Europa Nostra: Forging a New European Deal for Cultural Heritage

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Europa Nostra: Forging a New European Deal for Cultural Heritage

From left to right: Europa Nostra Secretary General Sneska-Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, European Commission Vice-President in charge of Promoting our European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas, Europa Nostra Vice-President Androulla Vassiliou, and Head of Brussels Office Jimmy Jamar. Image credits Credits: EC – Audiovisual Service. 

Europe and its citizens are confronted with many pressing issues: an unprecedented health emergency, a deep environmental crisis, a dangerous rise of extremism and populism and increasing threats to fundamental values such as the rule of law, to name a few. At a time when the European project is yet at another crossroads, we must “change the tone”: we need a change of narrative and course of action when shaping the future of Europe.

Europa Nostra, Europe’s leading citizens’ movement to protect and celebrate cultural heritage, deeply believes that now more than ever, we need to focus on what brings us together rather than what divides us. If we want Europe to become a beacon of hope and a force for good in a complex and vulnerable world, we have to rediscover and reaffirm our shared cultural values and heritage. 

In its recent Paris Manifesto “Relançons l’Europe par la culture et le patrimoine culturel!’, (2019), Europa Nostra asserts that cultural heritage is an undeniable part of  Europe’s identity, and one of the areas that generates a strong engagement by communities and citizens. Europa Nostra therefore calls on European leaders to place cultural heritage where it belongs: at the heart of the European project. 

Credits: Europa Nostra, 2020

As an instrument that connects people to places, brings citizens closer together and fosters a sense of belonging, cultural heritage helps us shed some light to today’s challenges. Not only does cultural heritage bridge our past, present and future; it also enhances collective remembrance and historical empathy which are key for peaceful and democratic societies.

As demonstrated by the study Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe[1] (2015), heritage has manifold positive impacts on our economy, culture, society and the environment and can contribute to achieve the Union’s key priorities, for example in terms of social cohesion, sustainable development, job creation, health and well-being of our citizens or the fight against climate change.                                                                                                    

Since it was founded nearly six decades ago, Europa Nostra has been raising awareness on the value of cultural heritage for Europe; advocating for heritage towards policy-makers at all levels; celebrating excellence in heritage protection and mobilising to save Europe’s endangered heritage.

Through these intertwined actions, Europa Nostra’s ultimate goal is to contribute to the preservation and understanding of our shared past, to take lessons for the present and to shape new visions for the future of Europe. 

Credits: Europa Nostra.  The ‘7 Most Endangered’ sites in Europe 2018

Credits: Europa Nostra. Collage of some of the cultural heritage sites selected for the ‘7 Most Endangered’ programme by Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute

The birth of Europa Nostra was itself the result of a European common vision inspired by a sense of cultural solidarity. Back in 1963, only 5 years after the signature of the Treaty of Rome, the ideals of European integration were gaining momentum, not only among governments but also among individuals and citizens associations.

It was in this positive climate that 17 civil society organisations from 10 different countries founded Europa Nostra. Ever since, Europa Nostra has grown into the largest and most representative civil society network of organisations and individuals committed to Europe’s cultural heritage.[2]

The fact that Europa Nostra’s headquarters are located in The Hague, the International City of Peace and Justice, and that its Brussels Liaison Office in located at the very heart of EU decision-making is not accidental. Throughout the last decades, Europa Nostra’s voice has had a significant echo in the design and implementation of European and International heritage-related policies. This has been achieved thanks to deep-rooted partnerships with key international actors such as the UNESCO and its World Heritage Centre, the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, as well as key non-governmental stakeholders. Likewise, Europa Nostra is recognised as the major civil society partner of the EU and its Brussels-based institutions when it comes to cultural heritage[3]. 

Among the major heritage policy developments of the past years, let us highlight the first-ever European Year of Cultural Heritage celebrated in 2018. The designation of this year confirmed that cultural heritage, due to its untapped potential for Europe and the wellbeing of its citizens, is gradually given a higher priority on the EU political agenda. Europa Nostra’s voice was instrumental before and during this European Year: not only did Europa Nostra advocate for its designation – together with other civil society stakeholders like the European Heritage Alliance 3.3[4] – but also actively contributed to its preparation, implementation and, therefore, to its success.                                                                                       

With a minimal financial investment, the European Year brought together all EU Institutions, Member States, civil society stakeholders as well as millions of citizens who care about Europe’s shared heritage. This gave an important impetus to EU heritage policy, action and funding, mainstreaming heritage across different EU priorities. Europa Nostra is now fully committed to sustain the legacy of this Year and to upscale its achievements in the future.

Two years after this historic European Year, a lot has changed. Europe has new leadership: 2019 saw the election of a new European Parliament as well as new Presidents of the European Commission, European Parliament, European Council and European Central Bank. In the first months of 2020, Europa Nostra has been meeting with and advocating towards new EU leaders with the ambition to forge a New European Deal for cultural heritage over the solid foundations laid by the European Year. 

For Europa Nostra, such a “New Heritage Deal”, in full complementarity with the future EU Green Deal, should result in a renewed and prolonged period of a much stronger and more coherent commitment of public and private stakeholders to cultural heritage.  We are convinced that this will be a most welcome contribution to the social and economic recovery of Europe in the aftermath of the COVID19 pandemics. Why? Because Europe needs to invest in its human and cultural capital to respond to the complex challenges it faces. Because cultural heritage has the power to bring Europeans closer together and trigger new popular support towards the European project. Because only through education, culture and heritage can Europe fulfil its promise of being a continent of peace, stability and prosperity in today’s rapidly changing and turbulent world. 

[1] Cultural Heritage Counts For Europe Report (2015) Europa Nostra, ENCATC, Heritage Europe, the Heritage Alliance, the International Cultural Centre and the Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation at the University of Leuven. 

[2] Europa Nostra brings together 340 member organisations – including non-governmental and professional associations, foundations, museums, public bodies, universities, historic cities and villages -, as well as nearly 1,000 individuals from over 40 countries. 

[3] Europa Nostra runs two successful programmes in cooperation with the European Union: the 7 Most Endangered scheme launched in 2013 with the European Investment Bank Institute, and the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards scheme run in partnership with the European Commission since 2002. 

[4]  The European Heritage Alliance 3.3 is an informal platform of 49 European and international heritage networks. Its objective is to work closely together to promote the untapped potential of cultural heritage and advocate for adequate policies and funding.

India-US relationship needs to be sensibly re-defined and pursued realistically

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India-US relationship needs to be sensibly re-defined and pursued realistically

By Zorawar Daulet Singh.

India-US ties are back in the spotlight with Donald Trump’s latest broadside on Kashmir at Davos 2020, expressed for the second time in the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Narendra Modi government’s enthusiasm for the relationship has led it to overlook such diplomatic slights from the White House. It appears both sides have discovered an efficient way to manage ties and construct a public discourse that does not let differences interrupt the trajectory of the relationship. But the fact is there are convergences and differences, and it is time we recognised this complex reality.

The substance

For the US, there are several advantages that come with a cooperative India. It helps strengthen US influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region; provides valuable ideological support for the US in Asia; offers a vast market for the US private sector including defence manufacturing firms; enables the US military to sustain its regional posture and buttress logistical networks in the Indo-Pacific; provides political leverage against China in the future.

Perhaps, most consequentially, the US has succeeded in moving India to a position where it has been adopting a political and diplomatic posture of a positive abstention, if not outright support, in favour of the US vis-à-vis other great powers in the neighbourhood and Asia. That is a key strategic outcome for US foreign policy and has been achieved at very little cost.

A positive equation with the US benefits India too. It provides India with access to the international order and its key institutions, many of these still dominated by the West; it provides options for India’s economic development and modernisation; it provides access to advanced military capabilities; it provides a degree of leverage against Pakistan and China; it provides a certain space for India to rise without inviting containment or negative policies.

Finally, US crisis management has benefited India on many occasions, including during the India-Pakistan standoff after the Pulwama terror attack last year.

India as a passive actor

Close engagement does bring mutual advantages across a range of issue areas. Yet, to make the leap from a clear-eyed picture, where different visions and interests do not come in the way of a mutually advantageous relationship, to one where we speak of a global strategic partnership, where interests are being jointly defined and geostrategies crafted together is a stretch too far. The moment the hyperbole begins, the contradictions surface.

One critique is that India has been a passive player in shaping ties, and that a stable relationship with Washington is increasingly seen as an end in itself rather than as part of a broader Indian grand strategy. When we talk of strategic convergence, it is usually about whether India is adhering to US preferences. The agenda-setting is rarely undertaken by India’s policymakers, think tanks or even the media, who more often than not reproduce or react to US priorities.

Take China, for example. When we talk of a rising China, it is the maritime rather than continental dimension that dominates most of our conversations. The West Pacific area is an obvious priority for the US, but a peripheral geopolitical concern for India. Even the ‘Quad’ is ultimately about getting India to share the burden on East Asian security, with no apparent quid pro quo on challenges closer to home: securing the northern frontier with China and hedging against the possibility of China-Pakistan military moves in a regional crisis.

Even on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in South Asia, the absence of a meaningful India-US response to counterbalance Chinese influence stands out. In his recent visit to Washington, Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi felt confident enough to make the case for a renewed US-Pakistan partnership that would run in parallel with China-Pakistan ties, and with Pakistan as a “bridge builder” in this triangle. Reports of Pakistan avoiding a negative ruling at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Beijing last week should also be seen in this light: the US and China have a common interest in Pakistan’s well-being and often act in tandem when their ally is in trouble.

Look at regional security. Take the Pulwama-Balakot episode in February 2019. It was apparent that the US was not interested in embarrassing the Pakistan army or endorsing a coercive Indian policy. In fact, there was more continuity than a radical departure – a third party US role that promoted regional stability and sought to strike a fine balance between the security interests of its two main partners in the subcontinent.

The leverage that Pakistan has derived from the 18-year long US military presence in Afghanistan is well known. In all likelihood, if the US-Taliban deal, mediated by the Pakistan army, is struck in time, the main reason for Trump’s rendezvous to the subcontinent next month would to be to showcase success on that front.

Let us turn to defence. The spectacular growth in US exports in recent years obscures fundamental differences. The dominant discourse is focused on promoting US market access rather than India’s overall military modernisation. So, Indian attempts to pursue alternative technological options immediately invite negative policies and pressure. The points of friction, however, run deeper.

Through its arms sales, the US aims to develop a network of states that would integrate into a broader US-controlled ecosystem of technologies and intelligence, and, would collectively share the burden of managing a US-led security architecture. But for India, such a concept is not only incompatible with the vision of an inclusive multipolar world order, it also undermines the very basis of strategic autonomy – where the ability to autonomously operate its military forces is vital for the independence of India’s foreign and security policies.

Power transition 

What is complicating the India-US relationship today is the ongoing global and regional power transition in Asia. Fundamental questions have come to the fore. Should India seek to assist the US in restoring its primacy in Asia or seek to build a reformed and stable world order that would inevitably require cooperation with other great powers and regional powers many of whom the US is preparing to confront in the coming decade? Is India’s desire to be an independent great power and pursue “multi-aligned” foreign and economic policies consistent with the US approach that seeks exclusivity and conformity from its clients and partners? How would a more assertive US foreign policy in the coming years fit with India’s priorities for economic transformation and a stable neighbourhood where great power discord is limited?

During the mid-2000s, when Washington and Delhi were exuberant about the future of their relationship, the notion of a power transition was too remote a proposition to precipitate a real debate. We have now reached that turning point where the scale and scope of the India-US relationship needs to be sensibly re-defined and then pursued realistically. India cannot play the role envisioned by the US in the coming decade. Neither can the US pull Indian chestnuts out of the fire. High-flown rhetoric will get us nowhere. The Modi government should began the process when Trump visited India last month.

(Reproduced by kind permission of the Author – source: The Print)

(Republished at Vision & Global Trends. International Institute for Global Analyses).

About the author:

Zorawar Daulet Singh is an author and foreign affairs analyst. He is a Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR). He is also an Adjunct Fellow with the Institute of Chinese Studies and a Visiting Fellow at the Forum for Strategic Initiative. Zorawar’s research interests include India’s foreign policy, various dimensions of India China relations, Eurasian geopolitics, and, international political economy. His recent book includes India China Relations: The Border Issue and Beyond and Chasing the Dragon: Will India Catch up with China? Zorawar’s latest book, Power and Diplomacy: India’s Foreign Policies during the Cold War, has been published by Oxford University Press in 2019.

Previously he was a Fellow at the Centre for Policy Alternatives in New Delhi. Zorawar holds a PhD in international relations from King’s College London, a M.A. in international relations from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University and a B.Sc. from the University of London where he majored in economics and finance.

Love in the time of Corona

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Love in the time of Corona

By John Dunkelgrün.

As a Dutchman who was born in 1943, I can not personally remember a time as upsetting as this. When I was ten years old, a terrible storm broke the dykes in the Southwest of The Netherlands and almost 2000 people here died. It was a terrible disaster but it was local and short-lived.

Then there was the oil crisis when our then Prime Minister Joop Den Uyl declared a car-free Sunday to save our oil supplies. There were eerily empty streets then too, but again it was short-lived and didn’t threaten anybody in other parts of the country.

This time it is different. It is not as a Dutch saying goes a “far from my bed show”, it is right here, it is now, and it threatens us all. It took a couple of weeks before that knowledge sank through to everybody. The first weekend after the government issued warnings about keeping 1.5 meters distance, tens of thousands of people ignored it and went to beaches, parks or ‘gezellige buurtborrels’. Young people thought that because they were less at risk, they wouldn’t have to distance themselves, not thinking that while carrying the virus in a mild or even unnoticeable way, they would still infect other people.

By now, the penny has dropped. Almost all people keep the proper distance. Shops limit the number of customers allowed in and in the streets and parks, people obey the distance rules. But that is not all. The situation has brought out the best in many people, calling on the lonely, the sick and the elderly, offering to do shopping or cooking or just lending an ear.

Apartment blocks spontaneously organized help committees, sports clubs, and religious organizations of all denominations thought up creative ways to use their networks to help. A wonderful little initiative to engage small children on an outside walk without getting close to others is “spot teddybears” that many people have put in their windows. I know this is happening in the Duttendel and the Van Stolk Park area of The Hague, but I am sure many other places all over the country that do this.

Of course, there are exceptions, a few people who don’t give a d..n, some hoarders, cheats and price gougers, but on the whole people in the Netherlands and, I am sure, in many other countries are showing their best sides. And I mean people from all walks of life and not just the care workers who are putting themselves at risk while working incredible hours, ordinary members of the public are showing a wonderful sense of social cohesion.

Not long ago there was talk of a loss of our “norms and values”. What this crisis shows is that when push comes to shove, our norms and values are alive and well. It shows that -in the words of the Dutch historian Rutger Bregman- most people are naturally good.

On Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA)

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On Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA)

Diplomat Magazine held an interview in Baku with Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy’s (ADA)– Executive Vice Rector Fariz Ismailzade.

Diplomat Magazine: Vice Rector Ismailzade, ADA was set up as an academy arm of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, today however it is a fully accredited university with a brilliant reputation. Can you tell us, how the academy evolved, and what do you foresee in the future? –  

 ADA has evolved greatly in the last 14 years. It was established in 2006 as the Foreign Service was expanding, in fact from 25 to 40 and eventually to 75 embassies worldwide.  In the beginning we were training diplomats, approximately 450, who swiftly went abroad for their posting. After a couple of years, we realised that we had the capability to offer programmes on international affairs to a more general student pool with degree options.

We began with master degrees for the postgraduates, a couple of years later we opened bachelor programmes and nowadays we are a fully accredited university. We are a fairly broad university, for our array of programmes include information technology, business degrees, computer engineering, data analysis, education management, pedagogy, etc., in addition to the ones on international law and affairs. 

Diplomat Magazine: ADA has a close partnership with UN? How did it come about? – 

From the very first day we positioned ourselves as a global player. We offer scholarships for students hailing from developing countries. Our contacts to UN agencies are outstanding, and through them we are able to recruit students but also host high-level functions. One example is an event we held together with UNICEF about people living with disabilities, with the UNDP (United Nations Development Assistance Plan) about the UN Development Goals, etc.  

We believe that through cooperation with UN institutions our university can more easily reach out to policy-makers, and contribute to educating students able to tackle problems on a larger scale.   

Diplomat Magazine: How about the relations to the European Union? Do you foresee a partnership with the EU External Action Service? –

Particularly with the EU delegation in Baku we hold a good relationship. For instance, in 2014 we inked an agreement, and set up an Excellence Centre in EU studies. Through the latter we offer extraordinary education on EU affairs, policy, institutions for our students but likewise for Azerbaijani civil servants, not only from the Foreign Service.

Through EU funding we have trained local teachers in Azerbaijan, organized summer camps, and exchanges with our students.
Currently we have various exchange agreements with a myriad of EU universities, and not only for our students but also for our faculty staff and administrators who are able to expand in their curricula through experiences in EU countries.  

Diplomatic Magazine: Azerbaijan’s mission to the European Union is headed by top Ambassador Fuad İsgəndərov. How is the cooperation with him, and his mission to expand ADA’s network, and programmes vis-à-vis the EU?  

Particularly with our mission to Brussels we work closely. In fact, they offer internships to our students, and possibilities for study trips to Brussels.

Through them we are successful in gaining access to top lecturers for our students such as the then President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso. We often host EU commissioners as well.
Our Ambassador Fuad İsgəndərov, and the other diplomats are rather helpful for us, especially in obtaining visas but likewise in facilitating communications when we attend EU sponsored events, or the other way around.   

Diplomatic Magazine: Over forty countries are represented in ADA’s student corps. What is the strategy to entice international students to Baku, and does it follow any goal in the country’s foreign policy?- 

 We believe that in a globalised world, students ought to learn from each other’s, outside their national boundaries. International students bring much diversity to our campus.  Around 40 nationalities are currently represented at ADA, and in fact we rely remarkably on our diplomatic networks to entice more students.

For our Azerbaijani students we offer them our network, and partnerships with over 60 universities globally.  All in our goal is for ADA to enhance cultures of tolerance by becoming acquainted to other people, religions, traditions, people. Even one term exchange semesters are very practical, and we have noticed that they bring a lot of value to our student network, and alumni.            

Diplomatic Magazine: Currently programmes at ADA are taught in English, which is very attractive for Azerbaijanis and International students alike. Are you planning to expand in offering courses in other languages perhaps by partnering up with EU countries for instance?- 

ADA is the only university in Azerbaijan that teaches fully in the English language. All courses are offered in English, although we do offer ad hoc trainings in Spanish, French or Russian.

By promoting the English language, we are more able to build up partnerships with other educational institutions. From this year in fact we are offering a joint programme with George Washington University in the USA, we currently hold dual programmes with Sorbonne University in France as well as with Maastricht School of Management in The Netherlands.   

For further information  Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy: https://www.ada.edu.az Mission of Azerbaijan to the European Union, Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg: http://brussels.mfa.gov.az/en

World on Autopilot: The UN Security Council should urgently address Covid-19

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World on Autopilot: The UN Security Council should urgently address Covid-19

The COVID-19 situation is very worrying, indeed, alarming matter, not just as a global health and biosafety issue, but potentially as a global security challenge, too. 

By Tan Sri Hasmy Agam and Prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic.

While the pandemic is being dealt with by the World Health Organisation (WHO), along with other relevant United Nation Specialised Agencies (UN SA), the situation is deteriorating rapidly and could easily get out of control. This of course, if it is not effectively contained. In such a (more and more likely) scenario, it would be engulfing the entire world, whose effects and impact would be akin to that of a Third world war, though initially of a different kind.

We are amazed as to why the Security Council has not stepped in. It should have done so as to address the Covid-19 and surrounding scenery in the way it clearly deserves to be dealt with, given its devastating impact on the entire international community on almost every dimension, including international peace and security, which indisputably falls under its mandate under the UN Charter. 

As the Council has often dealt with issues which are sometimes not ostensibly related to international or regional security, and of much less importance or urgency than this dreadful pandemic, we are puzzled, indeed alarmed, as to why it has chosen not to come to grips with the pandemic as a matter of the utmost urgency. 

If the members of the Council, for their own internal reasons, have not felt compelled to do so, shouldn’t the other members of the world body, individually or collectively as international or regional groupings, such as the European Union (EU), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) – G-77, African Union (AU), or ASEAN, take the much-desired initiative to call on the Security Council to imperatively address this global pandemic, even as the WHO and other concerned UN agencies, much to their credit, are dealing with the issue from their own (narrow) perspectives – and yet rather limited mandate and resources. 

In this regard, especially the EU, would be well-positioned to exert the much-need pressure on the UNSC, given the devastation that the Virus has wreaked on a number of its members, notably Italy and Spain, among others.

Mr. Tan Sri Hasmy Agam

Such an Urgent Meeting, indeed, Emergency Special Session of the UN Security Council at this point in time would be greatly applauded by the entire international community as it would accord the world body the leadership role that its members expect it to play at this most critical point in the post WWII human history.

Gens una sumus. Concordia patria firmat

In this dire situation, the big powers should put aside their ideological and policy differences – as seen in the UN General Assembly case, and focus instead on galvanizing concerted international actions of ensuring the safety, full respect of humanitarian law, and undiscriminated wellbeing of the entire human race. 

By decisively and urgently acting, the UN Secretary-General and the UN SC would be sending a bold and clear yet tranquilising signal to the entire humanity. More importantly, such a unison voice would be also welcomed and well understood as a referential (not to say a norm setting) note by other crucial agencies, such as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), World Tourism Organisation (WTO), as well as by the Red Cross (IFRC), Bretton Woods institutions, Organisation of  Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Federation of Trade Unions, Council of Europe (CoE), including other specialised or non-UN FORAs, most notably developmental entities such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), African Development Bank (AfDB), etc. 

In the following period – while witnessing indeed a true historical conjuncture, we need a global observance and protection of human rights and of jobs, for the benefit of economy and overall security. Therefore, the measures imposed these days cannot be disproportionate, unrelated, indefinite, unbalanced and only on societal expenses or democracy recession. Recovery – which from now on are calling for a formidable biosafety, too – will be impossible without social consensus. Clearly, it will be unsustainable if on expenses of labour or done through erosion of basic human rights – embedded in the UN Charter and accepted as essential to the very success of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). 

Indeed, countries are not just economies, but most of all societies. 

(The truth is plain to see: Planet has stopped, although the Capital remains intact. We came to a global halt because the Labour has been sent home. Hence, the recovery comes with labour. Historically, labour has never betrayed, while capital has failed us many times. By the same token, human rights never betrayed the state and its social cohesion, but the states – and much glorified markets – far too many times in history have failed humans. Therefore, there is no true exit from the crisis without strengthening the labour and human rights.) 

For a grave planetary problem, our rapidly articulated global accord is badly needed. Therefore, multilateralism – as the most effective planetary tool at our disposal – is not our policy choice. It is the only way for human race to (socio-economically and politically) survive. 

Covid-19 is a challenge that comes from the world of biology. Yet, biology and international relations share one basic rule: Comply or die. To remind us; it is not the big that eat the small, rather it is a fast which eats the slow. 

It is hight time to switch off the autopilot. Leadership and vision now!!

Vienna/Kuala Lumpur / 04 APR 2020

About the authors:

Tan Sri Hasmy Agam-

Malaysia’s Ambassador to UN NY (incl. term in UN SC), Head of the Diplomatic Academy, Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) – retired.

Prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic–

Chairperson and professor in intl law and global political studies, Austria; authored 7 books and numerous articles on, mainly, geopolitics energy and technology.

Nebraska’s Sustainable Family Farms Feed the World

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Nebraska’s Sustainable Family Farms Feed the World

By the Honorable Pete Ricketts, Governor of the US state of Nebraska.

Nebraska is a global leader in agriculture, producing world-class crops and manufacturing innovative farming technologies.  Among U.S. states, Nebraska ranks first in beef and veal exports, second in ethanol production, third in corn exports, fourth in total cash receipts from all farm commodities, and fifth in soybean exports.  Our state has 2.5 million cattle on feed and harvested 1.8 billion bushels of corn in 2019.

Many people are surprised to learn that Nebraska’s prolific production comes primarily from family farms.  Ninety-five percent of the farms in our state are family-owned.  Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers have been cultivating the land and tending livestock for generations.  It’s common to find farms or ranches that have remained in the same family for over one hundred years.  

With their devotion to the land, our state’s farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists.  They know their land better than anyone else and have a vested stake in its conservation.  They want to pass on the family farm or ranch to the next generation, so they care for the land in a sustainable way.  For this reason, agriculture and conservation go hand in hand in Nebraska.

Each year, I present the Leopold Conservation Award to recognize a farmer or rancher who has displayed innovation in conservation.  The award is named after Aldo Leopold, a renowned naturalist, conservationist, and author.  He developed the concept of the “land ethic”—the idea that we have a moral duty to care for the natural world.  The most recent Leopold Award winner, Russ Sundstrom, exemplifies this caretaking attitude toward the land and wildlife that is common to Nebraskans.  

Like many of Nebraska’s ranchers, Russ is deeply rooted in the land.  His great-grandfather immigrated to Nebraska from Sweden in 1904.  Russ and his brother, Neil, are the fourth generation in their family to take care of their ranchland.  Russ thoughtfully stewards the land to restore and conserve it.  He practices mob grazing, where cows bunch together and graze intensely in one spot, before moving to another area.  This rotational strategy gives the pastureland more than a year’s worth of rest before it is grazed again.  The grazing technique benefits local wildlife as well as allowing the main forage plants ample time to replenish. 

Russ also uses controlled fires to burn invasive species, like red cedar trees, from his land.  His work has restored thousands of hectares of lands to their original habitat.  His conservation efforts have also been a tremendous benefit to local wildlife that depends on the native grasses and shrubs for food and shelter. 

Cattlemen like Russ are producing significant quantities of beef for the European market.  Nebraska has expanded its share of American beef exported to the European Union (EU) from five percent in 2005 to 53 percent in 2018.  Last year, President Trump and the European Union reached agreement to allow the U.S. to more than double the amount of beef it exports to the EU in the coming years.  The trade deal ensures that Nebraska beef will become even more widely available in grocery stores and restaurants in the EU.

Though a landlocked state, Nebraska is now home to an innovative Dutch-German joint venture working to replenish sea life.  In June, Veramaris, established by Royal DSM and Evonik, opened a brand-new production facility in rural Nebraska.  Veramaris CEO Karim Kurmaly is a marine biologist who is passionate about stewarding our oceans’ resources.  His company is producing omega-3 fatty acids using fermented algae and dextrose from Nebraska-grown corn.  Producing the omega-3s in Nebraska allows fish farmers to give salmon the nutrition they need without having to use wild fish as feed.  In turn, reducing reliance on wild fish prevents the depletion of marine life.

In November, Avansya—a joint venture between Cargill and Royal DSM—began producing a zero-calorie sugar substitute from dextrose at a fermentation facility in Nebraska.  The sweetener, made from the stevia plant, gives consumers a healthy way to reduce their sugar intake without sacrificing flavor.  Veramaris and Avansya join other global bioscience companies, such as the Danish firm Novozymes, that have chosen to operate in Nebraska.  They’ve selected Nebraska on account of our business friendly climate, abundant natural resources, agricultural expertise, and highly educated workforce.

In November, I led a trade mission to Germany and met with leaders from Evonik, Bayer, Claas, and other German companies to thank them for investing in Nebraska.  Farmers and ranchers from Nebraska joined me to offer firsthand testimony of the high-quality crops and livestock grown in Nebraska.  Our state is deeply appreciative of our European partners, and—as Governor—I am committed to growing our friendship with the EU.

A different type of embassy

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A different type of embassy

By H.E. Mr. Dirk Lodewijk M. Achten, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Kingdom of The Netherlands.   

Being a bilateral ambassador in a neighbouring country with which one shares so much history and culture, is a very peculiar mission. Since the cooperation has reached an unprecedented level of intensity in many areas, it is more than a full time job. Belgium and The Netherlands cooperate in all fields of governance, too much to cover in any comprehensive article. Therefore today we will share some insights on two priorities in our bilateral security cooperation. Namely the defence cooperation and cross-border cooperation against drug related crime.

The past year was an historic testimony of our long standing security cooperation, as The Netherlands celebrated its 75 years of liberation. Belgian soldiers from the Piron Brigade and the Special Air Service liberated several areas, and my presence was required in many places (more places than there were days available).

Defence

One of the areas with very intense Dutch-Belgian cooperation is defence. This cooperation, especially in the naval domain, already dates back to 1948 just after the end of the Second World War. The cooperation intensified over the years and lead to the current situation where we have an integrated naval command structure operating from Den Helder.

Today Belgium and the Netherlands are developing and procuring important weapon systems together such as the new generation mine counter measure vessels and the new frigates. Each country has the lead in the procurement of one weapon system and all decisions are made in consensus and full transparency.

As ambassador, I try to facilitate these projects where I can. Last year the theme of the annual King’s Day reception in my residence was precisely this naval cooperation symbolised by the presence of both naval commanders, an exhibition and the musical tunes of an ensemble of the Belgian Navy band.

Of course there are other opportunities to intensify the cooperation as Belgium and the Netherlands have both procured the same airplane (F-35) to replace their current F-16 fleet. Although Belgium opted in the land domain for a strategic partnership with France and the Netherlands intensified its cooperation with Germany, there still are lots of opportunities available such as the cooperation of our special forces. All this was recognized by the decision of our Minister of Defence to open a resident Defence Attaché post in The Hague last summer.

Cross-border cooperation against drug related crime

The Belgian-Dutch cooperation in the field of drugs and crime is long standing, in-depth and exhaustive. A plethora of cooperation initiatives exist, ranging from cross border local police contacts, to structured strategic consultations by the top of both police forces.

The philosophy behind the cooperation is that national borders no longer exist when it comes to security issues. Hence, cooperation agreements were concluded for a more synchronized judicial approach to organized and subversive crimes related to drugs. This synchronisation is essential in countering the so called waterbed effect: to avoid stricter laws and regulations in one country, criminals hop the border and operate from the other side. 

Illustrative examples of our cooperation are the international cocaine traffic network, which brings together public and private partners of the port communities of Antwerp and Rotterdam, including the sharing and exchanges of personnel. Police and customs services work together to better identify illegal flows of drugs. A multidisciplinary team composed of representatives of various public and private partners from both countries cooperate on the fight against illegal financial flows, money laundering and more practical issues with a big safety impact, such as the dumping of chemical waste from drug labs. 

In 2018 a new Benelux treaty on police cooperation was signed, which offers far-reaching possibilities for cross-border action, including consulting each other’s police databases and setting up joint police patrols and controls. The new treaty even allows to deploy special police intervention units on each other’s territory, and it is a big step forward in the bilateral police cooperation.

As ambassador, I continue to build on this good cooperation through regular contacts with the Minister of Justice and Security and his ministry, and with the Dutch Embassy in Belgium. Simultaneously I maintain relations and facilitate meetings between crime experts from the academic, bilateral and multilateral institutions as well as the public and the private sector.

Ultimately, it is my goal that our continuous diplomatic efforts from both sides can contribute to the flourishing and dynamic security cooperation between Belgium and The Netherlands.

Azerbaijan is a model of multiculturalism and tolerance

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Azerbaijan is a model of multiculturalism and tolerance

By H.E. Mr. Fikrat Akhundov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In the world where ethnic and religious discrimination has become a regular phenomenon, Azerbaijan has remained as a model of intercultural and religious tolerance. In fact, multiculturalism and tolerance is a lifestyle of multinational and multiconfessional Azerbaijani people, as well as an integral part of the state policy, preserved throughout the centuries.

A clear example is the first Parliament of Azerbaijan in 1918, which united members of different ethnicities: Azerbaijanis, Russians, Armenians, Jews and even one German. Today, Baku International Center for Multiculturalism operates in Azerbaijan to research and promotes multiculturalism. In addition, there is a special counsellor to the government on multiculturalism, inter-ethnic and religious issues.

Furthermore, the Azerbaijani government, together with international organizations regularly hosts Intercultural Dialogue Forum and Baku International Humanitarian Forum in Azerbaijan. 

Religious freedom is present throughout the country. Islam, Christianity, Jewism, as well as other religions are freely exercised in the country. There are practically all currents of Christianity present in Azerbaijan, such as Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant, Armenian-Gregorian, as well as historical Albanian church. More than 2 thousand mosques, 13 churches and 7 synagogues operate in Azerbaijan and this number is increasing on a yearly basis.

Azerbaijan is also a home for many ethnicities, such as Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Kurds, Jews, Armenians, Greeks, Germans and Tatars. There are many settlements of ethnic minorities in Azerbaijan, like the village of a Jewish community in Azerbaijan – Red Town, a village of Molokans – Ivanovka, a village of Udins – Nij, and the Khinalig village of Guba. Ethnic minorities in the country have their own schools, cultural centers, mass media and internet resources. The government takes necessary measures to ensure that the children of ethnic minorities learn their native languages. 

Among these ethnic minorities, the population of Khinalig village is unique in the world for its language. This ethnic minority has descended from the inhabitants of historical Caucasian Albania – a state that covered the lands that now form the Republic of Azerbaijan. Today, the government ensures preservation of the language of this unique population.

Another example of religious and cultural diversity in Azerbaijan is Red Town in Guba. This is one of the largest compact settlements of Jews in the world, outside of Israel. This settlement is also referred as “The Jerusalem of the Caucasus”. Red Town is a model for tolerance and respect for diversity. 

It is worth mentioning that there are also German settlements in Azerbaijan, dating back to the beginning of the 19th century. The historical and cultural monument of these settlements – German Lutheran Church from 1854 is still preserved in Goygol, Azerbaijan. Another German Lutheran Church was built in Baku in 1899. This church currently operates as the Chamber and Organ Music Hall of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic. Various events and concerts are regularly held here. In 2017, 200th anniversary of the resettlement of the Schwab Germans was celebrated in Azerbaijan, with the decision of UNESCO. 

Last, but not least, Azerbaijan is also home to approximately 30 thousand ethnic Armenians,  despite the fact that more than 20% of territory of Azerbaijan has been occupied by Armenia. This clearly demonstrates the tolerance of Azerbaijani people for ethnic and religious minorities and diverse cultures. It also disproves the false Armenian propaganda that Azerbaijanis and Armenians are incapable of peaceful co-existence. 

Greece shares with The Netherlands very old and close friendly ties

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Greece shares with The Netherlands very old and close friendly ties

By H.E. Mr. Nicolas Plexidas, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

Since the Greek government has entrusted me, almost 5 months ago, to represent the Hellenic Republic to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and to the important international organizations based in the country, I feel twice as happy. 

Firstly, because the Netherlands belong to a group of countries, with which Greece shares very old and close friendly ties, dating back to the proclamation of independence of our modern state. The two countries also share the same values and principles and enjoy long-lasting privileged relations, as partners in the EU family and allies in NATO. And secondly, for a rather more personal reason, as I do admire this country and its people and I try to savour it, as much as the busy everyday life of a diplomat allows for it. 

The assumption of my duties as Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands coincides with a positive momentum in my country. Greece is finally leaving behind her a dramatic decade of a merciless economic crisis and enters the new decade with optimism and self-confidence. The tough times my people went through serve now as a guide to better times ahead and the mistakes of the past as a tangible, realistic plan for a better present and future. A new Greece is on the rise.

It also coincides with the timing of formation of a new Greek government, with a strong mandate, able to safeguard political stability for the next four years and promote an ambitious, innovative reform agenda; a government particularly friendly to investments, that has already began restoring creditors and investors’ trust, as new opportunities appear for the Greek economy. This is the most important challenge for my mission as Ambassador of Greece here: to contribute to strengthening of our bilateral economic relations with the Netherlands, so as to match the current level of our excellent political relations. 

It is a fact that the new decade brings us face to face with unprecedented challenges, be it the global geopolitical instability, the climate crisis or the consequences of technology booming. Amidst this context, Greece will rise to its height. Not only as depositary of the eternal values our ancestors have bequeathed to humanity, but also as a modern democracy, sensitive to the calls of a dramatically ever changing modern world. Greece will continue to constitute an island of stability in a volatile security environment surrounding her, a bastion of peace in the region and a bridge of friendship between the East and the West, the North and the South. 

Against all these challenges ahead of us, Greece will walk hand in hand with her partner and ally the Netherlands, in the name of the long-lasting friendship of our two peoples, which is further invigorated lately by the presence of more than 35.000 Greeks, residing and offering their services in the country. This all but inconsiderable number certainly guarantees the sustainability and deeper forging of this close friendship. 

Dear friends,

It is truly an honour to serve my country in the world capital of international peace and justice. I am inspired by this and this inspiration will steer the performance of my duties as Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Indonesia – Great for holidays, great for business

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Indonesia – Great for holidays, great for business

By H.E. Arif Havas Oegroseno, Indonesian Ambassador to Germany.

In December 1994, the then Indonesian Minister for Research and Technology, Bacharuddin. J. Habibie, met with Gerhard Schröder who was the Minister President of Lower Saxony to talk about the preparation for Indonesia’s participation in the Hannover Messe 1995 with a special status as a partner country.

In April 1995, President Soeharto had the honor of giving a speech at the Hannover Messe opening ceremony next to Chancellor Helmut Kohl who praised Indonesia’s involvement as the first Asian partner for this leading industrial trade fair. 

Habibie and Schröder also spoke about improving economic cooperation and talked about the mutual exchange of scientists between Indonesia and Germany. “The two partners are trying to develop ways of working together. We are talking about a joint venture between private shipbuilding companies to build passenger and cargo ships,” said Habibie. At that time, more than a dozen passenger ships have already been built by the Meyer shipyard in Lower Saxony for the Indonesian state-owned shipping company PELNI. 

Industrial knowledge and skills were acquired after decades-long investment on human resources. Since late 1950s, hundreds of thousands Indonesian students were sent to Germany to study engineering, aeronautics, shipping, railways, and other technology. Indonesia now has all what it takes to not only build its own passenger and cargo ships as Habibie and Schröder had envisioned in 1994, but it is now also capable of manufacturing and engineering frigates, locomotives, battle tanks, and various types of sea vessels and aircrafts. 

Shooting forward 25 years later, I followed Habibie’s trail. I met with the Minister President of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil, in December 2019 to talk about the preparation of Hannover Messe in April 2020 of which Indonesia will, again, be the partner country. We also discussed the upcoming visit of President Joko Widodo to Hannover and spoke about Volkswagen’s investment in Indonesia. But one may ask what is so different between 1995 and 2020 that Indonesia is keen to be the partner country of Hannover Messe for the second time?   

To begin with, Indonesian GDP in 1995 was USD 200 billion and the country was on the brink of recession heading to the 1998 financial crisis when the GDP plummeted to only USD 100 billion. But since the crisis hit, the nation was able to push through adversity and managed to make a continuous average 5% annual growth, keeping the inflation below 3% and unemployment checked under 5%. The GDP grew exponentially to over USD 1 trillion and making it the highest GDP in ASEAN. 

In 1995 Indonesia was proud to be an agricultural country with just a small number of industrial sectors contributing to the total economic output. But now, among Indonesia’s economic sectors, agriculture contributes only about 14% to GDP while industry and services add approximately 43% each to its output. Foreign investment also keeps on pouring in and Moody’s gave Indonesia a Baa2 rating in 2020 for its stable economic growth, low government debt, consistent fiscal discipline and macroeconomic stability. 

Indonesia’s greatest strength lies in its young and productive people. It is the fourth most populous country and 70% of the population belongs to the working age of 18 – 60, thus benefitting in terms of labour market as well as consumer market. This young population embraces the internet like none other, and this became a stimulus to Indonesia’s rapid transformation towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The internet of things now manifested in Indonesian industries, for example we no longer make clothing and other apparels manually, we let computer and robots do that for us. 

Digital economy is growing rapidly towards a solid digital community. Digital services such as e-commerce, FinTech and the increasingly growing e-sports also helps in paving the way to the country’s industrial transformation. Estimated at USD 40 billion in 2019, Indonesia’s internet economy is well on track to cross the USD 130 billion mark by 2025 according to a report prepared by Google and Temasek.

Also, figures published by the World Bank in 2017 shows that Indonesia’s manufacturing industry accounts for 20,5% of the total economy. In comparison, manufacturing industry in China accounts for 28%, 27% in South Korea, 21% in Japan, and 20.6 % in Germany. These figures show that Indonesia is only a few steps away to become in the same league with those industrial countries. 

However, this is a less-known fact. Indonesia has long been known as a perfect paradise for tourism. Most people see it as a country with a string of more than 17.000 islands that is renowned for its natural beauty. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches and the range of majestic mountains is a home for diverse flora and fauna and people of different ethnicities and rich cultures. Indonesia is indeed a magnet for holiday-goers. But less realizes the fact that it is also a thriving economy and is in the list of 20 largest economies in the world that enables it to be admitted into the exclusive grouping of G-20 countries. 

The appointment of Indonesia as the partner country of Hannover Messe for the second time serves as an attestation to Indonesia’s economic and industrial achievement. The partner country status enables Indonesian industries to showcase to the world their rapid transformation and big leap towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0. Policy wise, making Indonesian industries to transform to 4.0 has been a national strategy for the last 5 years for the purpose of accelerating the Government’s ambitious target to put Indonesia in the list of 10 biggest economy by 2030.

H.E. Arif Havas Oegroseno Indonesian Ambassador to Germany.

“Making Indonesia 4.0” thus becomes the theme of Indonesia’s partnership with Hannover Messe in 2020 that acclaims huge opportunities for business and investment in industrial sectors, supported by Indonesia’s huge market, productive and talented population, plentiful natural resources and space, and political stability.

Indonesia’s main industrial sectors are apparel, food and beverage, automotive -motorcycles to a large extent-, as well as electronics and chemical industries. Some industries are already implementing 4.0 technology. Textile production is an example. Indonesia has 4.0 factories that produce uniforms from high-tech materials for the use of military personnel and fire brigades across the world, including in Europe. The national industrial transformation is underway and spreading to various sectors supported by a strong digital economy with its many start-ups companies, programmers, software developers, etc.

At Hannover Messe in April 2020, Indonesia will showcase its industrial accomplishments and its Industry 4.0 champions to attract partnerships across three dimensions: Investments, Technology, and Capacity Building. Indonesia also cares about its emerging start-up ecosystem and will bring a number of start-up companies along to Hannover for the much-needed international exposures. So far, Indonesia has 4 unicorns and 1 decacorn that is valued above USD 10 billion. Their presence at Hannover Messe will hopefully be a gateway for them to penetrate German and EU market. 

More than 170 Indonesian exhibitors will occupy an exhibition area of more than 4.000 m². They will not only show what they have achieved with 4.0 technology, but also offering worth-grabbing business opportunities. I believe that strong cooperation and connections between supply and value chain providers will further accelerate the world’s economic growth. This is exactly the viewpoint that Indonesia brings to Hannover Messe 2020 under the tagline “Connect to Accelerate”. Indonesia will present itself as a country that is ready to take an important part in the global supply and value chains. Indonesia stands ready to cooperate with global industries in the form of investment, transfer of technology as well as human resource development. 

In short, the message that we have for the world in Hannover Messe is that Indonesia is not only great for holidays, it is also great for business!    

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