By Anton Lutter.

Already 74 years ago Indonesia’s independence was declared on Friday the 17^thaugust – two days after Japan capitulated and thus the second world war ended – at 10.00 in Jakarta by Sukarno, Indonesia’s first president. The declaration started a troublesome relation between The Netherlands, the colonial overlord of Indonesia, then called the Dutch East Indies, and the Indonesian independence movement.  Now more then 74 years later The Netherlands and Indonesia enjoy a friendship that is as strong as ever.

His Excellency I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, in his last Independence Day speech as ambassador of Indonesia to The Kingdom of The Netherlands welcomed the many guest – among them many veterans – at the Indonesian school in Wassenaar to commemorate the 74^thAnniversary of his country’s independence.

2019 has been a special year for Indonesia – including all Indonesian citizens in The Netherlands, as last April a general election was held in which President Joko Widodo was reelected. Mr. Widodo’s priorities for the coming 4 years will the continuity of infrastructure development, development of human resources, the ease of doing business, bureaucratic reform and the right spending of state budget.

Among the many highlights between The Netherlands’ and Indonesia’s relationship Ambassador Puja noted that in the field of investment, the Netherlands, for several years in a row, is still the largest source of foreign direct investment from Europe to Indonesia. As recorded in the second quarter of 2019, the realization of FDI from The Netherlands has reached USD 738.5 million in 1183 projects. An increase of 62.5% compared to the same period in 2018.

Many of these investments are in the field of strategic areas including the development of key infrastructures in the maritime, water management transportation and logistics. Considering trade – until June 2019 – Indonesia’s surplus amounted USD 1.3 billion, with still great opportunities to increase export to The Netherlands. Also, in tourism there’s an increase of visitors to Indonesia, resulting in 2018 in more than 209.000 Dutch visitors.

The Indonesian Embassy in The Netherlands also encourages the intensification of people-to-people contact through the promotion of creative economy, including through movies. A number of Indonesian movies were shown at various festivals in The Netherlands. In addition, this year the 6^thmeeting of Interfaith Dialogue was held between Indonesia and The Netherlands in June 2019 in Nijmegen, under the theme of Islam Wataniyah (seeking the middle path: articulations of moderate Islam) in cooperation with the Dutch branch of Pengurus Cabang Istimewa Nahdlatul Ulama (PCINU).

An important field of Dutch-Indonesian cooperation is education. Ambassador Puja mentioned the fact that The Netherlands is one of the most favourite destinations for Indonesian students in pursuing higher education at various universities. The numbers continue to increase by around 3-5 percent each year, with around 2000 students. Cooperation between the two countries in the field of health has also been running more intensively, especially after signing of the MoU of the Health Cooperation in November last year in Bali. 

Indonesia is also a forerunner considering peace and stability in ASEAN, supporting cooperation that includes maritime, connectivity, SDG 2030 and economic cooperation. This cooperation will create new opportunities for all countries to achieve economic growth and become the new center and engine for global economy. This positive contribution and the involvement of aal countries will ease the achievement of peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Lastly H.E. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja mentioned that this year will be his last year as the ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of The Netherlands. Pak Puja: I would like to thank all counterparts, the community and the Indonesian Diaspora, all Friends of Indonesia in The Netherlands and ofcourse all staff of the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague for the continuous support and cooperation as well as sincere friendship which certainly encourage me in carrying out the duties that had been entrusted by the President of Indonesia 4 years ago. I hope that the same friendship and support will also be given to my successor later. “Sekali layer terkembang, mundur kita berpantang” (Once the sail is expanded, we shall not back down)!

By Anton Lutter.

On sunny 27^thJune Museum Sophiahof in The Hague was officially inaugurated by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander. Many guests from the Dutch-Indies community were invited next to guests such as Indonesian Ambassador I Gusti Wesaka Agung Puja, the State Secretary of the Ministry of VWS Mr. Paul Blok, the Kings commissioner in Zuid-Holland Mr. Jaap Smit, the mayor of The Hague Mrs. Pauline Krikke and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Bot.

The Museum Sophiahof is housed in a monumental building on the Sophialaan 10. It’s a national monument and was built by the former Minister of Colonies Guillaume Louis Baud in 1858. Through its new destination is has regained its connection with the Dutch Indies past.

At the end of 2015, then State Secretary Martin van Rijn of VWS introduced the Backpay Benefit Scheme, after negotiations with the Indisch Platform. Part of the negotiations result was the implementation of the so-called Collective Recognition, whereby the government wanted to safeguard the significance and importance of shared history for the future.

To achieve this goal five leading organizations from the Dutch-Indies community: Indisch Platform, Indisch Herinneringscentrum (Indies Remembrance Center), Nationale Herdenking 15 augustus 1945 (National Remembrance 15 August 1945), Pelita and Moluks Historisch Museum (Moluccan Historical Museum), initiated the Museum Sophiahof a place where one can meet, provide education, a museum as well as offering opportunities for cultural activities.

In his speech before the King, Mr. Silfraire Delhaye, president of the Indisch Platform, the leading Dutch Indies organization in The Netherlands, noted that: after a long period of efforts today we may open the doors to the public of the Museum Sophiahof, with this there’s now a nice place where the public has access to the shared past of the Netherlands and Indonesia.

There’s joy and pride from the reactions of those present here. But that joy was preceded by a long period of grief. The Dutch from the former Dutch East Indies have unresolved grievances after the Japanese occupation and upon arrival in the Netherlands. Namely, exclusion from payment of overdue wages to Dutch soldiers and civil servants in the service of the Dutch East Indies and the disqualification of war damage on the basis of the “territoriality” principle of Dutch citizens from the Dutch East Indies.

At the heart of that grief is a government that has always been very formalistic and legalistic since the end of the war. They acted within the rules, but the outcome did not take away the deep-rooted feeling of being treated unjustly.

So much for the Indies sorrow and now back to the joy. That was on the 3d November 2015 when Mr. van Rijn wrote in a letter to the Dutch Parliament that an agreement had been reached: “By making arrangements on “moral grounds” for the issue of overdue salary and for the interpretation of the collective aspect a “Collective Recognition”. 

Secretary of State Mr.Paul Blokhuis: It feels like today a long-held wish is being fulfilled by many people with roots in the former Dutch East Indies. Own place. To be able to remember, to meet, to learn, to investigate. Here, in the Sophiahof. The people who lived in the former Dutch Indies, are still in our midst. Unfortunately, with less and less. And that’s why their stories are so important.

The past colors differently for everyone. But there was and is shared sadness. Sadness for the loss of what you knew. To the departure, that was often forced. The traumas of the Japanese occupation, the camps, forced labor, the Bersiap, the decolonization war. Arriving destitute in a country that many never had before known, be treated as a third-party citizen. You all come from the same house. And how different you are recognizing each other in what you share. The course of history that cannot be reversed. But the own identity it is deeper than anything else. We have come a long way to get to where we are today. Together, based on that past in which so many people have their own story, we have built a new home!

After the speeches, the King together with representatives of the founding organizations performed the opening ceremony which was the composition of a melatiflower, which symbolizes the Dutch Indies community, followed by a variety of cultural performances.

Afterwards His Majesty took the time to converse with both war victims as well as young people and visited the exhibition “Fighting for Freedom” the many faces of resistance during WWII in the Dutch Indies. The sunny and joyful opening of Museum Sophiahof was ended by a traditional Indonesian dinner, which was hugely enjoyed by the attendants.

——————-

Photography by Mr. Armando Ello.

Indonesian Flavours

Best opportunity to taste the authentic Indonesian food; incredible three nights at Crowne Plaza.

On August 29, 30 & 31 you will taste the flavors of Indonesia. Chef Theodora Hurustiati born in Jakarta, will prepare traditional Indonesian dishes with Chef Sido de Brabander.

Opening on August 29 by the Ambassador of Indonesia, H.E. Mr. I Gusti Wesaka Puja.

Chef Hurustiati recently participated as a guest chef during the Ubud Food Festival 2019 in Bali and has a passion for sharing stories and recipes from around the world, like she did in her column for The Jakarta Post.

During the Food Festival, traditional dishes will be prepared in combination pairing Banking Organic Tea featured by InterAromat.

Reservations: Crowne Plaza Promenade, The Hague. +31 (0)70- 352- 5161 / info@crowneplazadenhaag.nl

INDONESIAN FLAVOURS / Only €39.50 per person.

The Eastern Partnership organized a panel discussion at the Europe house of The Netherlands last April, in honour of the partnership’s 10th anniversary. The discussion was under the theme “connectivity and resilience” and revolved around “how to evaluate the past 10 years of EaP? what are the strengths of EaP and which areas need improvement? What to expect from the next years?”

By Aurore Heugas.

The 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership took place in the form of a panel discussion. The partnership between Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine aims to strengthen their inter-relationships but also to bring them closer to the European Union and its member states. Which is why the discussion took place at the Europe house, because according to the Ambassador of Romania to The Netherlands H.E. Ms Brandusa Predescu,“the EaP is about Europe”. 

The event took place over an afternoon, with two different panels, each discussing half of the theme. The members of the panel on connectivity were:

• Ms Johanneke de Hoogh, Head of the Eastern Europe Division and Special Representative for Eastern Partnership at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands. 
• Salome Shapakidze, Director of the European Integration Department of the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Mr Vladimir Cuc, Head of Unit for Political Cooperation with the EU, European Integration Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova. 

For the Resilience part of the afternoon, the panellists were:

• Mr Jan Hofmokl,Director of the Eastern Department and Special Representative for Eastern Partnership of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ms Anna Westerholm, Ambassador for the Eastern Partnership to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden
• H.E. Mr Vsevolod Chentsov,Ambassador of Ukraine to The Netherlands
• Ms Marta Wytrykowska, policy officer, Eastern Partnership, Regional Cooperation and OSCE Division, European External Action Service. 

With the theme “Connectivity and Resilience”, part of the discussion was centred around coming up with a definition for the two terms. Overall, it was agreed upon that connectivity means different things to different people. Some consider that good infrastructures are a sign of connectivity, while others would argue that nowadays digital networks are even more important than physical infrastructures. 

What transpired from the discussion was that representatives of the Eastern Partnership want to find a way to involve citizens in the benefits of the partnership. Ms Salome Shapakidze said it herself, “I do think that people realize the good that can come from the partnership, but we need to actually come up with something tangible for them to really feel involved and feel like they profit from this relationship.” 

Permanent Representative of Australia to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Matthew Neuhaus and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias

The Government of Australia contributed last March €100,000 toward the Trust Fund for Syria Missions for the formation and operation of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) team to identify the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in the Syrian Arab Republic.

The team was created pursuant to the decision on addressing the threat from chemical weapons use adopted by the Conference of the States Parties at its Fourth Special Session in June 2018.

The contribution was formalised through an arrangement signed on 15 March by OPCWDirector-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade represented by Permanent Representative of Australia to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Matthew Neuhaus.

The Director-General has appealed to all OPCW Member States in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so while emphasising that “Identifying perpetrators will advance existing endeavours to tackle the re-emergence of use of chemical weapons”.

Ambassador Neuhaus remarked that Australia welcomes the decision to boost the OPCW’s ability to investigate and attribute responsibility for any future use of chemical weapons, in a way that no single country can veto. He continued to state, “Identifying perpetrators in an independent and impartial way will help deter others who believe they can get away with using these reprehensible weapons. Strengthening global arrangements to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a key national security priority for Australia. It is part of the Government’s efforts to make our nation, and the international community, safer and more secure.”

The OPCW’s Technical Secretariat is currently assembling a team of experts and setting up necessary procedures.

OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, met in April with the Permanent Representative of Romania to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Brândușa Predescu, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council of the EU, and with Principal Adviser, European External Action Service, H.E. Ambassador Mika-Markus Leinonen.

The European Union (EU) is contributing €11.6M to a number of projects and activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to be carried out in the next three years.

The contribution was approved by the Council of the European Union in its 1 April decision early this year.

OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, met in April with the Permanent Representative of Romania to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Brândușa Predescu, on behalf of the current Presidency of the Council of the EU, and with Principal Adviser, European External Action Service, H.E. Ambassador Mika-Markus Leinonen, to thank them for the European Union’s support.

The Director-General emphasised, “The European Union is a unique example of a contribution to stability, peace and security, in solidarity with developing countries in the field of cooperation and assistance. This major contribution will enable the Organisation to continue the effective implementation of its crucial activities”.

Over the next three years, the European Union will support projects to advance the preparedness of OPCW Member States to prevent and respond to attacks involving toxic chemicals, strengthen international cooperation in the field of chemical activities, and enhance the capacities of Member States to fulfill their obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), with special consideration for assisting African Member States.

The contribution will buttress the OPCW’s ability to adapt to science and technology developments, the Organisation’s chemical demilitarisation and non-proliferation operations, as well as enhance the OPCW’s capacity to address the threat of chemical weapons use.

Measures related to education and outreach, and national implementation also fall under the decision’s scope.

Moreover, the European Union has made a contribution toward upgrading the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store into a new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology. The new facility will help meet the demands of OPCW Member States for enhanced verification tools, improved detection capabilities and response measures, as well as increased capacity-building activities.