Friday, 1 November 2019, Gabarone, Botswana: Botswana’s fifth president, Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi took his oath of office in the morning at the University of Botswana Indoor Sports Arena here in Gaborone. The swearing-in ceremony will be the first to be held in public and away from the Botswana Parliament Building where the previous four presidents assumed office.
President Dr. Masisi was joined by some of his counterparts including President Filipe Nyusi [Mozambique] and President Edgar Lungu [Zambia] and representatives of other SADC Heads of State and Government who witnessed the historic ceremony.
Duing his inauguration allocution he made reference to a document that shall be drawn up to ‘guide the implementation of our National Vision 2036, which espouses Prosperity for All Botswana. In this regard, the recently appointed National Transformation Strategy Team will lay out the fundamental changes needed in policy, institutions and mindset to transform Botswana’.
Dr. Masisi promised to focus on young people that are the hardest hit by joblessness. ‘In order to address the twin problems of unemployment and poverty amongst our people in general, I have committed to prioritise job creation during my tenure’.
President Masisi announced that the Government of Botswana is in negotiations with Forbes to host the 2020 ‘Under 30 Summit’ in Gaborone as part of the President’s Initiative. It would be the first time that the Forbes Under 30 Summit would be held in Africa. The event brings together at least six hundred of the world’s most elite entrepreneurs and game changers. They will be 200 Africa best, 200 World Best and Botswana Best. The Summit presents yet another opportunity not only for the young entrepreneurs in Botswana to learn from others and grow their businesses but also explore more ways to creating jobs for the youth.
Once upon a time there was a city by the sea with beautiful beaches. Every New Year was welcomed by two large bonfires on the beach that were built by inhabitants of two neighbourhoods that bordered the sea.
The teams of both neighbourhoods competed to build the most large and impressive pyre. That went well for several years, until the teams started building the pile higher and higher, far beyond what was permitted and far beyond what was safe. The mayor of the city was faced by a dilemma. Should she enforce the rules, in view of the clear danger that the fire would get out of control, although this would probably evoke the anger of the people that were building the pile? Or should she tolerate the dangerous behaviour of these people and hope for the best? She decided to do nothing.
She had no luck, because on New Year’s Eve a strong wind from sea blew sparks and embers over the city, causing fires and a lot of material damage. As a consequence she had to abdicate.
This city by the sea happens to be the seat of government of a small country by the sea, that is building its own dangerous bonfires. At first glance, the bonfires that the Netherlands (the country I am talking about, as you will have guessed) is building are very impressive. Thanks to its efficient economy, it is one of the richest countries and although its land area is small, it has become the second largest agricultural exporter in the world.
However, it has accomplished this by ignoring rules and endangering public health and well-being. Almost nowhere is the loss of biodiversity as dramatic. Of all the animals and plants that used to be indigenous, 85% has become extinct in the Netherlands. Most of the remaining natural reserves are endangered. Every year about 12000 people in the Netherlands die prematurely because of air pollution.
A probably even more fatal danger for the Netherlands is climate change. If all the so-called “developing” countries would follow the Dutch example and would produce as much greenhouse gasses per capita, future generations of Dutchmen might literally get in a sea of trouble.
All this is no news, and the Netherlands is party to several international agreements that are aimed at protecting nature, fighting air pollution and preventing climate change. However, in practice the Dutch government has tolerated and sometimes even supported the building of a bonfire of unsustainable growth.
The burning question is: Will the Dutch government follow the example of The Hague and give in to the short term interests of the builders of this bonfire? Or will it take its responsibility?
29-31 octobre 2019, Principauté de Monaco: Sous la thématique : « Réconcilier l’humanité et la planète : perspectives dans l’espace francophone à la veille des 50 ans de l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie ».
On voit sur la photo La Secrétaire générale Louise Mushikiwabo.
La conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie fut précédée par la 108e session du Conseil permanent de la Francophonie (CPF), ayant eu lieu le 29 octobre. sous la présidence de M. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Ministre des Affaires étrangères d’Arménie, aux côtés de la Secrétaire générale de la Francophonie, Madame Louise Mushikiwabo.
La Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie (CMF) fait partie des trois instances consacrées par la Charte de la Francophonie avec le Sommet et le Conseil permanent de la Francophonie (CPF). La CMF assure la continuité politique du Sommet de la Francophonie.
Le Conseil permanent de la Francophonie (CPF) est l’instance chargée de la préparation et du suivi du Sommet, sous l’autorité de la Conférence ministérielle. Il est à la fois animateur, coordonnateur et arbitre de l’action de l’Organisation. Il fait partie, avec le Sommet et la Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie, des trois organes décisionnels consacrés par la Charte de la Francophonie. Présidé par la Secrétaire générale de la Francophonie, il se prononce sur ses propositions et la soutient dans l’exercice de ses fonctions.
36e Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie.
C’était la première fois que Monaco accueillit une Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie générale, il s’agit d’un pas important pour la Principauté.
La Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie sera l’occasion de lancer une réflexion sur les perspectives de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), notamment en faveur du développement durable, dans toutes ses composantes alliant économie, social et environnement. Le Gouvernement Princier a ainsi souhaité mettre l’accent sur un thème qui lui est particulièrement cher : la promotion du développement durable, en ayant fait le choix de traiter ce sujet de manière large et dans sa dimension plurielle sous l’angle : « Réconcilier l’Humanité et la Planète : perspectives dans l’espace francophone à la veille des 50 ans de l’OIF».
Cette proposition avait été soumise par S.E. M. Gilles Tonelli, alors Conseiller de Gouvernement-Ministre des Relations extérieures et de la Coopération, à l’occasion de la 35e Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie qui s’est tenue à Erevan en octobre 2018 et approuvée par les États et Gouvernements membres de la Francophonie. Ce thème sera décliné par la présentation, par le Gouvernement Princier, d’un projet de résolution relatif à la préservation des océans et par l’organisation d’un événement parallèle relatif au tourisme durable, en partenariat avec l’Institut de la Francophonie pour le Développement durable.
La Principauté de Monaco a mis en place, depuis septembre 2018, un Comité de pilotage, sous la responsabilité de Madame le Directeur général du Département des Relations extérieures et de la Coopération, laquelle est également le Correspondant national auprès de l’OIF.
La Francophonie, une organisation internationale
L’OIF a vu le jour le 20 mars 1970 – sous l’impulsion des présidents Senghor (Sénégal), Bourguiba (Tunisie), Diori (Niger) et du Prince Sihanouk (Cambodge) – 21 pays se sont réunis à Niamey (Niger), pour créer l’Agence de coopération culturelle et technique (ACCT), devenue aujourd’hui l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Les francophones peuvent s’appuyer sur un dispositif institutionnel voué à promouvoir la langue française et la coopération entre leurs pays (l’OIF rassemble actuellement 88 États et gouvernements). Le Sommet des chefs d’État et de gouvernement, qui se réunit tous les deux ans, est la plus haute des instances politiques décisionnelles de la Francophonie, avec la Conférence ministérielle et le Conseil permanent.
L’OIF mène des actions politiques et de coopération dans les domaines prioritaires suivants :
– langue française et diversité culturelle et linguistique
– paix, démocratie et droits de l’Homme
– éducation et formation – développement durable, économie et solidarité. Dans l’ensemble de ses actions, elle accorde une attention particulière aux jeunes et aux femmes ainsi qu’à l’accès au numérique
Conférences ministérielles
La Charte de la Francophonie reconnaît deux conférences ministérielles permanentes qui sont aussi les deux plus anciennes institutions de la Francophonie : la Conférence des ministres de l’Éducation des pays ayant le français en partage (CONFÉMEN) et la Conférence des ministres de la Jeunesse et des Sports des pays ayant le français en partage (CONFÉJES). La CONFÉMEN œuvre pour la promotion de l’éducation et de la formation professionnelle et technique, et constitue l’instrument privilégié qui permet aux États et aux gouvernements de conjuguer leurs efforts en vue de développer leurs systèmes éducatifs. Son rôle est d’orienter les politiques éducatives dans les pays membres à travers des décisions et des recommandations.
La CONFÉJES appuie les pays membres pour l’élaboration et/ou la mise en œuvre des politiques nationales de jeunesse et de sport. Elle met en place des programmes de formation en faveur de l’insertion sociale et économique des jeunes, ainsi qu’à destination des cadres et des sportifs.
By Priscilla C.X. de Leede, employment lawyer at Russell Advocaten.
In general, Embassies and Consulates with local employees fall under Dutch law and are treated like any other employer in the Netherlands. This means that the new Labour Market in Balance Act, that will be effective as per 1 January 2020, will also apply to Embassies and Consulates. What are the fourmost important changes?
I. Contracts
1. Extension of provisions for consecutive fixed-term employment contracts (chain provision)
As per 1 January 2020, employers can conclude three fixed-term employment contracts in three years instead of two years, without an employee being entitled to a permanent contract. This means that Embassies and Consulates can employ an employee for a longer period than at present, without concluding a permanent contract.
2. On-call workers
An Embassy or Consulate may employ on-call workers. On-call workers will receive more rights as per 1 January 2020. The Embassy or Consulate must call up the on-call workers at least four days in advance. If a call for work is cancelled less than four days in advance, the on-call worker will still be entitled to payment of wages.
In addition, after 12 months of employment, the Embassy or Consulate must offer the on-call worker a contract for the average number of hours he or she has worked during those 12 months. If this contract is not offered, the on-call worker is still entitled to wages for the number of hours.
II. Dismissal
3. Cumulative grounds
At present, an employer can only dismiss an employee if one of the eight grounds (grounds a to h) for dismissal applies. The employer must fully satisfy the requirements for one of the eight grounds for dismissal. The employer cannot base the dismissal on combined grounds.
As per 1 January 2020, various grounds for dismissal that have only partially materialized can be combined (for example underperformance of an employee plus a disturbed relationship). This is referred to as cumulative grounds or “i-ground”. This will make it easier for an Embassy or Consulate to dismiss an employee. However, in the event of a dismissal on the basis of cumulative grounds, the Embassy or Consulate might be obliged to pay the employee a maximum of 1.5 times the transition compensation.
4. Transition compensation
At present, each employee who has been employed for at least two years and whose employment is being terminated on the initiative of the employer is entitled to transition compensation. As per 1 January 2020, employees will be entitled to transition compensation from the first working day instead of after two years, thus including during the probationary period.
The amount of the transition compensation depends on the length of the employment:
1/3 of the monthly salary per year of service over the first ten years of service; and
half a month’s salary over the subsequent years; and
one month’s salary for employees 50 years or older over the subsequent years, if the employer has more than 25 employees.
As per 1 January 2020, the accrual of the transition compensation for every employee, irrespective of the duration of the employment, is one third of the monthly salary per year of service. This means employees do no longer receive a higher transition compensation after the first ten years of service.
Further, as per 1 January 2020 not justperiods of 6 months are taken into account for the calculation of the transition compensation anymore.This means incomplete years of service are settled pro rata.
More information:
Do you want to know what the consequences are of the Labour Market in Balance Act for your Embassy or Consulate? Or do you have any other questions concerning employment law? Pleasecontact Priscilla C.X. de Leede, LL.M. (priscilla.deleede@russell.nl)
In the picture Diana Totinska, HoodTransformers, in Sofia.
A great community beautification project, called HoodTransformers, is taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria, co-initiated by a former Diplomat Magazine Team member, Diana Totinska.
HoodTransformers started as a citizen initiative aiming to encourage locals to take care of the public spaces and the neighbourhoods around their homes and offices. Some of the activities of the association include planting flowers and plants in concrete planter boxes around the city streets, clean-up events, raising awareness and sensitivity regarding dirt and litter pollution, cleaning graffiti tags and hate speech from buildings considered as cultural heritage.
HoodTransformers in Sofia.
They also publish on their website easy DIY handbooks and ideas, guidebooks and good case practices on how to beautify the look of their neighbourhoods. Through their activities, the people behind HoodTransformers strive to change the locals’ attitudes towards public spaces and contradict the perception that people from post-Soviet states inherit the lack of social responsibility regarding common spaces.
Their latest campaign #PlantMe inspires people to plant more flowers and plants on the city streets, in the green spaces and around residential areas, especially in those empty concrete planter boxes which the city is full of. The planters are considered property of the municipalities but due to lack of funding and pubic littering, they are left on the streets full of dirt, cigarette butts and dead plants.
Here is where HoodTransformers steps in, encouraging businesses and locals to “adopt” the planter boxes, clean and care for them. The campaign’s goals are to provide more greenery, beatify the streets and improve the appearance of the neighbourhoods, create a sense of community and bring nature back to the city.
Last but not least, through this campaign they hope to raise awareness about the deteriorating condition of bees and other pollinators, who are declining around the world and are especially rare to see in Sofia’s central parts. By providing food and home for them, the participants and the volunteers in the initiative help them come back and thrive in the city.
However, planting only is not enough so the organizers make sure that the flowers and the plants will be taken care of in the future too. „Our strategy includes choosing the most adjustable, drought and cold tolerant plants who are resistant to weather changes but arealso good for bees.Then we make sure to talkto as much people as possible who are living or working in the area where the planting took place and ask them to take care of the plants and water them“– explains Niki Ignatov, one of the two initiators of the project.
“In this way we are spreading awareness and making sure that more people are involved as well as ensuring that our activity is not just a single act of planting but it will have a long-term impact“.
The project founders are two young Bulgarians who had enough of hearing complaints and decided to take things into their hands and do something to change the environment they live in. They believe that Bulgaria has an undeveloped potential to be a great place for living and also tourist paradise and want to take part in improving the image of Bulgaria at home and abroad.
According to Diana, what drives the team forward is summarized by the following quote: “Because loving where you live is just the beginning—it’s about making it better, too”.
On November 12-13th, Paris will host the second edition of the Paris Peace Forum. The initiative will draw together a large number of high-level participants, including the UN Secretary General and more than 30 heads of state and government. The Forum’s aim is to discuss concrete ways to “promote global governance for sustainable peace”.
Six transversal themes related to global governance. More than 6,000 participants, including United Nations Secretary General Mr. Antonio Guterres, over 30 heads of state and government, as well as representatives of international organizations, NGOs, think tanks, and foundations.
More than 80 multi-stakeholder debates, with the involvement of around 200 speakers, and 115 governance projects.
These are the impressive figures of the Paris Peace Forum 2019, which is set to take place on November 12-13th, 2019, at La Grande Halle de la Villettein Paris. This second edition of the Forum will revolve around the topic of global governance – and in particular its role in promoting sustainable peace in the world. The topic will be tackled through six different – albeit highly interrelated – perspectives: peace and security; development; environment; new technologies; inclusive economy; and culture and education.
The contribution of the Paris Peace Forum will be multi-pronged. Firstly, the Forum will provide room for debate, by decision-makers and intellectuals alike, about the large challenges faced by our world today. In addition to that, the Forum will also serve as an incubator of ideas and projects. Out of the 700 submissions received, the selected ones will be unveiled on November 13th, paving the way for their scaling-up and implementation process. Finally, the Forum will also feature the PeaceGames, an interactive, multi-stakeholder exercise that will allow participants to simulate complex decision-making procedures.
The first gathering in the context of the 2019 Paris Peace Forum will happen one day before the official start, with a closed-door session in the evening of November 11th. The official ceremony of inauguration will take place the following morning, with keynote speeches by heads of state and government, including by French President Mr. Emmanuel Macron. This event will kick-in two very intense days, full of debates, simulations, and discussions on the implementation of projects selected in the Forum’s 2018 edition. A closing ceremony on November 13thwill recap the achievements of the previous two days, and it will unveil the new list of projects to be scaled up over the next year.
Diplomat Magazine will be present at the Forum in Paris, trying to provide you a glimpse of the whole lot of things happening at La Grande Halle de la Villette. Stay tuned!
About the author:
Guido Lanfranchi is a student and young professional in the field of international affairs. He has pursued his studies both at Leiden University and Sciences Po Paris, where he is currently enrolled. In parallel, he has been gaining professional experience through internships (first at the Council of the European Union, and currently at Clingendael Institute), as well as by working as reporter and associate editor for Diplomat Magazine The Netherlands. His research and work focus on the Middle East and Africa, and especially on conflict situations in these regions.
Par H.E. M. Zohrab Matsakanyan, Ministre des Affaires étrangères de la République d’Arménie.
Le 27 novembre 2016, lors du Sommet d’Antananarivo (Madagascar), les Chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement de la Francophonie ont désigné l’Arménie comme pays hôte du prochain Sommet de la Francophonie. L’Arménie était honorée de cette confiance qu’on lui avait témoignée en lui confiant la responsabilité de l’organisation de ce Sommet.
La XVIIème Conférence des Chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement ayant le français en partage s’est tenue à Erevan, les 11 et 12 octobre 2018. Toutes les institutions étatiques nationales se sont pleinement mobilisées pour faire de la Conférence un succès pour toute la famille francophone. Aujourd’hui, nous éprouvons une satisfaction et une fierté d’avoir été en mesure d’organiser, dans les meilleures conditions, cet évènement aussi important pour la Francophonie.
S.E. Louise Mushikiwabo, Secrétaire générale de la Francophonie et H.E. M. Zohrab Matsakanyan, Ministre des Affaires étrangères de la République d’Arménie.
Nous avons démontré notre capacité de mener à bien les travaux préparatoires du Sommet dans le contexte des changements politiques considérables survenus en Arménie au mois d’avril/mai 2018 et marqués par l’aboutissement de la révolution de velours, démocratique, pacifique et citoyenne. Durant cette transition politique qui a concerné tous les niveaux institutionnels, l’Arménie a témoigné la force de son engagement en faveur de la Francophonie et ses valeurs et a continué à se mobiliser en vue d’assurer la réussite du Sommet.
La révolution de velours arménienne fondée sur les valeurs de paix, de solidarité et de partage a bien mis en exergue la thématique du « « Vivre ensemble » qui a été choisie par l’Arménie comme thème du Sommet : « Vivre ensemble dans la solidarité, le partage des valeurs humanistes et le respect de la diversité : Source de paix et de prospérité pour l’espace francophone ; convaincus que le Vivre ensemble autour des valeurs humanistes partagées peut contribuer au renforcement de la cohésion des sociétés et apporter la paix et la prospérité dans l’espace francophone.
En marge du Sommet, le Village de la Francophonie, situé en plein centre de notre capitale, a fait rayonner la diversité culturelle de la Francophonie. De nombreux pays francophones porteurs des différentes cultures y étaient représentés et ont animé, avec l’OIF, la vie du Village. La population arménienne, notamment la jeunesse, a participé activement aux événements organisés dans le cadre du Village de la Francophonie. C’était une semaine festive pour tout le monde. Je voudrais aussi mentionner le concert de Gala organisé par notre pays le soir de l’inauguration du Sommet, le 11 octobre, qui a réuni plusieurs dizaines de milliers de spectateurs, en présence des Chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement de la Francophonie.
De grands artistes francophones s’y sont produits et honoré la mémoire de Charles AZNAVOUR, le grand artiste et ambassadeur de la langue française qui nous avait quitté quelques jours seulement avant la tenue du Sommet.
En marge du Sommet d’Erevan, un Forum économique et numérique francophone a eu lieu le 10 octobre au Centre Tumo pour les technologies créatives d’Erevan auxquels ont participé de nombreuses personnalités des milieux d’affaires des pays francophones et des représentants d’organisations internationales. Le Forum fut l’occasion de lancer le Réseau francophone des ministres chargés de l’économie numérique.
Le Sommet a également été un succès d’un point de vue de sa substance ; les Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement de la Francophonie ont ainsi adopté la Déclaration d’Erevan et six résolutions et lancé l’Appel francophone pour le Vivre ensemble. La famille francophone s’est élargie à l’issue du Sommet avec l’adhésion de nouveaux observateurs, la Gambie, l’Irlande, Malte et la Louisiane, tandis que les Émirats arabes unis, le Kosovo et la Serbie sont passés du statut d’observateur à celui de membre associé.
Le Sommet d’Erevan a aussi été marqué par l’élection de S. E. Mme Louise Mushikiwabo en tant que Secrétaire générale de la Francophonie pour un mandat de quatre ans, qui a obtenu le soutien unanime de tous les Chefs d’Etats et de gouvernement de la Francophonie.
Durant sa présidence du Sommet, l’Arménie entend prendre différentes initiatives et approfondir, notamment, la coopération de la Francophonie avec les organisations internationales et régionales, telles que l’UNESCO et le Conseil de l’Europe en organisant conjointement des évènements dans les domaines de l’égalité femme homme et de la promotion de la diversité culturelle et des valeurs du Vivre ensemble. Nous souhaitons également apporter notre contribution à la mise en œuvre de la Stratégie économique de la Francophonie ; à cette fin, nous organiserons, conjointement avec l’OIF, un Forum économique à Erevan en 2020, en mettant l’accent sur les synergies entre la Francophonie et les processus d’intégration économique régionale.
Il est aussi important de tenir informé nos partenaires internationaux de la feuille de route que s’est fixée la Francophonie lors du Sommet d’Erevan ; tel était le sens de la visite auprès de l’Union africaine que j’ai effectuée à Addis Abeba au début du mois d’avril au cours de laquelle j’ai eu l’occasion de rencontrer les responsables de la Commission de l’Union africaine et d’avoir un échange avec les ambassadeurs francophones accrédités auprès de cette institution. Ceci, pour souligner aussi la place qu’occupe l’Afrique dans notre politique extérieure et notre volonté de renforcer notre coopération dans les domaines politique, économique, éducatif et culturel.
Nous attacherons aussi de l’importance à organiser la prochaine concertation francophone lors de l’Assemblée générale des Nations unies au mois de septembre prochain.
Pour conclure, je souhaite réitérer toutes mes félicitations aux autorités de la Tunisie qui organiseront, en 2020, le XVIIIe Sommet de la Francophonie qui marquera le cinquantième anniversaire de l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. Nous serons à leurs côtés pour célébrer cet important évènement.
On Monday October 7th, many of the Ambassadors accredited in The Hague came to the city’s emblematic Peace Palace, a symbol of Peace and Justice in the world, and took a memorable picture all together.
The meeting, which wants to symbolize the need for cooperation and solidarity in the struggle for peace among all countries in the world, was organized by the Peace Palace and Diplomat Magazine.
Mr. Erik de Baedts, Director of the Peace Palace and the Carnegie Foundation, welcomed the Ambassadors at their arrival.
The Ladies Ambassador group decided to take a picture together, here the ambassador of Federative Republic of Brazil, H.E. Ms. Regina Maria Cordeiro Dunlop, Republic of Chile, H.E. Ms. Maria Teresa de Jesus Infante Caffi, United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Ms. Irene Florence Mkwawa Kasyanju, Uganda, H.E. Ms. Mirjam Blaak, Republic of Malta, H.E. Ms. Marlene Bonnici, Romania, H.E. Ms. Brândușa Predescu, Czech Republic, H.E. Ms. Katerina Sequensova, Republic of Angola, H.E. Ms. Maria Isabel Ecoge, Republic of Ghana, H.E. Ms. Sophia Horner-Sam, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, H.E. Ms. Ngo Thi Hoa, Republic of Yemen, H.E. Ms. SaharGhanem, Republic of Cuba, H.E. Ms. Soraya Elena Alvarez Nunez, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, H.E. Ms. Haifa Aissami Madah, Republic of Finland, H.E. Ms. Paivi Marjaana Kaukoranta, Bosnia & Herzegovina, H.E Ms. Mirsada Colakovic, Republic of Albania, H.E. Ms. Adia Sakiqi, Republic of Portugal, H.E. Ms. Rosa Maria Bettencourt Amarante de Ataide Batoreu Salvadore e Brito.
The gathering was attended by the Ambassadors of the Republic of Albania, H.E. Ms. Adia Sakiqi, Republic of Angola, H.E. Ms. Maria Isabel Ecoge, Argentine Republic, H.E. Mr. Hector Horacio Salvador, Republic of Armenia, H.E. Mr. Tigran Balayan, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Plurinational State of Bolivia, H.E. Mr. Enrique Eduardo Rodriguez Veltze, Bosnia & Herzegovina, H.E Ms. Mirsada Colakovic, Federative Republic of Brazil, H.E. Ms. Regina Maria Cordeiro Dunlop, Republic of Bulgaria, H.E. Mr. Rumen Alexandrov, Republic of Chile, H.E. Ms. Maria Teresa de Jesus Infante Caffi, People’s Republic of China, H.E. Mr. Dr. Hong Xu, Republic of Cuba, H.E. Ms. Soraya Elena Alvarez Nunez, Czech Republic, H.E. Ms. Katerina Sequensova, Denmark, H.E. Mr. Jens-Otto Horslund, Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E. Mr. Amgad Maher Abdel Ghaffar, Republic of El Salvador, H.E. Mr. Agustin Vazquez Gomez, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Million Samuel Gebre, Republic of Finland, H.E. Ms. Paivi Marjaana Kaukoranta, Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Mr. Dirk Brengelmann, Republic of Ghana, H.E. Ms. Sophia Horner-Sam, Holy See, H.E. Mr. Aldo Cavalli, Republic of India, H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamony, Islamic Republic of Iran, H.E. Mr. Ali Reza Kazemi Abadi, Republic of Iraq, H.E. Mr. Hisham Al-Alawi, Ireland, H.E. Mr, Kevin Kelly, State of Israel, H.E. Mr. Naor Itzhak Gilon, Italian Republic, H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini, Japan, H.E. Mr. Hidehisa Horinouchi, Republic of Latvia, H.E. Ms. Aiga Liepina, Republic of Lebanon, H.E. Mr. Abdel Sattar Issa, Republic of Lithuania, H.E. Mr. Vidmantas Purlys, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, H.E. Mr. Jean-Marc Hoscheit, Malaysia, H.E. Mr. Ahmad Nazri Bin Yusof, Republic of Malta, H.E. Ms. Marlene Bonnici, United Mexico States, H.E. Mr. Jose Antonio Zabalgoitia Trejo, Kingdom of Morocco, H.E. Mr. Abdelouahab Bellouki, Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Mr. Oji Nyimenuate Ngofa, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Shujjat Ali Rathore, Republic of Portugal, H.E. Ms. Rosa Maria Bettencourt Amarante de Ataide Batoreu Salvadore e Brito, Romania, H.E. Ms. Brândușa Predescu, Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Alexander Vasilievich Shulgin, Slovak Republic, H.E. Mr. Roman Buzek, Republic of South Africa, Chargé d’affaires, Ms. Olitha Lebelo, Embassy of the Republic of Suriname, Chargé d’affaires Mr. Oquemele Denz, Republic of Korea, H.E. Mr. Yun Young Lee, Kingdom of Sweden, H.E. Ms. Annika Lisa Markovic, United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Ms. Irene Florence MkwawaKasyanju, Uganda, H.E. Ms. Mirjam Blaak, Ukraine, H.E. Mr. Vsevolod Chentsov, Oriental Republic of Uruguay, H.E. Ms. Laura Dupuy Lasserre, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, H.E. Ms. Haifa Aissami Madah, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, H.E. Ms. Ngo Thi Hoa, Republic of Yemen, H.E. Ms. SaharGhanem.
Ambassadors at the emblematic Peace Palace of The Hague, waved their hands at the photographer during the light tests. Photography Catherine Dailey.
The new Israeli Ambassador to the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Naor Gilon, explained to Diplomat Magazine during lunch at the emblematic Des Indes Hotel, his view on the relationship between the two countries. Singling out economic cooperation as a cornerstone of this partnership, the Ambassador vowed to step up his commitment towards innovation and his interaction with the youth.
Israel and the Netherlands have strong and long-standing diplomatic relations. The new Israeli Ambassador in The Hague, H.E. Mr. Naor Gilon, is now ready to do his best to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries – he explained in a conversation with Diplomat Magazine.
Ambassador Gilon singled out economic cooperation as a cornerstone of the relationship between his country and the Netherlands. Commerce between the two sides amounts to around 5 billion – a significant amount, considered the relatively small size of both countries. In this context, Mr. Gilon pledged to further deepen such ties, with a specific focus on the issue of innovation.
“Israel is called the ‘start-up nation’” – he explained, proudly noting that his country has the highest number of start-ups per capita in the world. The fresh ideas of Israeli entrepreneurs might well find a fertile ground in the Netherlands – the Ambassador suggested – where entrepreneurs have developed over the centuries the skills needed to upscale businesses and expand them to a global level. As a result, further cooperation in this field between Israeli and Dutch businesses could prove very profitable.
In particular, the Ambassador singled out the field of logistics and transportation security. In this domain – crucial for the Netherlands due to the presence of major transportation hubs such as Schiphol Airport and the Port of Rotterdam – Israeli companies have interesting ideas to offer. The role of the Ambassador will thus be to help the two sides to kick-start new instances of cooperation – something that he plans to do, for instance, through a business fair in the coming times.
The Ambassador of Israel, H.E. Mr. Naor Gilon.
While economic issues are a very important part of Israeli-Dutch relations, the partnership between the two countries goes well beyond the economy. At the political level, the Ambassador stressed that the two countries’ Prime Ministers, Mr. Mark Rutte and Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, enjoy “very good relations”, as proved by their fruitful annual meetings. Ambassador Gilon voiced his will to further strengthen these political relations – including through high-level visits in the coming year.
The Israeli Embassy’s duties, however, go even beyond the two realms of economy and politics. During his tenure as Ambassador, for instance, Mr. Gilon plans on further strengthening bilateral relations in the field of culture, as well as on increasing Dutch-Israeli cooperation in the domain of multilateral governance.
Finally, a crucial duty of Mr. Gilon will be to manage the relations between the Embassy and the Jewish community in the Netherlands – which he defined as “a bridge between the two countries”. Although the members of the community are Dutch citizens – the Ambassador explained – Israel does feel a responsibility to provide for their wellbeing, including for instance by ensuring that Jews will not suffer from antisemitism.
In order to do strengthen Dutch-Israeli relations, short-term cooperation will not be enough –Ambassador Gilon noted. Rather, he pledged to adopt a more long-sighted approach, with a strong focus on speaking with young people. “Young people are more open to new ideas” – he stressed – and therefore working with them can be much more efficient in the medium-term. In this way, relations between the Netherlands and Israel will greatly benefit not only now, but also in the future.
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The interview with H.E. Mr. Naon Gilon, has been held at Hotel del Indes an emblematic historic hotel in The Hague, symbol of Dutch beauty, tradition and class, charm and character, elegance and grandeur with more than 132 years of credentials: www.hoteldesindes.nl
In the year 2043, flying high above a spectacular white capped mountain peak, a large genus Aquila eagle, with a majestic appearance and enormous wing span, is seen swooping down between translucent white clouds and over green abundant forests, flourishing way beneath its dramatic summit
The eagle’s sonorous message, is carried forcibly by the assisting wind echoing down to the lush valley below, summoning all the remaining creatures of the Animal Kingdom, to gather for a compulsory assembly at a large glade that overlooks the sparkling fast flowing River of Life, surrounding the base of this mountain.
The river’s fresh pure waters, are sparkling and silver blue tinted, reflecting the sun’s penetrating health giving energy, conveying to all the presence of an eternal life.
As far as the eagle’s sharp eyes can see, black and grey clouds are hovering close to the base of the luxuriant landscape surrounding the mountain, temporarily arrested from engulfing the terrain and wilfully devouring all remaining life forms on this once bountiful planet, protected only by the resistant power of the River of Life.
Mother Nature, the ordained creator of all, has urgently called for this gathering, as beyond this final bastion of environmental riches, lie dark, menacing, poisonous clouds that are ominously closing in.
Her voice thunders with a vibrant power, as if from the depth of the mountain, echoing within the senses of all living creatures.
The trees sway together in a branch clapping rhythmic response to her first words.
“To the six tribes of the animal kingdom…to you the Mammals, to you the Birds, to you the Fishes, to you the Reptiles, to you the Amphibians, to you the Invertebrates, and finally to you the insects and you our irreplaceable fauna.
Listen carefully, to my never to be repeated words. Bring two species of every creature and sex of your group and join me in the circle of light, over by the side of the River of Life, adjacent to the edge of the Forest of Tranquillity.
Do not, under fear of expulsion, bring a solitary specimen of Homo sapiens or any related form of taxon Hominidae.
I await your presence here, before our beloved and glorious life-giving sun fully rises.”
Her message in an instant, is carried by emotional intelligence to all animal species and life forms still alive in our world. The sounds of their march to the agreed meeting place, immediately begins.
Two by two, looking nervously at each other, they assemble at the proposed spot, chattering excitedly amongst themselves.
Two majestic lions, kangaroos, a couple of deer, giraffes, coyotes, a desert iguana, a coral snake, a pair of bats, two river otters, tarantulas and ants and some termites, were the first of the arrivals.
A pair of large dolphins, sharks, salmon and other fish, were poised at the edge of the river eager to be represented. Every living creature, insect, fauna and living microbes had their representatives there, with one exception. Not a single human being in sight.
The voice of Mother Nature boomed out.
“My friends gathered here, 6 million years ago, I created your very lives and 6 billion years before that, I established a multitude of microbes and viruses that set the ground for your arrival, providing for you my precious creations, with luxuriant energy rich landscapes, filled to abundance with every variety of life to sustain you.
But since those heady days of our beautiful earth, many things have changed, beginning with my gravest error, when I foolishly agreed to allow beings from another solar system, toestablish a base here known as the Garden of Eden.
They persuaded me via their almighty God that they would be here for a very limited time, begging for my support and co-operation to advance inter-galactic unity. Little did I know they had deceived me with illusions and false promises.
I discovered too late, that it was an invasion using their creations the humans, to take control of our world under a pretext of a spiritual enhancement that I believed was to benefit and enrich our planet. I was duped.
Generously I opened the doors without restraint and they flooded in. The rest you know, as you have all suffered severely and can see the results.
Today humbled, I come before you, to offer you one solution to save our planet that your precious lives depend upon. The decision has to be made now, as we are all surviving in the last 200 miles of inhabitable terrain and pure pollution free air in our dying world.
Yonder, are the masses of dark grey clouds of life destroying poisons, created by the unimaginably evil humans that creep steadily towards us.
I call for your help to restore this wondrous planet to its former health and glory. We need one hundred thousand years to perform this task. I need your support and effort to help me achieve this miracle rebirth. I want you to discuss and then vote, a yeah or nay, before our sun sets today.
Hark…listen yonder to the despair and screams of horror from their voices beyond our precious River of Life.
Can you hear them cry? Can you hear the evil beasts, gnashing and grinding their putrid teeth in murderous anger, as they weep and wail? Can you hear their desperate begging to save their impure lives from themselves?
We who freely gave them abundance…They in return and without mercy or pity, conquered, tortured, exploited, enslaved, experimented upon us and murdered us in the hundreds of billions.
Not only living creatures, but our precious earth and irreplaceable plant life, losing most of the 391,000 species I created. Destroying precious life in our vast oceans and chocking off all the life forms in our rivers that are now poisoning us all. Even the very air we breathe is filled with toxic pollutants from their many experiments.
They created their own false stories of creation by the invention of their multiple Gods, ignoring the truth, ignoring me. They lied, cheated, imprisoned, tortured and murdered each other with impunity, mass exterminating and liquidating entire populations with their disgusting technical devices, destroying themselves, in this, beyond sick process.
They went against all universal and natural laws, creating scores of sick, despotic methods of governing themselves, often evilly camouflaged by cynically manipulative systems, pitilessly offered and enforced onto to their own gullible brethren, masquerading as beneficial to them, instead of the cruellest of tyrannies that ensued. The list of titles is too long to proclaim here today.
Now my dear friends, with their twisted souls and burnt disfigured bodies smelling in ugly putrefaction, they come to the edge of the River of Life, to beg refuge. Weep and wail, weep and wail.
Listen to them scream out to us, begging forgiveness for their past crimes against their own humanity and Mother Nature.
Kings, emperors, political leaders, bankers, and heads of business corporations, Popes, Mullahs, Rabbis, Buddhists and priests of 10 thousand distinct religions over their world.
Leaders and heads of their vile media corporations. Even the world’s most vicious militaries are offering to surrender and lay down all their arms and serve us all, if we can forgive them.
As you see, we have just been offered miles of truckloads of gold, silver, millions of diamonds, tens of thousands of works of art and human slaves, anything we might want, just to forgive them and allow them to cross over to us, via the golden bridge of spiritual steps to our River of Life. We have no more time. The final decision is ours.”
Enormous rumblings and cheering erupts from all the species listening to her words.
“No, no, never. No, no to ego-consumed, mass murderous humans. Never, ever must they cross to us. They are all incurable liars. They will cheat and kill us again. No never. They shall never pass.”
Without warning, one voice barks out defiantly against the over whelming anti-human sentiment. It is a solitary, black powerfully built dog, a German shepherd called Ribot. He snarls forcefully.
“But there were some good ones also. Can we not save some?
A stunned silence descends over the large gathering, then the murmurings of dissension begin again.
“No to humans…never again, they shall not pass. No pasaran.”Moo the Spanish bulls…
”Never”trumpet the African elephants.
“Never, ever” Hiss the pythons and snakes curled around the trees.
“We were the first victims in the Garden of Eden. How they lied and falsely debased us all.”
Ribot answers defiantly.
“You are not right. There are good humans who have respected and loved us”
“Yes perhaps a tiny few”Echoes a seagull circling above them …
”You are biased. You are known to be man’s best friend, but the rest of us don’t have that privilege and we are turned into food, clothes, bags, and wall trophies”.Growl the foxes and roaring bears.
“We are hunted and killed in our own forests. “Loudly howl the wolves.
Don’t forget us, we were crushed to death in the millions by huge machines in farm buildings”Squeak the chickens and hens.
“Experimented on to make their body lotions and perfumes and worse, brutally incarcerated in cages and eaten.”Calls out a racoon.
“I agree.”Bays the mule…“We were slave labour for them as they whipped and beat us till we dropped. No mercy shown.”
A huge irritable male lion, gnashes his formidable fangs and growls like thunder.
“Yeah, all through human history, we have been exploited and destroyed. The Egyptians hunted and killed us from their fast chariots and the Romans used us in the circuses, to die fighting the gladiators”.
“They can never change, they are programmed to kill and destroy anything they touch.”Bellows a mighty humpback whale from the River of Life close by
“They can never be trusted.”Scream the seagulls in unison, flying high above the meeting.
“We see how they destroy, pollute and steal, killing our precious sea life.”
“They leave trails of a foul stench wherever they go” Sigh the slow moving snails.
“Humans are all sick, we can do nothing with them. Not one must pass to our side.”Erupts the crowd.
“If you love them so much Mr Dog? Go back across the bridge and see what happens to you.” Scream all the assembled creatures.
Hearing the revulsion against his request, the German shepherd lowers his head and with his tail between his legs, moves away in shame from the centre of the debate, trying to avoid contact with other animals,
“So we agree then?Calls out mother Nature.”
“Yes, yes, yes.”Is the unanimous cry from the voices of all assembled species below that echoes throughout the land.
“The vote from this moment is officially approved and confirmed”.
Suddenly from high above them, a long loud scream is heard. All heads turn upwards to the skies and wheeling dramatically above them, they see the large eagle, wildly, dramatically flapping her wings and calling to those below….
Surprised and confused, the crowd watch the majestic bird fly directly down to the edge of the River of Life, then land upon what seems to be some rocks protruding from the river’s edge, her long neck pointing towards something between the rocks.
“It’s alive,she screams. “I need help”.
In a flash, Ribot the German shepherd, impulsively breaks through the tightly packed crowd of animals and dashes at full speed to the river’s edge.
When reaching the water’s edge, he sees the huge eagle, trying to drag a floating basket like object to the river bank by its large talons, being supported by his flapping wings.
Ribot hears a crying sound and realises there is a baby, a human child in the basket.
Without hesitation he dives into the flowing water, swims to the basket and with his powerful fangs gripping the woven material like a handle, helps the eagle drag the basket, to the safety of a tiny narrow strip of stony beach between the rocks.
Vigorously shaking the water from his fur, he peers into the basket and sees a smiling, gurgling little human baby gazing directly into his eyes.
He barks ferociously to all the other animals to come and help him, as the eagle like a grand protector hovers over the child in the basket, calling out for assistance to the massed crowd nearby.
“It’s a baby, a little girl. A baby girl. What shall we do? “Help us please.”
No help comes from all the assembled creatures, who motionlessly observe this new revelation in a dour united silence.
“Help save her,”Screeches the eagle, flying low over the now muttering masses of life beneath its wings, now beginning to openly display resentment, at this unwelcome discovery, muttering and screeching obscenities amongst themselves.
Telepathically they communicate this stunning news directly to Mother Nature, asking for her wise guidance.
She replies with considerable sadness. ”To all life forms, our joint decision regarding the future of the humans has been taken and I order the immediate destruction of the last lifeline, the connecting bridge, to stop certain death coming to us.
I have made so many mistakes before in my judgements over humans, so in the case of this helpless baby girl, I now wash my hands of this discussion and leave you all to decide her fate.
The future of her humanity is in your hands.”
“Her fate is sealed.”Howl all the assembled species in reply.
“Hurl her back to the evil ones on the other side. There will be no compromise ever”.
As they advance on mass towards the basket containing the baby, they hear loud wailing sounds of the baby girl crying pitiably.
“Ma, ma, mama, mam, ma, ra, ma, ra, ma… ra.”
Ribot defiantly stands alone in front of the helpless baby, rising to his full height, his hair bristling, snarling viciously, his teeth bared, ready to fight to the death. The crowd surges forward, brave Ribot is overwhelmed and like a rag doll, tossed aside and lost in the swell of bodies.
Suddenly from above them, the eagle swoops down, its huge flapping wing span and sound , temporally hypnotises them and in seconds, two huge talons grip the basket and from the rocks, lifts it like a feather and flies high directly towards the mountain top, endlessly screaming the same words that echo over the land.
“She is mine, she is ma, she is manna, she is mama, she is ma and she is my Maamaa..aa…ra!”
Flying higher and higher, up through the dense cloud to a far off peak beyond all eyes, to begin a New World.
