Uzbekistan is Reporting a Foreign Direct Investments 4.3 Growth in the First Semester of 2019[1]

Editor
-
0
Uzbekistan is Reporting a Foreign Direct Investments 4.3 Growth in the First Semester of 2019[1]

In the first half of 2019, the volume of foreign direct investments (FDIs) grew 4.3 times compared to the same period in 2018 and amounted to 5.6 billion $.

By the end of 2019, the development of FDIs should reach at least 7 billion $, as compared with 2.8 billion $ in 2018.

FDI enterprises are now 10,000. The share of investments in the GDP of Uzbekistan for the first time amounted to 38%.

According to the results of January-March 2019, Uzbekistan conducted trade relations with more than 150 countries of the world. Over the past year, total turnover increased by 37%. The main trading partners are China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Korea and Turkey.

All this was achieved by the implementation of structural reforms aimed at improving the business environment, including:

– reducing the time, number of documents and costs associated with registering a business (registration takes 30 minutes);

– liberalization of the foreign exchange market, which allowed to remove restrictions on the repatriation of profits;

– simplification of tax and customs administration, introduction of a risk analysis system, reduction of documents and time required for customs clearance;

– strengthening measures for the execution of contracts (introduction of the institution of mediation), protection of minority shareholders, etc.

As a result, Uzbekistan was ranked 69th (as compared with 166th in 2012) among 190 countries in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2020 ranking and entered the top 20 reformer countries in terms of creating the most favorable conditions for doing business. Also, during the second half of 2018 and the past period of 2019, Uzbekistan got its first credit ratings from Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, amongst favorable economic factors such as the low level of state debt and the decrease in state participation in the country’s economy. Uzbekistan has also resumed active negotiations on accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Upon entry into the WTO, domestic exporters will gain easier access to foreign markets.

Uzbekistan’s potential is based on solid macroeconomic fundamentals: it is a country with a strong domestic market, relatively young and cheap labor, rich natural resources, a diversified economy and a rapidly developing infrastructure.

Khudayar Khan Palace, Kokand, Uzbekistan.

In general, Uzbekistan has the advantage of macroeconomic stability, which, combined with ongoing reforms, opens up opportunities in various sectors of the economy, be it financial services, construction or tourism[2].

The work on further integration into the international financial markets was intensified. In February 2019, Uzbekistan placed the first 5-year and 10-year eurobonds totaling 1 billion $ with a four-fold oversubscription distributed among more than 150 investors from the UK, Europe, America and Asia.

In November 2019, for the first time in the history of Uzbekistan, corporate eurobonds were issued. In particular, Uzpromstroybank[3] issued 5-year international bonds worth 300 million $ on the London Stock Exchange with a four-fold oversubscription.

Further Challenges

In Uzbekistan, banking sector assets are 130 times higher than the shares of free float.

In particular, today the volume of securities in free circulation is only 0.5% of the country’s GDP, the market capitalization of securities at the end of 2017 amounted to 5.9% of GDP.

These are very modest figures, which, on the other hand, show huge potential for growth.

Based on this, in order to develop this direction, in early 2019, the Agency for the Development of the Capital Market was created.

No less important is the course taken to reduce state participation in the economy and the privatization of state assets. In 2020, the Management and Privatization Strategy of state-owned enterprises will be adopted, which provides for the criteria for maintaining state ownership of enterprises and their transformation into efficient enterprises that can compete in the domestic and foreign markets. By 2023, Uzbekistan plans to privatize at least 20 large state-owned companies.

This article was published in Agefi Luxembourg, January 2020.

1By Mr. Kh. Meliev, Executive Officer, Ministry of Justice of the Republiuc of Uzbekistan 

[2]Boston Consulting Group, “Uzbekistan Window od Opportunity”, June 6, 2019  https://www.bcg.com/en-ru/perspectives/221730

[3]Uzpromstroybank: Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank

Bolder Presence of OIC in the international Arena

Editor
-
0
Bolder Presence of OIC in the international Arena

By prof. Emmy Latifah and Sara Al-Dhahri.

For over half a century, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) serves as a focal point for its member states (MS) and as a clearing house between its members and the rest of the world. The OIC does that by providing a standing forum and diplomatic tools to solve disputes, and to address challenges in accordance with its charter.

Being the second-largest intergovernmental multilateral system after the United Nations (UN), whose members largely occupy the most fascinating part of the globe (that of its geographic and spiritual centre, as well as the sways of rich energy deposits), gives to the Organisation a special exposure and hence a distinctive role.

The OIC Charter clearly states that it is important to safeguard and protect the common interests and support the legitimate causes of its MS, to coordinate and unify the efforts of its members in view of the challenges faced by the Muslim world in particular and the international community in general. For that matter, the Organisation should consider expanding its activities further. One of the most effective way to do so, is by setting yet another permanent presence in Europe. This time it would be by opening its office in Vienna Austria, which should be coupled with a request for an observer status with a Vienna-based Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) – as prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic tirelessly advocates in his statements.

The OSCE itself is an indispensably unique security mechanism (globally the second largest after the UN), whose instruments and methodology could be twinned or copied for the OIC. Besides, numerous MS of the OSCE are members of the OIC at the same time. Finally, through its Mediterranean partnership dimension, this is a rare international body that has (some) Arab states and Israel around the same table. 

Presence means influence

Why does the OIC need permanent presence in Vienna? The answer is within its charter: To ensure active participation of the Organization’s MS in the global political, and socio-economic decision-making processes, all to secure their common interests.

Why Vienna in particular, when the OIC has its office in Brussels (Belgium) and Geneva (Switzerland)?

When it comes to this city, we can list the fundamental importance of Vienna in Europe and the EU, and globally since it homes one of the three principal seats of the OUN (besides Geneva and New York).

Moreover, numerous significant Agencies are headquartered in Vienna (such as the Atomic Energy Agency, UN Industrial Development Organisation, Nuclear Test Ban Treaty organisation, etc.), next to the segments of the UN Secretariat (such as Outer Space, Trade Law, the ODC office related to the issues of Drugs-Crimes-Terrorism, etc.).

Surely, there are many important capitals around our global village, but after New York, Geneva and Brussels, Vienna has probably the highest representation of foreign diplomats on earth. Many states have even three ambassadors accredited in Vienna (bilateral, for the UN and for the OSCE.)

The OIC has nine of its MS who are the OPEC members as well. Four of those are the OPEC’s founding members. Vienna hosts OPEC as well as its developmental branch, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).

Some of the OIC MS have lasting security vulnerabilities, a fact that hampers their development and prosperity. The OIC places these considerations into its core activities through co-operation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, organised crime, illicit drugs trafficking, corruption, money laundering and human trafficking. Both the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UN ODC) and the OSCE have many complementarities in their mandates and instruments in this respect. 

As an Islamic organization that works to protect and defend the true image of Islam, to combat defamation of Islam and encourage dialogue among civilisations and religions, the effective tool for that is again Austria. It is the very first European Christian country to recognise Islam as one of its state religions – due to its mandate over (predominately Muslim) Bosnia, 100 years ago.

Back to its roots

The Organization was formed by a decision of the Historical Summit in Rabat, the Kingdom of Morocco on 25 September 1969, after the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

Today, after fifty years of this ferocious incident, the OIC still firmly holds as one of the core issues its resolute support to the struggle of Palestinians, yet under foreign occupation. It empowers them to attain their inalienable rights, including that of self-determination, to establish their sovereign state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital while safeguarding its historic and Islamic character, and the holy places therein. 

When we look back to Austria, it was Chancellor Bruno Kreisky (himself Jewish) who was the very first western leader to receive that-time contemporary Yasser Arafat, as a Head of State, and to repeatedly condemn many of the Israeli methods and behaviours. As prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic wonderfully reminded us during his recent lecture with Amb. Goutali of the OIC and Excellency Elwaer of the IsDB President’s Office; ‘Past the Oil embargo, when the OPEC – in an unprecedented diplomatic move – was suspended of its host agreement in Switzerland and requested to leave, it was none but that same Chancellor, Kreisky who generously invited the OPEC to find Austria as its new home.’  

The OIC is also heavily involved in environmental issues, such as water implementation. According to the Stockholm International Water Institute, around two-thirds of the world’s transboundary rivers do not have a cooperative management framework. The OIC Science-Technology-Innovation (STI) Agenda 2026 has also called on the MS to first define water resource quality and demand by planning national water budgets at the ‘ local ‘ level where appropriate.  In this regard, certain MS lack the ability to conduct a thorough exercise. An organized and focused action plan to adopt the OIC Water Vision is introduced to help Member States address water-related issues. 

As for the implementation plan for OIC Water Vision, Vienna is focal again. This city is a principal seat of the Danube river organisation – an international entity with the most elaborated riverine regime on planet. This fact is detrimental for the Muslim world as an effectively water-managing mechanism and instrumentation to learn from and to do twinning with.

So far, the OIC covers Vienna (but only its UN segment) non-residentially, from Geneva – respective officers are residentially accredited only to the UNoG. Permanent presence, even a small one – eventually co-shared with the developmental arm of the OIC – that of the IsDB, would be a huge asset for the Organization. That would enable both the OIC and the Bank to regularly participate in the various formal and informal multilateral formats, happening daily in Vienna.

Absence is the most expensive

International security is a constant global challenge that is addressed the best way through the collective participation in multilateral settings. It is simply the most effective, cheapest, fastest – therefore, the most promising strategy to sustainability and stability of humankind.

According to the Global Peace Index (2019 figures), the economic impact of violence on the global economy in 2018 was $14.1 trillion. This figure is equivalent to 11.2% of the world’s GDP, or $1,853 per capita. The economic impact of violence progressed for 3.3% only during 2018-19. Large sways of it were attributed to the Muslim Middle East. 

The OIC fundamental purpose is to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, as embedded in its and the UN Charter and other acts of the international (human rights and humanitarian) law.

In this light, requesting the Observer status with the largest Security mechanism on the planet (outside the OUN system), that of the OSCE, which has rather specific mandates; well-elaborated politico-military, early prevention and confidence building mechanisms; net of legally binding instruments; extensive field presence (incl. several OIC members), and a from- Vancouver-to-Vladivostok outreach is simply the most natural thing to do.  This would be very beneficial to the OIC MS, as well as one of the possible ways to improve its own instruments and their monitoring of compliance and resolution machinery. 

That move can be easily combined with the bolder presence before the Vienna-based Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in advocating a just and sustained settlement for the Middle East – which is a nuclear free MENA.

Among the 57 OIC MS, 21 of them are listed within a top 50 countries in the Global Terrorism Index for 2019. (With a ranking of 9.6 points, Afghanistan is infamously nr. 1 on the global terror index, making it the nation most affected by terrorism on Earth. The OIC member – Afghanistan, scored the most terror attacks in 2018 – 1,294; and the most terror-related deaths in 2018, with 9,961 casualties. Several other MS follow the same pattern.)

The OIC Charter (article 28, Chapter XV) clearly states that the Organisation may cooperate with other international and regional FORAs with the objective of preserving international peace and security and settling disputes through pacific means.

As said, Vienna is a principal seat of the second largest security multilateral mechanism on earth, OSCE. This is a unique three-dimensional organisation with its well elaborated and functioning: politico-military, economy-environment; and the human dimension – all extensively developed both institutionally and by its instruments.

No doubt, the OIC so far successfully contributes to international peace and security, by boosting understanding and dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions, and by promoting and encouraging friendly relations and good neighbourliness, mutual respect and cooperation. But to remain to the contemporary challenges, it necessities more forums to voice its positions and interests. Many of the OSCE Member states have even three different ambassadors and three separate missions in Vienna. Presence of other relevant international organisations follows about the same pattern. 

The strategic importance of the MENA (Middle East- North Africa) lies on its diverse resources, such as energy, trade routes, demography, geography, faith and culture. The OSCE has a Mediterranean partnership outreach, meaning some of the LAS and OIC members states are already participants, whereas the Central Asian states, Caucasus as well as Turkey, Albania and Bosnia are fully-fledged member states of the OSCE.

Taking all above into account, the OIC should not miss an opportunity to open another powerful channel of its presence and influence on the challenging and brewing international scene. It would be a permanent office to cover all diplomatic activities and within it –the observer status before the OSCE (perhaps the IAEA, too). This would be to the mutual benefit of all; Europe and the Muslim world, intl peace and prosperity, rapprochement and understanding, present generations and our common futures.

Jakarta/Jeddah, 22 JAN 2020

About the authors:

Emmy Latifah is a professor of international law, arbitration specialist, and is an international relations coordinator of the UNS University of Indonesia.

Sara Al-Dhahri is an Intl Relations scholar of the Jeddah-based Dar Al-Hekma University and the Project Coordinator for the Sawt Al-Hikma (Voice of Wisdom) Centre to the OIC. 

Children from 41 countries send their united voice for peace

Editor
-
0
Children from 41 countries send their united voice for peace

By Jerry Giovanardi.

Child marriage is a truly global problem that cuts across countries, cultures, religions and ethnicities. Each year, 12 million girls are married before the age of 18. That is 23 girls every minute. Nearly 1 every 3 seconds. The U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF, estimates more than 650 million women alive today had been married off when they were before the age of 18.

The statistical analysis show that if child marriage had continued, more than 150 million girls will marry by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have set a target “To eliminate child, early or forced marriage by 2030”.

According to SDG 5.3 which has targeted the end child of marriage by 2030, Shahin Gavanji and Jahangir Gavanji, two world peace ambassadors, launched a new international program in 2019 which is called “Painting your dreams for your future”, and invite all children in world to stand against child marriage.

In this program they asked all children in the world to paint their dreams for their future. All children in the world were invited to Join the program in taking action to advance gender equality and end child marriage, and announced to children that they are artists of their life, letting them to paint their dreams for their own future. 

No to child marriage.

The campaign received 1869 painting from 41 countries (Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Mauritius, Azerbaijan, Portugal, Turkey, Thailand, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Egypt, Lebanon, Canada, Romania, Sri Lanka, Somalia, The United States, Iraq, Philippines, The United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Malaysia, Italy, Zimbabwe, Croatia, Finland, India, Indonesia, Bahrain, Uganda, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kenya), and children send a united message that “Child marriages should be banned and together we can make world free of child marriage.”

World peace ambassadors Shahin Gavanji and Jahangir Gavanji.

The goals of this campaign:

  • Raising awareness on child marriage and declares the negative impacts on overall development, prosperity, and stability.
  • Send a message that education is a powerful strategy in keeping girls from child marriage, since educated youth paves the way for a better future for the country and every child has the right to dream for his or hers future and it’s a duty of parents to help and encourage them.
  • Calling the attention of governments to reinforce their commitment to end child marriage by 2030. 

70 years of friendship – Russia-Indonesia

Editor
-
0
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!

———————

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

Editor
-
0
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

Editor
-
0
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

Editor
-
0
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

Editor
-
0
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

Editor
-
0
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

Editor
-
0
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).

1...344345346...898Page 345 of 898