70 years of friendship – Russia-Indonesia

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70 years of friendship – Russia-Indonesia

By Julia Suryakusuma.

“Jauh di mata, dekat di hati [Out of sight, close to the heart].” This is how Lyudmila Georgievna Vorobieva, Russian ambassador to Indonesia, characterized the relationship between the two countries.

In fact, in the 70 years of the relationship, it has gone through different states of proximity. It was pretty “hot” even before and around independence in 1945 when being leftist was identical with an anti-imperialist stance — and certainly during Sukarno’s presidency (1945 to 1967).

Then, abruptly, with the annihilation of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in 1965 after a now-largely discounted “coup” by the PKI, the relationship suffered a long cold period of over 30 years during Soeharto’s New Order (1967 to 1998). Keeping the communist scare alive was, after all, one of the ways the regime maintained its grip on society.

Then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness) in the 1980s, the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991 and Indonesia’s Reformasi in 1998 paved the way for the restoration of warm, harmonious relations.

Mohammad Wahid Supriyadi, Indonesian ambassador to Russia since 2016, said we are now in the second golden age of Russia-Indonesia relations (the first being during Sukarno’s presidency). Wow! Who would have guessed?

For the lay person, these days Russia invariably draws our attention indirectly, e.g. for its alleged interference in presidential elections in the United States or for being the country where Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency whistleblower, has been living in exile for over six years.

I confess Russia hasn’t been that prominent on my screen lately either, until I heard about the Russia-Indonesia 70-year friendship exhibition at the National Gallery from Feb. 3 to 17 (see: “Snapshots: Indonesia, Russia exhibit 70 years of friendship”, The Jakarta Post, Feb. 5). I was keen to go because of my own “Russian connections”.

Yup! I was a sociology student in London (1976 to 1979), and took a course on Russia and China. The focus of my studies was Western industrial societies, so I wanted to know the other side of the Cold War (circa 1947 to 1991). It was also essential for writing my thesis on the People’s Cultural Institute (Lekra), the PKI’s cultural wing. Both Lekra and the PKI looked to these communist countries for guidance, especially the Soviet Union, to emulate their concept of “socialist realism” — art and literature that glorified communist values and supported the party line.

I was also connected to Russia by marriage. My late husband, Ami Priyono, was among the first seven Indonesian students sent to Moscow in 1956. Together with Sjumanjaya, they studied film at Lomonosov Moscow State University. Both eventually became prominent film directors in the 1970s and 1980s.

Ami’s father, Prijono, was culture minister in Sukarno’s first cabinet, serving for nine years (1957 to 1966). Prijono was a leading figure in the Murba Party (sometimes referred to as the second Indonesian communist party) and, like Sukarno, was pro-Soviet. In 1954, Prijono was awarded the Stalin Peace Prize.

So, the reason for my interest was partly a nostalgia trip and partly a desire to know more about our current relationship with the “Land of the Red Bear”, as Indonesians sometimes refer to Russia.

I was accompanied by Vladimir Anisimov, head of the artist collective Bureau of Creative Expeditions and curator of the Necklace of the Equator exhibition. A distinguished gentleman in his 70s, sporting a bushy silver-gray beard, a moustache and an artist’s ponytail, he was like a relic of the past, adding to the nostalgic atmosphere.

Vladimir explained in detail some of the 85 paintings on display. They were done by 10 Russian painters who over 20 years had travelled to Indonesia on various occasions, capturing scenes from Java, Sumatra, Madura, Bali, Lombok, Kalimantan and Sulawesi: landscapes, houses, ceremonies, local traditions — mainly focusing on the people. Mostly impressionistic, lots of bright colors and a touch of romanticism here and there, like the Madonna painting of a woman carrying a baby surrounded by flowers and a rainbow. No socialist realism here!

Exhibitions by Russian artists have been held before in Indonesia, in 2000, 2003 and 2005. Vladimir recalled that the opening day was usually full but after that, empty. The situation is completely different now, he said, with 200 to 300 people attending during work days and double that on the weekend.

Vladimir said they received only positive feedback. “People were impressed and spent a lot of time taking selfies with the paintings as backdrops. Maybe more time than just looking at them,” Vladimir smiled wryly.

Among the crowd were a young man and woman intently discussing something related to the exhibition. They were Indonesians but spoke in very fluent English. I approached them and asked them why they had come to the exhibition. “Oh, we are Marxists. We came because we wanted to know more.” 

Wow, Marxists in our midst? So young and so brazenly declaring their ideological beliefs at a time when Indonesia’s communist phobia is still alive and well? They really piqued my curiosity, so I took their phone numbers and chatted with them by WhatsApp the following day.

Both were 25 and were members of a group of young Marxist-Leninists who, like them, were disillusioned with the state of the world. “In 2016, when Donald Trump was elected president, it was the moment where we started really realizing the evil of the US empire and imperialism,” they said.

“One of the things that really moved me,” the young woman said, “was reading DN Aidit’s [PKI chairman] speech for the [party’s] 44th anniversary, when he said that one of the conditions of being a PKI member is ‘unmeasurable love for the people’.” For her, that’s what communism is: loving each other so fiercely that we fight for a world where no one has to suffer, a world free from exploitation.

Wow, talk about youthful idealism! Truth be told, any ideology, any political or economic system, as well as any religion, can be twisted to harm and oppress the people, however much our leaders wax lyrical about them, or about bilateral and international relations.

Maybe this is a time when our leaders should start listening to the younger generation to save the world. Greta Thunberg is trying hard to do that. Many more are joining her ranks, so all you politicians, bureaucrats and leaders out there, start listening!

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Early version of the text published under: “Russia – Indonesia 70 years on: Some like it hot, cold or warm” in Jakarta Post

About Author:

Jakarta-born Julia Suryakusuma is an author of the cult edition ‘Julia’s Jihad’. Tireless fighter for social cause, she is one of the most influential opinion-makers, thinkers and columnists in southeast Asia. 

Dominican diplomat-guest speaker on Public Diplomacy

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Dominican diplomat-guest speaker on Public Diplomacy

His Excellency Enrique Ruiz Molero, Ambassador of Spain in Canada and Dr. Eugenio Matos, G. Guest speaker on Public Diplomacy 

His Excellency Enrique Ruiz Molero, Ambassador of Spain in Canada organized the first conference on Public Diplomacy in Ottawa. The activity took place in the Spanish diplomatic mission on March 4, in cooperation with the International Public Diplomacy Council.

For the occasion, the guest speaker was the public diplomacy expert Dr. Eugenio Matos G, having as central theme “Public Diplomacy in the XXI Century”. The introductory words presenting Dr. Matos and the conclusion were given by Ambassador Ruiz Molero, who considered public diplomacy as a contemporary tool of the highest interest for Spain foreign policy. He also congratulated the speaker for his timely speech. The activity was directed to the diplomatic corps accredited to Canada, to the media and special guests.

The keynote lecture was very well analyzed by Dr. Matos, which included a synopsis that corresponds to the first semester of the master’s degree in public diplomacy in North America and Europe. Matos provided references from international authors and Spanish researchers from the Royal Institute Elcano, from the Complutense University, from Valencia, Salamanca, Malta, among others. It was explicit in historical evolution, information and communication techniques, soft and hard power, contemporary cultural diplomacy, new actors in this new science, about the cutting-edge techniques for the organization of diplomatic events, the impact and exploitation of the media, on the most effective methods for the selection and evaluation of diplomatic agents, social networks and their recommendations for optimal performance.

Dr. Matos concludes his brilliant academic presentation based on more than thirty years of uninterrupted exercise in public diplomacy. He makes his reflections from the perspective of an applied philosophy of cost-effectiveness, taking as an example the very efficient projects of the South African Embassy in Ottawa, of the brilliant diplomatic career of S.E. Sofía Cerrato, Honduran ambassador to Canada, Dean of GRULAC, former president and current vice president of ODA, among other models.

Dr. Eugenio Matos G. is a lawyer, an alumnus from the Faculty of Law School of the University of Ottawa with masters in Europe and China. He was a violinist for the National Symphony Orchestra of Santo Domingo and the Chamber Orchestra in Den Haag, the Netherlands. He is the first internationally recognized Dominican expert in public diplomacy with important awards, such as the Merit Prize in Public Diplomacy awarded by the University of Ottawa Law School, on the occasion of the ¨Canadas´s Ambassadors of the Year Awards Ceremony 2018¨.

Novel Plenipotentiary of Schleswig-Holstein

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Novel Plenipotentiary of Schleswig-Holstein

Wednesday, 1 April 2020, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany: Sandra Gerken was sworn in by Premier of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther, as the Bundesland’s ‘Plenipotentiary to the Federal Government’. The latter entails that she leads Schleswig-Holstein’s state representation based in Berlin, and coordinate its activities in the Bundesrat (Assembly of Länder). 

Gerken succeeds Ingbert Liebing, who changes to the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) as Managing Director. Sandra Gerken was most recently head of staff, Unit for liaison and political coordination matters in the State Chancellery in Kiel.  

For further information: 
Representation of Schleswig-Holstein to the German Federation: https://www.schleswig-holstein.de/DE/Landesregierung/LVB/lvb_node.html

Picture by State Chancellery of Schleswig-Holstein 
…

Message de SAR le Prince Nikola Petrović-Njegoš au peuple montenegrin

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Message de SAR le Prince Nikola Petrović-Njegoš au peuple montenegrin

Mes chers concitoyens, Depuis plusieurs jours nous sommes confrontés à une crise sanitaire inédite qui prend chaque jour des proportions alarmantes. Confinés, nous sommes tous inquiets pour nos proches et pour notre avenir.

Je ne doute pas que pour beaucoup d’entre vous qui aviez déjà une vie difficile avant cette crise, la situation de confinement doit être une épreuve supplémentaire. Je voudrais que vous sachiez que je suis de tout cœur avec vous, confiné comme vous mais à 1500 kilomètres à vol d’oiseau.

J’avais cru un moment que le Monténégro serait épargné et que ce type de catastrophe était réservé plutôt aux grandes métropoles. Mais ce n’est pas le cas – Malheureusement. Cependant le Monténégro a pris les décisions de confinement assez tôt et j’espère que cela nous permettra d’éviter la situation terrible que connaît l’Italie et qui frappe à leur tour la France et l’Espagne.

Comme par le passé, je suis sûr que vous saurez affronter cette nouvelle épreuve avec gravité et solidarité pour que cette crise soit la plus courte possible. Je m’inquiète en particulier pour nos anciens isolés et sans défense face au virus, Je pense également aux familles confrontées aux difficultés que le confinement leur impose. Je pense à nos soignants qui sont en première ligne de cette bataille dans des conditions si difficiles.

Mais je pense surtout à demain, à notre avenir, à celui de nos enfants.
En-effet croyez-vous que le monde d’après le Corona Virus puisse rester le même?
Ne pensez-vous pas que les intérêts et les rivalités qui nous mobilisaient hier, demain nous sembleront dépassés?
Ne pensez-vous pas que l’ampleur de cette crise mondiale puisse être liée à nos modes de fonctionnement, de la même façon que le sont le réchauffement climatique et les crises migratoires? Depuis plusieurs années, partout sur la planète, des hommes et des femmes se mobilisent pour la transition écologique, ne croyez-vous pas que c’est la meilleure façon de pouvoir anticiper les catastrophes à venir et de préserver l’avenir de nos enfants ?

De même que nous sommes tous concernés par cette crise, ne pouvons-nous pas nous retrouver ensemble autour d’un vrai projet d’État Écologique qui est pour moi le seul projet qui aurait du sens au lendemain de cette crise sanitaire et économique.  D’ici là, prenons soin de nous et de nos proches  

—————————————

My fellow citizens,

For several days now we have been faced with an unprecedented health crisis that is taking every day of alarming proportions. Confined, we are all worried about our loved ones and our future. I have no doubt that for many of you who had a difficult life before… In this crisis, the containment situation must be an additional test. I would like you to know that my heart goes out to you, confined as you are, but… a thousand miles as the crow flies.

I had thought for a moment that Montenegro would be spared and that this type of disaster was reserved rather for the big cities. But this is not the case – unfortunately. However, Montenegro made the decisions on containment early enough and I hope that this will enable us to avoid the terrible situation in Italy, which strikes at their tours France and Spain.

As in the past, I’m sure that you will be able to face this new challenge with seriousness and solidarity to keep this crisis as short as possible. I am particularly concerned for our former isolated and defenceless people against the virus. I am also thinking of the families who are facing the difficulties that confinement has brought to their children. imposes. I am thinking of our caregivers who are on the front line of this battle under conditions so difficult. But I am thinking about tomorrow, our future, our children’s future.

Do you actually believe that the world after Corona Virus can remain the same? Don’t you think that the interests and rivalries that mobilized us yesterday, tomorrow… we’ll seem out of date? Don’t you think that the magnitude of this global crisis can be linked to our fashions… in the same way that global warming is? For several years now, men and women all over the planet have been mobilize for the ecological transition, don’t you think that this is the best way to be able to anticipate future disasters and preserve our children’s future?.

Just as we are all concerned by this crisis, can we not to meet together around a true project of Ecological State which is for me the only one project that would make sense in the aftermath of this health and economic crisis. Until then, let’s take care of ourselves and our loved ones.

 Prince Nikola Petrović-Njegoš

Foundation Petrović-Njegoš: https://fondacija-njegos.org/en/#close

Image by Royal Bridges.

Kuwaits donates on the fight against COVID-19

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Kuwaits donates on the fight against COVID-19

Wednesday, 1 April 2020, Kuwait City, State of Kuwait: His Highness the Emir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah IV Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah, on behalf of the House of Sabah, donated 5 million Kuwaiti dinars in contribution to a recently launched fund to mitigate the fallout caused by the virus Covid-19 as announced by the Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs, HE Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah.

The private amirial donation came after the announcement that the State of Kuwait donated US$40 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) in contribution to the fight against the spread of COVID-19, currently sweeping the world.

The donation was ordered upon directions from the country’s Emir in an effort to relieve efforts of the international organisation in its battle to contain the pandemic. 

On 11 March 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a “global pandemic”.

For further information:
WHO: https://www.who.int/news-room/releases

Government of Kuwait: https://www.e.gov.kw/sites/kgoenglish/Pages/Visitors/AboutKuwait/GoverningBodyTheAmir.aspx

Picture by Diwan Al Amiri, State of Kuwait.

President of the Dutch Senate at India Republic Day

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President of the Dutch Senate at India Republic Day

President of the Dutch Senate attended the reception organized to mark 71st Republic Day of India in The Hague

Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamony and the President of the Senate of the Netherlands Prof. Dr. Jan Anthonie Bruijn.

President of the Senate of the Netherlands Prof. Dr. Jan Anthonie Bruijn was the Guest of Honour at a diplomatic reception hosted by Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamony, on January 27 to mark the 71st Republic Day of India.  

The reception was held at the historic Grote Kerk (Great or St. James’ Church) – one of the oldest buildings in The Hague dating to 14th century. Members of the Royal Household of the Netherlands including, H.M. King Willem-Alexander and his daughter Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange were baptized in this church.

H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamony, Ambassador of India.

Dutch dignitaries, Ambassadors of various countries stationed in The Hague, senior officials of the Dutch Government and prominent members of the Indian community were among the 250 guests who attended the reception. Nobel Laureate Kailash Stayarthi was among the guests attending the reception in The Hague.


The President of Senate in his speech praised India as the largest democracy in the world. He said that values of democracy, rule of law and pluralism are at the heart of Indian society and both India and the Netherlands share these values. The Senate President said India has become a global player in information technology and Indian migrants to the Netherlands, which include students, entrepreneurs and IT professionals have doubled in numbers.

President of Dutch Senate with Noble Noble Laureate Kailash Satyarthi at the reception organized to mark 71st Republic Day of India in The Hague.

He said that many innovations in the medical field are coming from India and there is a growing interest in traditional medicine system of India. Yoga enthusiasts from all over the Netherlands filled the DAM Square in the Netherlands on International Day of Yoga  last year. He described the book India and the Netherlands- Past, Present and Future by Ambassador Venu Rajamony as a strong testimony to India-Netherlands friendship.

The celebrations included a dance and vocal performances by Indian communities in The Netherlands. Zangam, a choir based in the Netherlands, rendered traditional Indian songs and Navrang, Sanskriti and Tandav Groups, three Indian dance groups in Netherlands performed folk dances Ghoomar, Kalbelia reflecting the traditional life of the people of particular regions India. A beautiful Bolllywood dance was also presented to the guests.

The guests at the reception had an opportunity to view an exhibition on the “State Visit to India by their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to India and snapshots from India- Netherlands Relations”.  The exhibition featured highlights of the first ever State Visit by their Majesties to India in 2019 and presented little known historical facts about India –Netherlands relations. 

Dutch MPs cancel Russia trip over blacklisted colleague

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Dutch MPs cancel Russia trip over blacklisted colleague

A delegation of Dutch MPs has cancelled its visit to the Russian parliament for the second time in a row. This time because one of them was denied entry to the country. Moscow calls it ‘a provocation’.

By Eric van de Beek.

The politician concerned is Sjoerd Sjoerdsma of D66, who made a name for himself in the EU by pushing for a European version of the American Magnitsky Act. The original American act was signed into law by former US president Barack Obama and was intended to punish Russian officials responsible for the death of Russian tax accountant Sergei Magnitsky in a Moscow prison in 2009. 

Sjoerdsma was denied entrance to Russia because the Russian government regards him as “unfriendly to Russia” and “openly aggressive”. Not only did he often call for sanctions against Russian nationals, but also did he, in 2014, demand a boycott of the Sochi Winter Olympics, and in 2018, he called for the FIFA World Cup to be moved to another country. In 2019 Sjoerdma’s party D66 voted against the re-entrance of the Russian delegation into the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

The Russian ministry of Foreign Affairs declared “the Dutch side was informed in advance that Sjoerdsma’s inclusion in the group that planned to visit Russia was undesirable.” The ministry therefore asserts the Dutch MPs knew what would happen when they included Sjoerdsma in their delegation. “Despite our warnings, they carried out this deliberate provocation in full awareness of the possible consequences. They sought a scandal rather than a constructive discussion.”

In November 2019 the Dutch lower house adopted a Dutch version of the Magnitsky Act. It will become effective as soon as the Dutch senate has approved it. Also in December 2019 EU foreign ministers cleared the way to start work on a European version. “We have agreed to launch the preparatory work for a global sanctions regime to address serious human rights violations,” the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell declared.

The development towards a Dutch and a European Magnitsky Act is the direct result of Sjoerdsma’s actions. The master mind behind the original American Magnitsky Act, Bill Browder, openly thanked Sjoerdsma for his lobby efforts. 

Browder is a founder of the Hermitage Capital investment firm, which made billions in profits on Russian securities in the late 1990s – early 2000s. When Russian authorities took a closer look at the investor’s activities, this resulted in a criminal case and the arrest of Browder’s tax accountant, Sergey Magnitsky. Browder then started lobbying in the US for an anti-Russian sanctions regime. In 2013 a court in Moscow sentenced Browder to nine years in prison in absentia after finding him guilty of deliberate bankruptcy and tax evasion.

The Russian embassy in The Netherlands has expressed its regret of for the Dutch MPs refusal to visit Moscow. “The Netherlands for the second time in a row on their own initiative slam the window of opportunity for resuming dialogue,” the embassy said. In 2018 the Dutch delegation of MPs cancelled its visit the day after the Dutch government had accused Russia of a cyber operation targeting chemical weapons watchdog OPCW in The Hague. Russian minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov dismissed the Dutch allegations. 

About the author:

Eric van de Beek-Pro Media is a freelance journalist working regularly for Diplomat Magazine, Sputnik, Bonanza Media, Andere Krant, and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. He is an editor and co-author of a book about fake news ‘Nepnieuwsexplosie’ (2018).

Tashkent will host the Second International Law Forum

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Tashkent will host the Second International Law Forum

Preparations for the Second International Legal Forum “Tashkent Law Spring” which will take place on April 23-25, 2020 have started in Uzbekistan.

Annually held international forum is a major professional event in Central Asia in the area of law. It aims to provide a platform for leading international and national experts to discuss problems and current trends in the development of law.

The latest information regarding the upcoming event is updated on the official website www.tashkentlawspring.uz.

The theme of the Second International Legal Forum is “Vision of Law in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Law 4.0.”.

According to agenda, the forum will include plenary sessions, panel discussions, master-classes and other events. The cultural part will comprise sightseeing across historic cities of Uzbekistan and concert.

The II International Legal Forum will feature discussions on mediation, arbitration, advocacy, corporate governance, securities, intellectual property, public-private partnerships, combating corruption and compliance, antimonopoly issues, legal education and science, and other topics in the context of large-scale digitalization.

The First International Law Forum “Tashkent Law Spring” that took place on April 2019 brought together 1 100 participants, including 250 experts from more than 30 countries of the world. High level officials, diplomats, leading world experts in the area of law, international relations and economy along with representatives of world leading law firms attended the event.

Statement on the Covid-19 pandemic by the Titular Grand Duke of Tuscany

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Statement on the Covid-19 pandemic by the Titular Grand Duke of Tuscany

Dear all, 

In this moment of hard trial, both physical and moral, I wish to make all of you, the Tuscan People, as well as all other Italians, feel the sense of my caring and vigilant attention, as well as my intense solidarity. 

The health authorities do well to warn us against this dangerous and invisible enemy; measures that tend towards the so-called “social distancing” are necessary but, inevitably, they generate in each of us a sense of tiredness and frustration. 

For this reason, and also in order to live better this strong Lenten time, I invite you to “not lose sight of each other”; if this is physically impossible nowadays, we can still cheer up the day of some old Friend (or brother) of ours by calling him and making him feel our affectionate closeness.

This Lenten time, so strange and so different from any other time experienced so far, be for all of us a moment of deep reflection and awakening of our consciousness. Prayer then becomes fundamental to create a virtuous circle of good souls who are committed to soliciting and encouraging the healing of the sick, as well as to accelerate the transit to the Lord of those who have not made it.

Our thoughts go to the inhabitants of the whole world, since this devious and terrible enemy does not seem to spare any country at all For my part, I am close to you with much affection and participation in your anxieties, worries and fears, with the promise to return to you as soon as possible to your beautiful country. 

In the meantime, I wish you all the best for the approaching Holy Easter, first, and hopefully last, of this kind.

Sigismondo d’Asburgo-Lorena

http://granducato.org/home-eng.html

Carissimi,

In questo momento di dura prova, sia fisica sia morale, desidero far sentire a tutti Voi, Popolo Toscano, così come a tutti gli altri Italiani il senso della mia premurosa e vigile attenzione, così come della mia intensa solidarietà. 
Le Autorità sanitarie fanno bene a metterci in guardia contro questo pericoloso quanto invisibile nemico; le misure che tendono al cosiddetto “distanziamento sociale” sono necessarie ma, inevitabilmente, generano in ognuno di noi un senso di stanchezza e di frustrazione. 
Per questo, e anche per vivere meglio questo tempo forte di Quaresima, vi invito a “non perderci di vista l’un con l’altro”; se questo è fisicamente impossibile oggigiorno, possiamo comunque allietare la giornata di qualche nostro vecchio Amico (o Confratello), telefonandogli e così facendogli sentire la nostra affettuosa vicinanza. 
Questo tempo di Quaresima, così strano e così diverso da ogni altro finora sperimentato, sia per tutti noi un momento di profonda riflessione e di risveglio della nostra coscienza. La preghiera diventa allora fondamentale per creare un circolo virtuoso di anime buone che si impegnano per sollecitare e favorire la guarigione dei Malati, così come per accelerare il transito verso il Signore di coloro che non ce l’hanno fatta.
Il nostro pensiero vada agli abitanti del mondo intero, dato che questo subdolo e terribile nemico non sembra risparmiare assolutamente alcun paese Da parte mia, vi sono vicino con tanto affetto e con molta partecipazione alle vostre angosce, preoccupazioni e paure, con la promessa di tornare da Voi quanto prima nel vostro bellissimo Paese.
Nel frattempo vi faccio i miei migliori auguri per l’approssimante Santa Pasqua, prima, e spero caldamente ultima, di questo genere. 

Sigismondo d’Asburgo-Lorena

http://granducato.org/home-ita.html

Image of His Imperial and Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Tuscany, Sigismondo d’Asburgo-Lorena – Private Secretariat 

Undersecretary for Policy of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Visits the OPCW

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Undersecretary for Policy of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Visits the OPCW

The Ambassador of The Philippines, H.E. Mr. Jaime Victor Ledda, H.E. Fernando Arias, OPCW director General and Mr Enrique A. Manalo, Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs for Policy.

The Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs for Policy, Mr Enrique A. Manalo, met today with the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.

Mr Manalo and the Director-General discussed a range of issues related to the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, as well as international cooperation.

Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs for Policy, Mr Enrique A. Manalo at OPCW.

The Undersecretary expressed the Philippines’ support for the OPCW and their motivation regarding their upcoming membership of the OPCW’s Executive Council. He also thanked the OPCW for its capacity-building programmes, in which a number of Filipinos took part, allowing the country to proactively build capacity for responding to potential chemical weapons incidents.

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