Tatarstan is the crossroad of trade routes and civilizations

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Tatarstan is the crossroad of trade routes and civilizations

By H.E. Mr. Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan 

The Republic of Tatarstan is one of the leading, industrially developed and innovative regions of the Russian Federation, the territory of intercultural and interfaith dialogue, where East and West meet, trade routes intersect, Islam and Christianity successfully develop and interact. 

The unique location of the region in the centre of Russia, at the confluence of the two largest rivers: the Volga and the Kama, where the Great Silk Road and the Furry Road merged, connecting the north and the south of Eurasia, since ancient times it had become one of the reasons for the formation of a large civilization centre in this part of the world.

It was here that in 922, Islam was officially adopted by the ancestors of modern Tatars in the ancient city of Bolgar. For over a thousand years, a unique culture of Christian-Islamic dialogue and harmony has been developed in our land. Today, the Tatars being the second largest ethnicity in Russia and making up more than half of the population of the Republic of Tatarstan practice mainly Islam. The rest of the population – Russians (about 40% of the people residing in the republic), as well as the Chuvash, Mari, Udmurt, Mordovians – as a rule, profess Orthodoxy. Representatives of 173 nationalities live on the territory of the republic in the spirit of neighbourliness and friendship.

Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan

This largely explains the diversity of Tatarstan’s cultural wealth. The republic has a unique tangible and intangible heritage. The capital of Tatarstan, Kazan, has more than a thousand-year history. There are three sites in the republic inscribed by UNESCO onto the List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage: the Kazan Kremlin (inscribed in 2000), the Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex, the place of the adoption of Islam in the region of Tatarstan (inscribed in 2014), the Assumption Cathedral and the Monastery of the Island-town of Sviyazhsk of the Russian Orthodox Church (inscribed in 2017).

2017 saw the opening of the Bolgar Islamic Academy, as well as restoration of the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. The foundation stone of the interfaith harmony in the republic is well-observed balance of the interests of two major faiths and the equality of all religions before the law.

The centuries-old experience of friendship and cooperation of various religions and cultures has proved to be highly demanded nowadays. In accordance with the order of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin since 2014 President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov heads the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – the Islamic World”, aimed at facilitating the processes of dialogue and cooperation between our country and Muslim states on a cultural and civilizational basis. As part of the Group activities, there are dozens of economic and humanitarian projects being implemented.

Ecclesiastical leaders in the Republic of Tatarstan

Today Tatarstan has trade relations with more than 150 countries of the world. The development of international cooperation is one of the priorities of the Republic while maintaining a good balance of cooperation with Western and Eastern partners. Tatarstan is deeply integrated into global economic relations. About half of the manufactured products are export-oriented toward foreign markets.

The leading industries are oil production and petrochemistry, aircraft manufacturing, mechanical engineering and instrument making. The republic produces helicopters, airplanes, heavy vehicles, petrochemicals, tires, ships, compressor and refrigeration equipment, polyethylene, synthetic rubbers, medical and optical devices, detergents and medicines, as well as other products, a significant part of which are exported.

Tatarstan has developed one of the best infrastructures in Russia for establishment of joint ventures and innovations. There are two special economic zones on the territory of the republic, namely “Alabuga”, which is the largest industrial and production type zone in Russia, and “Innopolis” – the zone of the technical-innovative type, as well as about 100 industrial sites of various kinds. Dozens of overseas companies are implementing their investment projects in Tatarstan.

Tatarstan, TANECO Chemical Plant.

The republic is well known for the high level of scientific development. For over 200 years, Kazan has been one of the leading research centres in Eastern Europe. Over 16 thousand foreign students from 120 countries study here. Tatarstan is recognized as one of the sports and tourist leaders of Russia. Largescale sporting events of the second decade of the 21st century were held in Kazan: the World Summer Universiade in 2013, the FINA Championships in 2015, the FIFA World Cup Games in 2018 and the WorldSkills Competition in 2019. Number of tourists visiting Tatarstan in 2019 is estimated at around 3.5 million people.

In 2020, Tatarstan is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the modern statehood of the republic, as in May 1920 there were defined the borders of the territory and the Autonomous Tatar Socialist Soviet Republic was established as part of the Russian Soviet Federative Republic.

In the Republic of Tatarstan, there was developed a model of a multicultural, multi-confessional society, which is the most palatable for a multinational state. The most important values are high production and personnel capacity, social and political stability, interethnic and inter-confessional peace and harmony, which are the basis for further progressive development of the republic and improvement of the quality of life of its population.

Welcome to the Republic of Tatarstan!

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In the main picture Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan standing before a Mosque and Cathedral in Kazan, capital of the country.

Azerbaijan and the Netherlands: Mutually beneficial cooperation relations and their prospects

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Azerbaijan and the Netherlands: Mutually beneficial cooperation relations and their prospects

By H.E. Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The year of 2019 was an important milestone for the Republic of Azerbaijan in terms of its foreign policy. Thus, hundred years ago, on 9 July 1919, the Government of the Azerbaijan People’s (Democratic) Republic (ADR) adopted a temporary instruction on the Secretariat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to a Decree of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, this date was taken as the basis for the establishment of the Day of employees of the Diplomatic Service of Azerbaijan. 

One century separates us from a time when the ADR was taking its first steps in the international arena. It was an incredibly hectic century which encompassed the collapse of former empires which perished in the fire of World War One, Azerbaijan’s state independence (1918-1920) in the form of the first republic in the Muslim East, the loss of this independence, seven decades within the USSR, and the new historic achievement – the proclamation in 1991 of the Republic of Azerbaijan which, for almost three decades, has consistently strengthened its positions in the region and the world as a whole. 

Today, under the able leadership of the country’s highest political authorities, Azerbaijani diplomats continue to successfully uphold its national interests worldwide, enhancing political cooperation networks and launching new dimensions. The Netherlands are one of traditional partners for Azerbaijan since we’ve regained independence. Two countries enjoy full-fledged agenda of mutually beneficial cooperation. And that’s why the celebration of centenary of diplomatic service also provides a good opportunity to look back at the bilateral relations and take stock of the progress achieved so far.

Azerbaijan considers the Netherlands a close ally and a reliable partner in both bilateral and multilateral field. The relations between the Netherlands and Azerbaijan have been growing on a positive scale for the last twenty-seven years – ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations on April 1, 1992. The relations are built on mutual respect to territorial integrity and sovereignty and existing cooperation cover areas such as trade, logistics, agriculture, education, tourism and etc. 

The scale of trade and investment between the two countries attest to the importance of economic relations. For instance, foreign trade turnover between the Netherlands and Azerbaijan in 2018 was 181.83 million USD, of which 77.9 million USD was export of Azerbaijani products to the Netherlands and 103.8 USD was import of Dutch products to Azerbaijan. 

The Netherlands continues to remain as one of the top investors in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan. Dutch companies implement large-scale projects in fields such as logistics, transport, environmental protection and agriculture. Among the successfully implemented projects, we can name the planning, design, engineering and construction of Baku International Sea Trade Port, providing environmental solutions to pollution of lakes by oil spills and urbanisation in Absheron peninsula, construction of a model farm in Azerbaijan based on Dutch agricultural experience and know-how. 

Cooperation in the logistics field is of great importance at the moment. In 2019, a delegation of Baku International Sea Trade Port visited the Netherlands, where a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation was signed with a number of Dutch logistics. A first test container from Venlo to China via Baku, Azerbaijan was sent later this year, as a follow-up of this visit. It is also envisaged to open representation of Baku International Sea Trade Port in Venlo, the Netherlands to oversee the cooperation in the logistics field.

Tourism has also been increasing steadily for the last years. More and more Dutch tourists opt to enjoy the beauty and landscape of Azerbaijan during their holidays. Holding of Formula 1 Grand-Prix games has especially contributed to the increased interest of Dutch Formula 1 fans to Azerbaijan. The simplification of Azerbaijan’s visa system, which makes it possible to receive visas within just a few hours, is particularly appreciated by Dutch people, who can easily and effortlessly travel to Azerbaijan. The direct cargo flights have been operational between Maastricht and Baku since 2016 and negotiations are underway to open direct passenger flights between Baku and Amsterdam. 

In the education field, there is a growing cooperation between the two countries. ADA University in Baku has been offering dual-degree MBA programme with Maastricht University of Management in the Netherlands, where graduates receive both ADA and Maastricht University diplomas. Wageningen University and Research of the Netherlands and ADA University of Azerbaijan have created a master plan for promoting investments in agricultural sector in Azerbaijan. An agreement is underway with Fontys University in the Netherlands for training of Azerbaijani professionals in logistics field.

These are just a few examples of successful cooperation between the Netherlands and Azerbaijan. A lot has been done, yet there is a vast potential of cooperation which still remains untapped. Therefore, the focus for the upcoming years would be to continue bringing tangible and measurable results in the bilateral relations through fostering business to business cooperation, increased trade turnover and successful implementation of economic projects.

So, the development of mutually beneficial cooperation with the Netherlands as one of the founding countries of the EU fully fits into the paradigm of a balanced foreign policy of Azerbaijan. 

Today, the foreign policy achievements of our country, which is regarded as a reliable partner, are of course based on establishing good cooperative relations with neighboring countries and other countries of the world, as well as implementing equal dialogue and cooperation based on mutual interests. Our foreign policy priorities include the strengthening of sovereignty and independence of the country, elimination of consequences of military aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and restoration of its territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, as well as, the continuation of large-scale infrastructure projects implemented with the initiative and participation of Azerbaijan, further development of mutually beneficial cooperation with all international actors, including states, associations and international organizations.

And on the way to the realization of these constructive goals, we hope to continue a true partnership with our largest economic partners represented by the EU countries, including the Netherlands.

Ambassador Belal elected as next MD of CFC

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Ambassador Belal elected as next MD of CFC

Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal got elected as the next Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) on 04 December 2019. The election took place on 04 December 2019 during the Governing Council Meeting of the CFC in The Hague, where member states decided by consensus from a list of six candidates by vote.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands Sheikh Mohammed Belal will, therefore, be the next Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), an autonomous intergovernmental financial institution established within the framework of the United Nations for the next four years. 

Presently, 101 States including Bangladesh, Netherlands, UK, Russia, China, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. and 9 organizations including the European Union and African Union are the members of CFC, and it is now headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Bangladesh’s election as the Managing Director of CFC manifests appreciation by the international community of Bangladesh’s successes in socio-economic emancipation and commitment to the attainamnet of SDGs by 2030 coupled with the CFC-members’ trust and confidence on Ambassador Belal’s diplomatic brilliance and sagacity.

Ambassador Belal now, as Chief Executive Officer of this international financial institution, shall be primarily working to fund projects in different countries to bring prosperity to the poverty stricken people. 

Ambassador Belal, during his campaign, also highlighted the necessity of learning from advanced innovations and technologies of the developed and developing countries and therefore, assured to build up more partnerships between the developed and developing word.

Ambassador Belal is known for his devotion for the upliftment of forgotten people at the margin, as he always championed the necessity of abiding by the promises made in the agenda 2030 and therefore, always urged all to remain an active partner for implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under any circumstances. Terming all members of the humanity in one global boat of this planet, Ambassador Belal pledged to work harder for making the CFC much better than what he got.

Ambassador Belal in his comment after the election stated that this historic win of Bangladesh is a reflection of the international community’s respect and recognition of present day Bangladesh as a model for development. The new height that Bangladesh achieved under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was acknowledged by the international community through their vote for the candidature of Bangladesh.

The 31st Annual Meeting of the Governing Council of Common Fund for Commodities was held on 3-4 December 2019 in The Hague. Dr Md Jafar Uddin, Commerce Secretray and Governor of CFC for Bangladesh led Bangladesh delegation to the meeting.

Ambassador Belal during his presentation at the CFC MD election.

The Agreement Establishing the Common Fund for Commodities was negotiated in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) from 1976 to 1980 and became effective in 1989. The CFC is mandated to enhance the socio-economic development of commodity producers and contribute to the development of society as a whole through projects financed from its own resources. 

Ambassador Belal’s election as the next Managing Director of the CFC has instilled renewed aspiration to the members of the organization, developed and developing alike, to bring CFC to the aide of millions of people at the margin. It may be noted that Ambassador Belal has also been elected as Chairperson of the prestigious Committee of the Whole of the Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention this month and has also been working as a member of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims of the International Criminal Court.

For the next four years, Ambassador Belal will, therefore, be working as Managing Director of the CFC, based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands after completing his tenure as Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

EU Enlargement Complications

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EU Enlargement Complications

French President Emmanuel Macron. Photography: consilium.europa.eu

A renewed approach for EU enlargement proposed by the French President Emmanuel Macron opens up a new chapter in the European Union’s issue of new membership. 

By Nynke van der Heide.

Brussels – After hours of heated discussion and debate it became clear that the leaders of the European Union would fail to come to any agreement on the accession of North Macedonia and Albania. At the European Council meeting on the 18th of October that followed, France formally vetoed the start of the negotiation process of North Macedonia and together with the Netherlands and Denmark the process of Albania. The French leader was met with fierce opposition as European Commission President Jean-Claude Junker called the results of the summit a “major historical error”. 

According to Macron, the process of accession to the European Union needs substantial revision before negotiations can begin. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev of North Macedonia expressed his disappointment about the French decision in a speech agreeing with Junker on the vital mistake that was made. In his speech he called for early elections because membership of the European Union was the key goal of his administration.

The Republic of Macedonia became a candidate for EU membership in 2005. Four years later the European Commission gave its permission to start formal negotiations, but a dispute with Greece over the country’s official name delayed the process. It took twenty-seven years to resolve this dispute. After the name change both the country and the European Union were optimistic about a joint future.

But Macron’s vision is clear: changes have to be made before a new country can enter the Union. In a document that was sent to the European Council France proposed a more “gradual” process for accession in which EU enlargement eventually becomes a long-term process after the bloc has seen the necessary reforms.

The methodology of the new proposal is based on seven successive stages, each stage opening up when the previous one is concluded. The document reaffirms the support for Brussel’s vision that both countries “belong to Europe, by virtue of their history, culture and geography”, but the process has to become a “gradual association”. It is clear that there is still a future for the Western Balkans as European Union members, but it needs to be via a new step-by-step method. The process will still be convergent with EU norms and standards. But if a country backslides, the European Union should be able to reverse the process to a previous stage. 

            The countries of the European Union must find unity again in this issue of accession. During the first talks about the proposed revitalisation of the Union’s enlargement policy, held the 20th of November in Brussels, the EU countries gave mixed reactions. Some agree with the initiative, while others say Macron’s intervention is counterproductive and undermining the credibility of the European Union.

The French president has generated a much-needed debate in the European Union about its future. The following days will shed more light on the issue as the countries need to come to a solution. 

IMACO International Conference in Bacolod

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IMACO International Conference in Bacolod

IMACO (International Mask Arts & Culture Organization) held the 7th IMACO International Conference in Bacolod, Philippines from 5th to 8th November 2019. 

The City of Bacolod is where the MassKara Festival, the Philippines’ most representative and largest mask festival, takes place. The city is known as the “City of Smiles”, and it was selected as the next venue at the 6th IMACO International Conference in Vientiane, Lao PDR. 

Since its establishment in 2006, IMACO – the only UNESCO accredited NGO on mask culture – has held an international conference every two years. IMACO hosted the first international conferences in Andong City (Korea) in 2006, followed by others in Bangkok (Thailand) in 2009, in Singaraja (Indonesia) in 2011, in Thimphu (Bhutan) in 2013, in Shanghai (China) in 2015, and in Vientiane (Laos) in 2017. This November, IMACO held the 7th International Conference in Bacolod (Philippines). 

After the 6th International Conference in Vientiane (Laos), the 7th international conference was allowed to use UNESCO’s patronage and ICH emblem. The usage of the UNESCO’s patronage and the ICH emblem provides an opportunity to promote the importance of mask cultures, a universal culture of mankind, as well as Andong City as “the Mecca of the world’s mask culture”.

Under the theme of “Inside and Outside of Mask Culture; Mask, Practice, and Culture”, the conference drew 120 participants including mask related scholars, officials, and mask performers from 17 countries. 

In particular, a policy forum was held under the theme of “Sustainable Development of Mask Culture”. Furthermore, an academic symposium was conducted under the theme of “Inside and Outside of Mask Culture: Masks, Practice, and Culture”. The symposium’s aim was to deepen research in the field of mask culture from broader perspectives, including issues such as the origin, transmission, myths, rituals, communities, performers, craft, preservation of mask and its culture – thus going beyond the traditional focus of “practice” research. 

Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Philippines, special performances – including those of Hahoe Mask Dance Drama (Korea), Bukcheong Lion Dance (Korea), K-pop (Korea), Face-changing (China), and MassKara Dance (Philippines) – were shown to the public. 

Starting from the first day of the international conference, the World Mask Exhibition, which displays about 400 masks from all over the world, will be held until the end of this year – at the special request of the City of Bacolod. 

Young-sae Kweon, President of IMACO and Mayor of Andong City, said that IMACO will play its role as a UNESCO accredited NGO in informing international society of the importance of preservation and promotion of the disappearing mask culture, especially by inscribing Korean mask dances in UNESCO ICH lists. 

Evelio Leonardia, Mayor of Bacolod City, said that “We in Bacolod are proud that our MassKara festival, although only forty years old, has been accepted as a member of IMACO, whose membership is composed of nations and communities whose mask culture dates back to centuries earlier. We believe that these diversified cultural expressions of our masks created our respective identities as a nation, as a community and as a group – making our world more colorful and beautiful.”

Although Turkey, India, Jordan, Peru, and many countries have expressed their desire to host the 8th IMACO International Conference in 2021, Andong City, the president’s city, was selected as the next venue, in which IMACO’s 15th anniversary will be celebrated.

La Préservation de l’héritage des Archives du Tribunal de Nuremberg

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La Préservation de l’héritage des Archives du Tribunal de Nuremberg

Par S. Exc. M. Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade, Juge à la Cour internationale de Justice et Président de son Comité de la Bibliothèque.

         La cĂ©rĂ©monie du 10 octobre 2019 au MĂ©morial de la Shoah Ă  Paris a marquĂ© la rĂ©alisation du projet lancĂ© Ă  la Cour Internationale de Justice (CIJ) – Ă  travers son ComitĂ© de la Bibliothèque – Ă  La Haye en 2015, en vue de parachever la prĂ©servation des archives de Nuremberg dans les meilleures conditions. Le projet, approuvĂ© par la CIJ au mois de juillet 2017, a bĂ©nĂ©ficiĂ© du soutien du MĂ©morial de la Shoah (France) et du MusĂ©e de l’Holocauste (États-Unis), qui en ont Ă©tĂ© vivement remerciĂ©s lors d’une rencontre organisĂ©e au siège de la CIJ, au  Palais de la Paix, Ă  La Haye, le 1er fĂ©vrier 2018. 

         Le procès devant le Tribunal de Nuremberg s’est ouvert le 20 novembre 1945, quand l’Europe cherchait Ă  se reconstruire en se fondant sur l’état de droit, consciente de la nĂ©cessitĂ© de perpĂ©tuer la mĂ©moire de la tragĂ©die et des horreurs de la deuxième guerre mondiale. Ă€ la fin du procès (qui comporta 403 sĂ©ances, rĂ©parties sur 216 jours), le Tribunal a rendu son verdict condamnant les responsables le 1er octobre 1946, et a en outre conclu au caractère criminel du corps des chefs politiques du parti nazi, de la Gestapo, de la SS et du SD. 

         Le procès de Nuremberg Ă©tait destinĂ© Ă  engendrer une nouvelle ère, dans laquelle tant les gouvernements que leurs reprĂ©sentants seraient tenus pour responsables de leurs actes. Le procès de Nuremberg, suivi par celui de Tokyo, en est ainsi venu Ă  reprĂ©senter dans la mĂ©moire collective les origines du droit pĂ©nal international (tel que connu aujourd’hui), contribuant du mĂŞme coup Ă  l’évolution du droit international contemporain lui-mĂŞme.

         Le temps s’est Ă©coulĂ©, et c’est quelque cinq dĂ©cennies plus tard (pendant les annĂ©es 1990) que devaient naĂ®tre ses Ă©pigones: tribunaux pĂ©naux internationaux ad hoc; tribunaux «internationalisĂ©s» «hybrides» ou «mixtes»; et enfin Cour  pĂ©nale Internationale. L’un des aspects les plus importants de cette Ă©volution rĂ©side dans l’affirmation et la reconnaissance de la personnalitĂ© et de la capacitĂ© juridiques internationales de l’être humain en tant que sujet de droit international, – une expansion  s’accompagnant d’une juridiction et d’une responsabilitĂ© internationales Ă©largies, dans toutes leurs dimensions. 

         La consolidation des principes de Nuremberg, et la prĂ©servation et numĂ©risation des archives de Nuremberg (dont la garde avait Ă©tĂ© confiĂ©e en 1950 Ă  la CIJ), garantissent la prĂ©servation de la mĂ©moire elle-mĂŞme, si nĂ©cessaire au processus historique en cours d’ humanisation du droit international. La commĂ©moration de l’heureux aboutissement de notre projet constitue une contribution importante Ă  la cause de la primautĂ© de la mĂ©moire sur la cruautĂ© humaine. Les valeurs humaines fondamentales doivent prĂ©valoir et il est impĂ©ratif de continuer Ă  cultiver la mĂ©moire des millions de victimes d’atrocitĂ©s et de la cruautĂ© humaine. 

Les victimes occupent Ă  cet Ă©gard une place centrale; la reconnaissance de leur souffrance fait elle-mĂŞme partie de l’accomplissement de ce noble objectif qu’est la rĂ©alisation de la justice. Le souvenir de leur souffrance montre que la tragique vulnĂ©rabilitĂ© de la condition humaine ne doit pas mener au dĂ©sespoir, mais bien au contraire, nourrir l’espoir. En ce monde si dangereux dans lequel nous vivons – ou survivons – aujourd’hui, il est essentiel de continuer Ă  cultiver la mĂ©moire, la justice et l’espoir.

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Photographe: Mme. Ossa Henao.

Qualities of a Good Diplomat

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Qualities of a Good Diplomat


By H.E. Dr Hisham Al-Alawi, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to The Netherlands.

History of Diplomacy:  Diplomacy is a profession like medicine or law; its goal is to advance the national interests of a country through dialogue, negotiation and cooperation with the governments of other countries. It was only in the 18th Century that the organization and administration of Diplomacy within a single entity i.e. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), run by a Minister, came into force (Berridge, 2005).

The Foreign Office in UK was created in 1782 and the US State Department in 1789. Between 1840 and 1880, the world witnessed the emergence of more such ministries in China, Japan and Turkey. The role of MFA has expanded greatly over the years as a result of the multiplicity of actors and factors affecting international politics, international relations and, therefore, the formulation and conduct of Foreign Policy.

Traditional diplomacy was highly formal, institutional, slow, interpersonal, and usually protected by secrecy.   In his famous “Fourteen Points” speech of 1918, US President Woodrow Wilson advocated “open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view” (Wilson, 1918), thus heralding what came to be known as the “new diplomacy”. This was primarily associated with exposing diplomacy to the media and public opinion.

Interrelated changes in politics, international relations, and mass communication that occurred in the last few decades have greatly expanded the media’s role in world events. The revolution in communication and information technologies (IT), the capability to broadcast –often live e.g. CNN effect- almost every significant development in world events to almost every place on our globe, and the creation and expansion of the internet, have led to the globalization of electronic communication and journalism and to substantial growth in networks, stations and consumers worldwide.

The communication and IT revolution also made the politics of international relations more interactive and enhanced the role of non-state actors such as opinion leaders and NGOs (Marshall, 1999).

These revolutionary changes have altered the meaning of power in contemporary world politics. It is a nation or leader’s image, control of information flow, ability to build good bilateral and multilateral cooperation with other states, and not just their military and economic power, that help determine their status in the international community. “Soft power”, defined as the ability to achieve desired outcomes in international affairs through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion, is gradually replacing the more traditional forms of power (Bennis, 2006).

Governments have had to focus on multilateral cooperation and adopt new tools to deal with the new challenges of international terrorism, drugs trafficking, money laundering, global organised crime, illegal immigration, enforced migration, environmental degradation and cyber terrorism. 

H.E. Dr Hisham Al-Alawi, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to The Netherlands.

Qualities of a Good Diplomat:

The following are the qualities a Good Diplomat should possess, according to Sir Harold Nicolson (Nicolson, 1998): “Health, rapidity of understanding, patience, comparative sanity, great physical endurance, charm, no class prejudice up or down, immense curiosity, a neat manner with maps and papers, industry, accuracy, the power to ask inconvenient questions at the wrong moment, intimacy with the private secretaries of one’s own plenipotentiaries, the good taste to disguise that intimacy, the habit of looking upward and not downward when one does not know the answer to a question, courtesy, ability to type and fix carbon papers, acquaintance with economics, cleanliness, sobriety, cheerfulness, statistics from sources never mentioned, some proficiency in architecture and literature, capacity of enduring long dinner parties, honesty,  faculty of speaking well some foreign languages, no consummate belief in the immediate wisdom of the people or the press, a good memory, truthfulness and a complete sterilization of all human vanity”.

The main functions of diplomats are representation, negotiation, promotion of friendly relations, protection of the interests of citizens living abroad, and information gathering, analysis and distribution.

In my view, the most important and relevant topics that diplomatic training courses should cover are the qualities and functions of a good diplomat, how diplomats perform their duties, the risks they are exposed to and the means/tools they can use to protect themselves, negotiation and communication skills, the relation and interaction between diplomats and the media as well as the impact of IT on diplomacy.  

Diplomats are now required to be expert in at least two regions and fluent in two languages in order to be promoted to senior ranks. Currently, record numbers of diplomats are being trained in critical languages like Chinese, Urdu, Arabic and Farsi. Public diplomacy is now an important part of every diplomat’s job description. It is crucial to provide a common vision of hope and prosperity while engaging foreign publics and media.In the absence of clearly defined structures and predictable operational context, Diplomats rely on their Knowledge in all its variety, as their ultimate resource.

Information is increasingly available. The main question is how to process all the information that has become available in the era of information explosion and even saturation, in order to obtain value-added elements. This is the process known as Data-Mining. It entails combining Data, corroborating information related to them, drawing the analytical conclusions and thus, creating useful knowledge. Knowledge is the combination of information, training, experience and intuition. In Diplomacy, Knowledge takes different forms: the general knowledge gathered in education and upbringing, knowledge of Special Subjects gathered through specific Diplomatic training, knowledge gained through experience (knowledge of religions, cultures, procedures…etc.).

It is this knowledge that enables Diplomats to act appropriately in unpredictable situations Diplomacy these days has many new partners, but no single substitute. Political leaders and policy makers may get news of a crisis first from CNN rather than the relevant embassy cables, but diplomats are still necessary to provide the detailed political reporting from foreign lands.  
Adequate training of diplomats is very important:
To meet the challenges of “new” diplomacy, diplomats must be diverse, well-rounded, active, and able to carry out multiple tasks. Diplomacy in the 21st Century requires that the right people have the right skills in the right place at the right time. Continued training and career development programs will better prepare diplomats and advance their expertise.

Conclusions:
Diplomats are definitely still needed, but what we need are good diplomats. Diplomats are necessary to preserve world peace, and maintain and promote friendly relations between states. Apart from what is required of diplomats in the past, diplomats of the 21st century must follow the latest developments of IT technology and make full use of them. They will not only be analyzing policy and shaping outcomes, but also running programmes.

They might be also asked to help foreign citizens to promote democracy and nation building, fight corruption, start businesses, improve healthcare, and reform education. To reach beyond the borders of the traditional diplomatic structures and beyond foreign capitals, diplomats will have to move out from behind their desks into the field, from reporting on outcomes to shaping them. In addition, 21st century technology will be used more widely to engage foreign publics more directly via the media and Internet, and to better connect diplomats in real time. 

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Bibliography:

1. Bennis, A.I. (2006) The Powerful Tools of Foreign Policy, Diplomacy: Practice, Procedure and   Dynamics, Module Workbook: Lectures Volume II, Diplomatic Academy of London, University of Westminster.

2. Berridge G.R. (2005) Diplomacy: Theory and Practice 3rd ed. Palgrave MacMillan, New York.

3. Marshall P. (1999) Positive Diplomacy. Palgrave MacMillan, New York.

4. Nicolson, H. (1998) Diplomacy. Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Washington DC.5. Wilson, Woodrow. Fourteen Points Speech of 1918. Accessed on: http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=62. Retrieved on 02/11/2012.

Rondine: forming young Leaders for Peace

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Rondine: forming young Leaders for Peace

By Guido Lanfranchi.

Have you ever thought of selecting a few people belonging to different factions of a violent conflict and encouraging them to live in the same house, thousands of kilometers away from home, for a couple of years? For how far-fetched and revolutionary such idea may seems, someone had it – and not now, but even back in the 1990s. This someone is Franco Vaccari, Italian psychologist and founder of “Rondine – Citadel for Peace”. 

Rondine is an Italian-based international organization that works to reduce armed conflicts in the world through methods of creative transformation of conflict.

The organization’s basic approach is to provide a forum for youth from countries afflicted by conflict to study and live together in Rondine, a medieval hamlet near Arezzo, Tuscany.

By leaving in the so-called “World House”, these young students get not only a chance to pursue their studies and develop individual projects for their country, but also – and most importantly – to live with those who would supposedly be “their enemies”.

By doing so – the Rondine method goes – they can learn “to face their own conflict, and turn it into a creative opportunity”, with the final aim of returning to their home countries – hopefully contributing to conflict resolution and peaceful coexistence.

Rondine’s roots trace back to the late 1980s, when Mr. Vaccari – drawing inspirations from pacifist figures such as Giorgio La Pira and Don Lorenzo Milani – attempted to open a communication channel across the Cold War’s Iron Curtain. Over the years, the contacts with Moscow developed in something more serious, leading to a delegation by Rondine in 1995 to find a truce in the Chechen War. The mission was only partly successful, as the negotiated cease-fire did not hold. Yet, the contacts with actors on the ground continued, and in the wake of the war, Rondine hosted a mixed group of Russian and Chechnyan students. In 1998, the World House was born.

Rondine’s first attempt was not particularly successful. After some time, the Russian and Chechnyan students had an intense argument (ironically – I was told – over the laundry…), and subsequently decided quit the project. Yet, the founders persisted – and their perseverance eventually bore fruits. Currently, about twenty years after the first experiment, Rondine hosts 30 students from 25 different countries across Europe, Africa, America, and the Near East. 

During the Paris Peace Forum, I had the pleasure to talk to two of these young students, Madeleine (26) and Arvedo (24) from Mali. They told me about the challenges faced by their country – once an example of peaceful coexistence among peoples, and currently a theater of harsh violence among Malians. They explained that at the root of their choices to join Rondine’s initiative there is a shared desire to make Mali a better place – something that they are pursuing not only through their focus on peaceful conflict resolution, but also through individual projects concerning agriculture and gender issues.  The students also recounted the several challenges they face, not only during the cohabitation in Rondine, but also at the time of returning to their own country to explain their experience. Yet, nothing seems to be unsolvable for them. As Arvedo put it, “the key is not to eliminate problems, but to learn how to manage them”.

Building on the achievements of its first twenty years of experience, in October 2018 Rondine decided to take a step further. It did so by launching a global campaign – “Leaders for Peace” – in which the organization asks states all over the world to remove a symbolic figure from their defense budgets, in order to invest it in scholarships for future peace leaders, as well as in the introduction of human rights education in the national education systems.

The campaign – which was launched on the 70thanniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – soon received endorsements from no less than Italy’s President of the Republic and Pope Francis, and in early 2019 it gained its first signature from a state – Italy. After last year’s presentation at the United Nations headquarters, in December 2019 Rondine will be again in New York. In an event organized by Italy’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Rondine students and alumni will share their experiences, also joined by representatives of their supporter countries. 

As mankind experiences an intolerably high number of conflicts all across the world, it is more important than ever to provide support to those actors who relentlessly work for peace. As John Lennon used to sing a few decades ago, let’s “give peace a chance”. 

Image by Günther Simmermacher from Pixabay.


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.

Norway is a steadfast defender of human rights and gender equality

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Norway is a steadfast defender of human rights and gender equality

By Martin Sørby, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

International cooperation is crucial to Norway’s security, economy and prosperity. Human rights and gender equality lie at the core of Norwegian society – and the Norwegian Government’s foreign policy. 

Our values require us ensure that all people are able to live in freedom and security, regardless of where they are and to stand up against hateful and discriminatory behaviour. Putting human rights and gender equality at the forefront of our efforts is key to reaching these goals.

The world is facing a number of challenges that are too great and complex for any one country to tackle alone. These must be addressed through joint efforts. Effective international cooperation is needed to address challenges such as climate change, marine litter and new security threats. 

Until recently, it has been easier to take international cooperation for granted, but now we see that states are less inclined to turn to multilateral organisations to solve common challenges through compromise and cooperation. The world has become less predictable, and there is a need to work in a slightly different way in order to safeguard Norwegian, as well as global, interests. 

Multilateral organisations are our first line of defence. We must prioritise strengthening the institutions that matter the most to our security, economy and welfare – such as the UN, the WTO and NATO. We must defend what we have. This involves strengthening the institutions that are already established, rather than developing new, competing organisations.

As a long-standing partner of the United Nations with a record of consistency in supporting human rights and peaceful negotiations, we are ready to again take our turn in the United Nations Security Council in 2021-2022.

The fundamental principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – to leave no one behind – strikes at the very core of the fundamental principles of human rights; namely, non-discrimination, equal rights and dignity. By respecting human rights, states will also take a major step towards implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.

Countries that deny women their rights, deny their societies prosperity. We know that investment in girls and women has a positive effect on productivity, sustainable economic growth and efforts to eradicate poverty. Females make up half of society. If a girl is illiterate, it means a society is incomplete and missing out on opportunities.

The participation of women helps to ensure that the results of decision-making processes are more legitimate and that the needs and priorities of a greater share of the population are being taken into account. Increasing the participation of women is thus not only important in itself; it also increases the chances of securing lasting prosperity and development.

The SheDecides movement believes in the fundamental right of every girl and every woman – everywhere – to make decisions about her body, her life and her future. The Norwegian Government is committed to a world where SheDecides. SheDecides conveys a positive message of empowerment, agency and a comprehensive,integrated approach to health and sexuality. Violence and discrimination against girls and women is not cultural; it is criminal.

This year, 2020, marks 20 years since the establishment of the United Nations Women, Peace and Security mandate. Notwithstanding two decades of concerted efforts by UN organisations and partners to address sexual violence in conflicts, this mandate continues to be deployed as part of a broader strategy towards conflicts that severely affect women, men, girls and boys – and society as a whole. 

I have promoted the agenda for Women, Peace and Security consistently with partners here in The Hague, including the Head Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and the organisation Gender for Justice. The latter presented in December last year  The Hague Principles on Sexual Violence – Translating the lived experience of sexual violence survivors into law and policy. This month, we will also organise an event addressing this topic, focusing on the UN’s peacekeeping operations and work to prevent and combat sexual violence in conflicts.

As the Norwegian Ambassador to the Netherlands and as a Gender Champion, I am strongly devoted and committed to my Government’s efforts to promote multilateral institutions by putting human rights and gender equality at the forefrontof our efforts.  

Ambassador Shulgin’s conclusions after the 24th Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention

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Ambassador Shulgin’s conclusions after the 24th Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention

Mr. Viktor Kholstov, Director of the Centre for Analytical Research on Chemical and Biological Weapon Conventions under the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, H.E. Mr. Alexander Shulgin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and Mayor General I.A. Kirillov, Chief of the Radiological, Chemical and Biological defense (RCBD) Troops at the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

After the end of the 24thConference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, H.E. Mr. Alexander Shulgin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, hosted a press conference at the Russian embassy in order to draw some conclusions. Speaking to the press, he noted thatthis conference will be remembered for the adoption of two draft decisions by consensus. The draft decisions, presented by the Western troika – United States, Canada, and the Netherlands – and Russia, concern the update of the appendix to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

“For the first time in the entire period of the existence of the Chemical Weapons Convention (open for signing in 1993), the register of poisonous substances controlled by the Convention has been updated with new two groups of chemicals, including one group of several hundreds of substances developed and patented in the United States as chemical weapons in 70’s and 80’s, as well as one group that was developed and studied in NATO laboratories” – Ambassador Shulgin explained. The Russian Ambassador was accompanied by two experts: Mayor General I.A. Kirillov, Chief of the Radiological, Chemical and Biological defense (RCBD) Troops from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, and Mr. Viktor Kholstov, Director of the Centre for Analytical Research on Chemical and Biological Weapon Conventions under the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.

After a long period of fierce confrontation at the OPCW, the registration of these new substances showed that Russia and the United States still have the ability to come to the negotiating table and reach an agreement. The denouement of the issues associated with the lists can certainly be seen as a positive development.

While the registration of the new substances took place by consensus, the adoption of the OPCW program and budget for 2020 created problems during the 24th Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

H.E. Mr. Alexander Shulgin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Russia, who fully paid its contribution to the budget for 2019, confirmed its disagreement with the so-called “Omnibus Draft Budget” program prepared by the OPCW Technical Secretariat. As Ambassador Shulgin explained, Russia considers this program illegitimate due to the fact that “it uses cash to balance previous years’ operations without the consent of all participants, which is a gross violation of the financial rules of our organization.Needless to say – the Ambassador continued – it is regrettable when a decision is imposed on the participating countries to the CWC, especially if such decision involves drawing money from them to finance other initiatives undertaken in the narrowly selfish interests of certain groups of states.”

“Our aspiration is simple and clear” – Ambassador Shulgin highlighted: “we wish the funds to be allocated to activities permitted under the convention.”
Russia, supported by China, asked to hold additional consultations on the 2020 budget. However, the United States’ delegation declared the need to vote without delay, breaking down a possible consensus. The outcome of the vote was the following: 106 votes in favor, 19 against, 17 abstentions, while many delegates left the room. 

Mr. Viktor Kholstov and Ambassador Shulgin.

The Russian delegation commented its position with these words: “We invariably emphasized our willingness to ensure the smooth functioning of the organization, provided that the money goes to activities permitted by the convention, and that our organization’s financial right is not violated.”

The debate on the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian city of Douma on April 4, 2018 has become an unsolved recurrent issue opposing the parts in the OPCW agora. “We, Russian Federation, fulfill our commitment and obligations to the OPCW regarding the destruction of chemical weapons” Mr. Shulgin said.

More than a year after the incident, the shadow of an alleged fraud committed in the preparation of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Douma is still present both in the medias and in the Conference, where Russia raised the issue. The leadership of the OPCW is set to attempt to find a solution to this issue – which continue to divide Russia and the US. Russia supports the initiation of an international briefing on the Douma report, with the participation of all members of the IUFS, both former and current. “However, our American colleagues” – Ambassador Shulgin noted – “pointed at financial and technical reasons to oppose the initiative”.

“We will uphold this reasonable requirement,” Mr. Shulgin continued. “It would be extremely short-sighted to pretend that nothing has happened, and that the IUFS report on Duma was impeccable. In doing so, we will only perpetuate the issue.

The origin of this crucial issue traces back to the assessment of the use of chemical weapons in Douma. The assessment was conducted by three external independent experts – mandated by France, United State and UK – and not by the OPCW technical secretariat. At the same time, Russia’s request of publishing and verifying the results of the report in an international briefing was refused. Russia is still asking to allow experts to review the report. “We are asking for ballistics studies, and they respond that they cannot disclose the identity of the three experts because they need to protect them. It is becoming a vicious cycle. The technical secretariat systematically refuses our requests” – Ambassador Shulgin complained.

The issues brought up by Russia concern: the mismatch between the sizes of the dropped cylinder and that of the hole in the roof; the lack of damage to the bed where the cylinder was found; the non -identification of the bodies; etc. These issues came back with force into Ambassador Shulgin’s speech.

“In fact, what kind of confidence can there be in future investigative processes if the case of Douma’s report is not set?” – he asked. “We believe that the OPCW, as we are told, is our common home, where we solve common issues or problems together. So, of course, you need to do this now. The price of the mistakes of the IUFS experts in conducting the relevant investigations is too high, since they directly affect international security. I would hope that the leadership of the OPCW will heed the concerns of a number of delegations and will draw the right conclusions.”

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