On Sunday September 22nd, The International Open Day was held in The Hague, during which many of the international organizations and institutions located in this city opened their doors and offered guided tours as well as presentations to the public. This festival followed and partnered with the Just Peace Festival that was held during the UN International Day of Peace, celebrated on September 21 worldwide, as well as in The Hague – globally known as the international city of Peace and Justice.

This one-day event was a great opportunity to discover how various EU, UN, or intergovernmental organizations, as well as numerous NGOs operate. The Hague is home to institutions such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), Eurojust, OPCW, or the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Peace Palace, the work of which is immensely important to make the world safer and better place.

In the International Criminal Court, the visitors of the Open Day had the chance to see an interactive exhibition about the victims of the types of crimes that the court deals with, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression, or genocide.

What is more, the public was also guided through the process of investigating these crimes by following the artefacts exhibited in the halls of the ICC. Moreover, every hour the visitors were allowed to enter the main courtroom and listen to a presentation by the employees about their work for the court. 

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) also prepared a rich programme for the visitors of the open day by presenting interactive Q&A sessions with OPCW experts during which they provided an overview of the way this organisation works to eliminate the world’s arsenal or chemical weapons.

Another highlight of the open day visit to this institution were the demonstrations of a live-action of inspectors who showed the special equipment that is being used in OPCW missions. 

The visit to Eurojust enabled the public to “Meet the Prosecutor”– presentations during which the real prosecutors of this institution were describing their work as well as the operational structure of the European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit. The president of Eurojust himself, Mrt. . Hanran gave a important welcome speech about The workers of Eurojust also guided the visitors through the interiors and rooms of the building, where they could discover the environment in which cross-border crime investigations are led.

Overall, the International Open Day was a great success among the public, and by offering a plentiful programme, the participating organisations left a forceful impression on the visitors, while also underlining their contribution to the world peace, and not least, the international nature of The Hague.

Court plays critical role in a rules-based international system

From the 24^th to the 27^th of September 2019, the President of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”), Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, and ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, attended the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (“UNGA”) at the United Nations (“UN”) Headquarters in New York, to advance their respective mandates under the Court’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute.

Drawing Heads of State and Government, ministers, senior officials and civil society leaders, the annual high-level segment of the UNGA provides a key strategic platform in the margins of the Assembly for the Court’s principals to highlight the work of the ICC within their respective roles, to build support, and to draw on synergies with relevant stakeholders and actors to further the goals of the Rome Statute.

During his stay in New York, President Eboe-Osuji had bilateral meetings with the President of Senegal H.E. Macky Sall, the President of the UNGA H.E. Tijjani Muhammah-Bande, and theForeign Affairs Ministers of South Africa H.E. Naledi Pandor, Trinidad and Tobago H.E. Dennis Moses, Vanuatu H.E. Ralph Regenvanu and Nigeria H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama, as well as informal discussions with a number of Heads of State and Government and other dignitaries, including from several States that are not party to the Rome Statute. In his meetings, President Eboe-Osuji focused in particular on efforts to promote the universal ratification of the Rome Statute in all regions as well as the strengthening of relations between the Court and African States.

“At a time when the multilateral system is facing many challenges, it is crucial to stress the ICC’s irreplaceable value to humanity. Not only does the Court’s mandate help to deliver justice to victims around the world and deter the gravest atrocity crimes; it is also essential to the achievement of peace, security and sustainable development.

As such, the Court’s work resonates strongly with the dominant themes highlighted by world leaders during the General Debate of UNGA”, said President Eboe-Osuji. “I was encouraged by the unstinting declarations of support for the Court expressed during my meetings, in which many interlocutors reaffirmed their conviction that the ICC plays a critical role in a rules-based international system. I am optimistic about the prospects of increasing the engagement of states from different regions in the ICC’s work, while at the same time the Court itself is investing unprecedented efforts in enhancing its efficiencies to better fulfil its mandate.”

In the margins of the UNGA, Prosecutor Bensouda held productive bilateral meetings with, among others, H.E. Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of Central African Republic;  H.E. Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, President of Mali; H.E. Macky Sall, President of Senegal; H.E. Iván Duque Márquez, President of Colombia; H.E. Sheikh Hasina Wazed, Prime Minister of Bangladesh; H.E. Isatou Touray and H.E. Mamadou Tangara, respectively Vice-President and Foreign Minister of the Gambia; H.E. Riyad Al- Maliki, Foreign Minister of Palestine; Pramila Patten, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict; Jim Goldston, Executive Director of the Open Society Justice Initiative, and Richard Dicker, Director of the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch. 

“As we make progress on this necessary journey towards greater accountability for atrocity crimes, and encounter new challenges, what is required today, more than ever, is greater support for our independent and impartial work and the international rule of law more generally; not less. Now is not the time to back down,” said Prosecutor Bensouda. “We need to jointly strengthen the international criminal justice system, with the ICC as its central pillar, through greater dialogue, engagement and cooperation”, she added.

On the 26^th of September, President Eboe-Osuji and Prosecutor Bensouda addressed the Informal Ministerial Network (“IMN”) for the International Criminal Court, a network of over 30 Ministers of Foreign Affairs representing ICC States Parties from all regional groups.

The event, hosted by the Swiss State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Pascale Baeriswyl, as well as the Permanent Missions of Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the United Nations, provided a venue for the President and the Prosecutor to update the IMN on the work of the Court, and exchange on the recent challenges and ways to strengthen the Rome Statute system. 

The President and the Prosecutor expressed their appreciation to the States represented for their strong statements of support for the ICC and the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice.

Monday, 23 September 2019, State Assembly of Hesse, Wiesbaden, Germany: The Speaker of the Hessian Diet, Boris Rhein, convened various high-level guests from Hesse and Ethiopia at the Music Hall of the state’s legislature for the bestowal of this year’s Hessian Peace Prize upon the 15th Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Dr Abiy Ahmed. 

Hesse’s Premier Volker Bouffier praised Abiy Ahmed in his encomium: “I am very pleased that the Hessian Peace Prize of the Albert Osswald Foundation, which will be awarded this year for the 25th time, goes to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed. We wish him and the citizens of Ethiopia and Eritrea a lot of strength, patience and success on the road to peace”.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister could not partake himself during the award ceremony, and was represented by the Minister for Peace of his cabinet, Muferihat Kamil, who thanked him on his behalf. “The Hessian Peace Prize is both an honour and an incentive to continue our reforms,” said the Minister on behalf of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The Hessian Peace Prize Foundation is headed by a board of trustees that include Chairman Karl Starzacher, Boris Rhein (Speaker of the Hessian Diet) and Nicole Deitelhoff (Hessian Foundation for Peace and Conflict Research).

For further information 
Hessian Diet: https://hessischer-landtag.de/content/hessischer-friedenspreis-2019-verleihung

Hessian Government: https://staatskanzlei.hessen.de/presse/bildergalerie/verleihung-des-hessischen-friedenspreises-2019-0

Prime Minister of Ethiopia: https://pmo.gov.et
https://diplomatmagazine.eu/2019/08/30/hessian-peace-prize-for-dr-abiy-ahmed/
Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Germany (HE Ambassador Mulu Solomon BEZUNEH): http://aethiopien-botschaft.de/?p=3977

Image by Hessian State Assembly Landtag Chancellery Hermann Heibel.

In the picture H.E. Mr. Bruce Koloane, Ambassador of South Africa.

By Roy Lie Atjam.

H.E. Mr. Vusi Bruce Koloane, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, the “Rainbow Nation”, has completed his stint in the Netherlands.

Diplomat Magazine and sponsor Diplomatic Card hoisted a Ceremony of Merit for Ambassador Koloane on 26 September 2019. A good number of Ambassadors drop by to take leave of Bruce with whom they have collaborated so well over the years.

Ambassador Koloane received a Certificate of Merit,   for his contributions to the bilateral relationship between South Africa and the Netherlands. The certificate also serves as a recognition for what he has done for the Diplomatic community, the multilateral institutions and the Africa group of Ambassadors.

The Ambassador of Rwanda H.E. Mr. Jean-Pierre Karabaranga and the Ambassador of Morocco H.E. Mr. Abdelouhab Bellouki, loud Bruce in their address for being such a genuine friend and colleague.

Ambassador Bellouki said about him: “Bruce will definitely leave behind delightful memories. You have good words to say about everyone and the right words about everything. A distinguished and elegant representative of the Republic of South Africa. Known for your dedication to your job and engagement for positive endeavors.

Your sterling qualities force respect and consideration.  Since your accreditation in October 2014, you demonstrated tremendous hard work, full dynamism, high competence, strong abilities and high skills and talents. You set the bar too high for your successor. Respectful for others’ views and positions, dialoguing in serenity. Anyone who interacted with Bruce cannot but be so generous in compliments.

At the OPCW, he discharged his duties with commitment, responsibility and passion. Present on all fronts and involved in all consultations and meetings. A creative problem-solver. Aware of everything. Following topics, especially of interest for African countries. You were a brilliant coordinator of our Group.

You represented African Group with distinction, as a cochair or facilitators or conveying to our interlocutors the Group’s concerns on diverse topics. You also did well regarding your duties towards other organizations in the Hague, especially the ICC. You faced many challenges with determination and success.

By your hardworking, you put the African interests focused on. Dynamic, motivated, competent, respected and respectful.”

Salute to  Balozi Bruce Koloane, (Balozi is Ambassador in Swahili) for his vision, professionalism, charisma, sense of humour and his ability to mediate in tight situations.

All wished Ambassador Bruce Koloane and his family well in the next phase of their life.

Indeed, a colossal has departed from The Hague.

H.E. Mr. Dilyior Khakimov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan during his speech at Crowned Plaza, September 12, 2019.

By Roy Lie Atjam.

The Hague 12^thSeptember 2019 – The Embassy of Uzbekistan in cooperation with Diplomatic magazine hosted  a reception to celebrate the 28th Anniversary of state Independence of Uzbekistan.

H.E. Mr Dilyor Khakimov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan, addressed the crowd consisting of Ambassadors, diplomats and members of the Dutch society.

Ambassador Dilyor Khakimov thanked the audience for their attendance. He subsequently invited them to visit the fair showcasing items from Uzbekistan and to sample the world- famous  Uzbekistan Plov and snacks, prepared by Chef Nigmat Rakhimov.

Craftsman  Abdulbosit  Isakjanov, presented his works made of silk and other material. So did madam Feruza  Kurbanova with Uzbek fashion and accessories.

All in all, a good exposure to Uzbekistan.

In the picture GroupEra2: Knights of Rizal.

By Anton Lutter.

The Republic of The Philippines has one order of knighthood, founded in 1911 to commemorate the martyrdom of Philippine national hero, Dr. José Rizal.The order is internationally organized and has about 200 chapters all over the world including Europe. 

Once in every two years an assembly of knights from Europe is held, this time in London 30 august – 1 September. 

Delegates who attended the 17th European Regional Assembly came amongst others from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy The Netherlands and of course the United Kingdom. 

The assembly was honored by the attendance of the international leadership from Manila, including the supreme commander of the order Sir Elihu Ybanez, KGCR a judge and candidate for the Phlippines supreme court, Sir Frisco San Juan, KGOR Undersecretary in the current government of The Philippines and former vice-governor of Rizal Province, Sir Francis Sison, KGOR from the USA and former supreme commander Sir Virgilio Esguerra, KGCR.

The first day included a visit to The Philippines embassy not far from the famous Trafalgar Square, where knights and ladies were received at the Sentro Rizal by the deputy chief of mission and consul-general Senen Mangalile, who gave us a nice reception.

The actual conference – at Baden Powell House in Kensington – was organized under the leadership of the regional commander of the UK Sir Alfonso Taguiang, KGOR and Lady Aurea Taguiangand their team, with their hospitality and kindness they made everyone feel welcome. The first message was delivered by Sir Albert Arevalo, KGOR the regional commander for Europe, followed by highly interesting keynote speeches by Ybanez, San Juan and Esguerra, about the different aspects of Rizal and his relevance for the world we now live in.

After the usual ceremonies which are typical to an order of knighthood it was of great joy that the overall adviser for Europe and master of ceremony at the conference Sir Felino Paras, KGCR – from Brussels – had been awarded the Pro Patria Award for his decades of service to order and Filippino community.

The Pro Patria Award is not only the highest award within the Order of Knights of Rizal, it has never been awarded -save 2 others – to non-supreme council members.  The commander of The Hague chapter from The Netherlands was given the honor to present the recent new Dutch translation of Jose Rizal’s first book the Noli Me Tangere written in 1887, to the supreme commander.

The Dutch Noli will be part of the extensive collection at international headquarters in Manila. The day ended with a magnificent gala dinner and ball at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, which included a Philippines cultural program. The next day started by mass celebrated by Fr. Jorgedy Bago, catholic priest of Filipino community in Antwerp which was followed up by a fraternal message from the supreme commander Sir Elihu Ybanez, KGCR which concluded the 3 day assembly in London.