral process.

“When developing this innovative election mechanism, foreign experience in this direction was thoroughly studied,” the CEC head noted. According to him, other information technologies are also planned for the parliamentary elections. This is an electronic database of constituencies and precincts, members of their commissions with the subsequent publication of this information on the official website of the CEC, an electronic database of candidates for deputies of all levels, an interactive map of constituencies and precincts, an official website and social networks.

The Saylov-2019 mobile application (“Elections-2019”) has already been created, which contains regulations, information on election commissions, guidelines, training materials, etc. A call center is available at the CEC international press center where you can get answer to any questions about the election. All this will make the upcoming elections as open and transparent as possible.

In the parliamentary elections and local representative bodies, which will be held under the motto “New Uzbekistan – New Elections,” it is planned to form over 16 thousand electoral districts and precincts, including more than 50 outside of Uzbekistan.

In accordance with the Electoral Code, election campaigning is not allowed the day before the election and directly on election day.

The Electoral Code of Uzbekistan does not provide for the organization of exit polls. The upcoming expression of the will of the people will be considered valid if at least 33% of those included in the voter lists take part in it. To win the election, candidates will need to get 50% plus one vote.

In accordance with the Electoral Code, the first session of the Legislative Chamber of a new composition should be held no later than two months after the election.

Parliamentary elections will be held with the strengthening of the positions of political parties

Elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan, scheduled for December 22, 2019 will be held with a significant strengthening of the positions of political parties, said Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC).

“Now, according to the Electoral Code, only political parties have the right to nominate candidates for deputies of parliament and local representative bodies, earlier they could nominate their own candidates and initiative groups, and local self-government bodies in regional, district and city Kengashes (Soviets),” – said Abdusalomov. According to him, political parties also have broad powers to monitor the election process.

According to the head of the Central Election Commission, in accordance with the Electoral Code, all five officially registered political parties in Uzbekistan have already signed up and received access to the elections. Movement of Entrepreneurs and Business People – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP), Democratic Party Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival), Social Democratic Party Adolat (Justice), People’s Democratic Party (PDPU) and Ecological party of Uzbekistan.

According to Abdusalomov, the authorities have allocated significant resources for training participants in the electoral process with all the innovations laid down in the new legislation. Thus, over 170 thousand people are involved in the training program, who are in the reserve for election by members of election commissions at all levels. For them, as well as judges of administrative judges and specialists of information and communication technologies, cycles of seminars and trainings are held. Such a large-scale and systematic training before the elections is held in the country for the first time.

More than 600 foreign observers to come to parliament in Uzbekistan

Monitoring of the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan scheduled for December 22 this year will be conducted by more than 600 observers from about 50 states and international organizations, said Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

“We expect that more than 600 foreign observers from about 50 states of America, Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as from all international organizations of the world whose activities are related to election monitoring will conduct monitoring of the election campaign and the elections themselves. For example, the OSCE/ODIHR plans to send the upcoming election is a mission of almost 300 observers from the Central Executive Committee of Russia and the CIS Parliamentary Assembly that they are ready to participate in the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis. these assemblies of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, representatives of a number of independent civil society institutions from the United States”, said Abdusalomov. According to him, during the election campaign that has begun and directly on the day of voting, there will not be a single polling station closed to foreign observers.

According to the head of the CEC, if someone from foreign observers wants to visit a polling station located, for example, in a women’s colony, he will have to inform the Central Election Commission in advance. “We will coordinate this issue with the competent authorities. For this is primarily due to the safety of observers – this is customary throughout the world,” he said. The so-called long-term observers are expected to arrive in the republic in mid-November, and short-term observers a few days before election day.

As Abdusalomov also said, in time for and without significant violations, they signed up and received admission to the upcoming elections all five officially registered political parties in the republic.

These are the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Business People – the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP), the Democratic Party Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival), the Social Democratic Party Adolat (Justice), the People’s Democratic Party (PDPU) and Ecological Party of Uzbekistan. In accordance with the Electoral Code, all conditions have been created in the republic for propaganda of their election programs and bringing their essence to the electorate.

Ambassador Perugini Hosts Luncheon

Editor
-
0
Ambassador Perugini Hosts Luncheon

By Catherine Dailey.

The Hague’s elegant Restaurant des Juges, located in the Peace Palace complex, is one of the world’s most exclusive dining rooms. Last Friday, it was the venue for the “Ambassadors Luncheon” hosted by H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini, the Republic of Italy’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  

H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini, Ambassador of Italy.

The luncheon, part of the “Week of Extraordinary Italian Taste” program, featured a four-course menu. It was one of more than 1,000 unique gastronomic events, held in more than 100 countries from November 18-24, during Italy’s fourth annual week-long series of culinary and cultural programs designed to introduce Italy’s gastronomic traditions to the world.  “Food Education, the Culture of Taste” was the 2019 theme.

Permanent Representative of Germany to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Christine Weil and H.E. Hong Xu, Ambassador of China.

The menu featured regional specialities such as swordfish pie with eggplant and basil, risotto carnaroli with shrimps, red shrimps “Capitan Frank Style” and Sicilian cassata, cannoli, and fruit bellavista prepared under the oversight of Sicilian Chef Franco Guilio from Capo d’Orlando.  Chef Denis Botrot, of Restaurant des Juges, worked together with the Sicilian guest chef to prepare the luncheon.  

The ambassadors enjoyed a relaxing informal afternoon together in a club-like atmosphere of friendship and collegiality, as sunlight permeated a dining room offering panoramic views of one of the world’s most iconic symbols of peace—the Peace Palace.

Italian chefs working at the Restaurant des Judges’ kitchen.

Ambassador Perugini chose a Sicilian Chef to organize and prepare the menu for the luncheon. The decision was especially appropriate given that Sicily, a Mediterranean “cultural crossroads” has gastronomic and viticulture traditions developed over the course of millennia.

 The event, an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic, is organized in the Netherlands by the Italian Embassy in The Hague in cooperation with the Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura.  In addition, some sixteen Italian restaurants participated in the weeklong program designed to educate the public about the flavors of authentic food and the health benefits of the “Mediterranean Diet.”

Other Events, hosted or sponsored by the ambassador, were held at Europol, the European Space Agency (ESA ESTEC), the Hotel Crown Plaza Promenade, and more.  Several of the events were preceded by concerts performed by the Italian prodigy, pianist Daklen Difato, and Letizia Elsa Maula (clarinet) and Mario Rio (Cello). Both are internationally renowned musicians, who regularly perform together as the “Philia Duo.” 

Three local restaurants supporting the event include Da Braccini, Vino e Cucina and Bacca Perbacco.  In addition to programs which took place in the Netherlands during the past week; concerts, lectures, seminars, cooking classes, wine tastings, dinners, as well as various other culinary presentations and cultural initiatives such as movies and documentaries showcasing Italian food culture and traditions, were organized throughout the world. 

H.E. Archbishop, Aldo Cavalli, Apostolic Nuncio and Belgium’s Permanent Representative to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador William Roelants de Stappers.

The “Mediterranean Diet”, the essence of Italian food culture, was added to UNESCO’s representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage to Humanity in 2013.  This year, the “Week of Italian Gastronomy in the World” placed a special emphasis on the “Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene” located not far from Venice, in north-eastern Italy.

The area, which includes part of the vine growing landscape of the Prosecco wine production area, was recognized by UNESCO in July of this year, for being of “outstanding universal value.” The Prosecco region is Italy’s second wine producing region to receive such a distinction—the first being “the Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Lange Roero and Monferrato.”

In 2015, the city of Parma, home to the corporate headquarters of Barilla, the world’s largest producer of pasta, and a major supporter of Italy’s worldwide “Week of Italian Taste” event, was the first Italian city to receive the UNESCO “Creative City” award for demonstrating “tradition, talent and innovation” in gastronomy.  

ALMA, the famed international culinary school and the Academia Barilla are also located in Parma. Barilla’s 14,000 volume gastronomic library and 5,000 plus collection of historic menus are of particular interest to both professional foodies and culinary adventurers.

While the week of “Italian Gastronomy to the World” has become a new “tradition” of promoting Italian food culture abroad, Italy has long been appreciated by “foodies” for a long-standing tradition of regional culinary food festivals taking place throughout the entire year. Noteworthy is Alba, the capital of Piedmont, which has also been recognized as a “Creative City” for gastronomic excellence. Today, the “Truffle” city, closed the  89th International White Truffle Festival!

Epicureans, wishing to further explore Italy’s gastronomic traditions and cultures, are invited to visit the “Gastronomy” page of the “Travel Ideas” section of the Italian National Tourist Board for more than thirty suggestions for the very best of Italy’s authentic culinary inspired experiences.

Twitter:

@ItalyMFA @ERTourism @UNESCO #ItalianTaste2019 #HelpVenice

Presidential Representative, Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed passes away

Editor
-
0
Presidential Representative, Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed passes away

Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan – Picture by WAM, Emirates News Agency.

Monday, 18 November 2019, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Presidential Representative, the late Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (b. 1 December 1956) passed away. 

He was the second son of the nation’s founder, the late President, Amir Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi, brother to the incumbent President, Amir Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi, and half-brother to Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the UAE Armed Forces. 

From 1990 to 2009 the late Sheikh Sultan served as the UAE Deputy Prime Minister; thereafter he was entrusted as Personal Representative to the President in addition to being Chairman of the Media and Cultural centre, Chairman of the Emirates Heritage Club and member of the board of the Supreme Petroleum Council as well as of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. 

For further information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_bin_Zayed_bin_Sultan_Al_Nahyan

https://twitter.com/MohamedBinZayed/status/1197191497587789830/photo/1

1...338339340...866Page 339 of 866