Lublin and Bavaria deepen ties

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Lublin and Bavaria deepen ties

Minister of State Dr. Florian Herrmann & Marshall of the Voivodship of Lublin, Jarosław Stawiarski – Picture by Bayerische Staatskanzlei.

Monday, 25 November 2019, Munich, Bavaria, Germany: the Marshall of the Voivodeship of Lublin, Jarosław Stawiarski, paid a visit to the Bavarian Minister of State for Federal and European Affairs and Media, Dr. Florian Herrmann at the State Chancellery. 
The Voivoideship of Lublin is a region located in southeastern Poland, and named after its capital, the historical city of Lublin. 

Marshall Stawiarski is a former Deputy Minister of Sport and Tourism of Poland. 

For further information: 

State Government of Bavaria: https://www.bayern.de/service/fotoreihen/?frid=in121576&fbclid=IwAR159IvlX0ZtsFV471Y8rikJ_IZB-BB69E4JSKekZFUCCGqGBScQGt6Y7jc

Jarosław Stawiarski: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarosław_Stawiarski

Three Winners Receive 2019 OPCW-The Hague Award for Outstanding Contributions to a World Free of Chemical Weapons

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Three Winners Receive 2019 OPCW-The Hague Award for Outstanding Contributions to a World Free of Chemical Weapons

Prof. Christopher Brett, President of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Dr Robert Mikulak, the former Permanent Representative of the United States to the OPCW, and Cheng Tang, an expert on chemical demilitarisation from the People’s Republic of China, received 2019 OPCW-The Hague Award.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands —25 November 2019 — The OPCW-The Hague Award was presented to three recipients today during a ceremony held during the Twenty-Fourth Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The award recognises individuals and institutions that have made an outstanding contribution towards the goal of a world permanently free of chemical weapons.

During the ceremony, OPCW’s Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, congratulated the award recipients and stated: “The winners of this award have earned our admiration through their sustained and devoted efforts in chemical disarmament and the peaceful uses of chemistry. Our mission is an enduring one. It requires constant vigilance and action. This year’s recipients will surely inspire others to take up this noble mission.”

The Award, which is also supported by the Municipality of The Hague, highlights the deep-rooted collaboration between the OPCW and its host country, the Netherlands, in countering the threat posed by chemical weapons and honouring actors involved in implementing the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

OPCW

In her remarks, the Deputy Mayor of the City of The Hague, Saskia Bruines, said: “I am extremely proud to be able to present this prestigious award here in The Hague. We are celebrating the special work of the OPCW, the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize winner. This important international organisation has been located in The Hague for over twenty years. The mission of the OPCW can be traced back to the first Hague Peace Conference in 1899 where a ban on certain chemical weapons was declared. Now, a hundred and twenty years later, and with the help of this year’s winners of the 2019 OPCW- The Hague Award, we are closer than ever to a world free of chemical weapons.”

Dr Robert Mikulak
https://youtu.be/Vo7b9G9Qw8k

Dr Robert Mikulak, the former Permanent Representative of the United States to the OPCW, stated: “The CWC establishes the very important norm, which prevents chemical agents being used in warfare. Science can and has been misused and perverted, and I have found ways to counter that by bridging the gap between scientists and politicians. The OPCW-The Hague Award will help me to continue this important work.”

Dr Robert Mikulak (United States of America) is an eminent expert on chemical and biological weapons arms control and the former Permanent Representative of the United States to the OPCW from 2010 to 2015. Dr Mikulak has made substantial contributions to chemical disarmament through his extensive involvement in the negotiations of the CWC, and his work as the US representative to the OPCW Preparatory Committee. Currently, he is a member of the OPCW Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and is an expert advisor on chemical and biological weapons issues at the United States Department of State.

Mr. Cheng Tanghttps://youtu.be/YhdG2QBmeX8

Mr Cheng Tang, an expert on chemical demilitarisation from the People’s Republic of China, said: ‘’We are now living in an era of unprecedented scientific advancement and technological innovation with equally unparalleled access to, and diffusion of, scientific knowledge. As science can both improve and potentially undermine the ability to maintain an effective disarmament regime, it is imperative to strengthen the science review process and evaluate its implications for the Chemical Weapons Convention.”

Mr Cheng Tang (People’s Republic of China) is an expert on chemical demilitarisation. He is currently the Chair of the OPCW Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and an advisor to the Chinese National Authority. Involved in the text negotiations of the CWC in Geneva from 1990 to 1992 as well as the removal and destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons, Mr Tang has actively worked for the goal of a world free of chemical weapons. 

https://youtu.be/jWE5xr1javE
Prof. Christopher Brett

The award for the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) was accepted by President-elect Prof. Christopher Brett. He said: “IUPAC is extremely honoured to be a recipient of the highly prestigious OPCW-The Hague award. It represents recognition of IUPAC’s strong and lasting cooperation with OPCW to serve humankind through contributing knowledge and advances in the science and technology of chemistry at the worldwide level, helping to achieve the goals of CWC, as well as providing OPCW with the tools and materials for informing society about the responsible uses of chemistry.”

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is an international federation of chemists that was established in 1919. Consisting of members, associates, and affiliate institutions from around the world, the organisation played an instrumental role in the development and promotion of The Hague Ethical Guidelines on Chemistry.  IUPAC has actively cooperated with the OPCW to produce educational materials, teaching modules and joint-OPCW symposia on CWC related topics. A strong advocate for the peaceful uses of chemistry, IUPAC has provided extensive and longstanding support to the OPCW in promoting the objectives of the CWC.

In 2013, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.

To preserve the legacy of this achievement, the OPCW established the OPCW-The Hague Award in collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague in 2014.

The OPCW-The Hague Award recognises individuals and institutions that have made an outstanding contribution towards the goal of a world permanently free of chemical weapons.

Parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan

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Parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan

H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan will be held according to the international requirements.

The upcoming parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan, scheduled for December 22, 2019 will be transparently taking into account international requirements, which are fully taken into account by the Election Code which adopted in June. This was announced on October 21, 2019 by Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

“During the development of the code, the experience of more than 50 countries was studied. I especially want to emphasize the consideration of the recommendations of the missions of international election observation organizations, including the OSCE/ODIHR, SCO, CIS, the World Association of Electoral Bodies, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, proposals of the Venice Commission, as well as international electoral principles and standards, “said Abdusalomov.

According to him, the Electoral Code, the adoption of which was initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, brought together the norms of nearly 30 previously existing legislative documents, including five laws regulating relations related to the preparation and conduct of elections of the country’s president, deputies of the Legislative Chamber, members of the Senate, deputies regional, district and city kengashes that regulated the activities of the CEC, as well as guarantees ensuring the free expression of the will of citizens.

In accordance with the Electoral Code, election commissions are now authorized to consider complaints from individuals and legal entities about violations of suffrage, conduct checks on these complaints and give written answers within three days. Moreover, the election commissions are obliged to respond to appeals received less than six days before the election or on election day.

The Electoral Code also excluded the restriction on the participation in elections of persons held in prison for crimes that do not constitute a great public danger.

“I want to emphasize the strengthening of public control and the expansion of the powers of civil society institutions during the elections. Now, along with political parties, representatives of self-government bodies have also been given the opportunity to observe the elections, this will enhance transparency and public accountability of the electoral process,” Abdusalomov said. In his opinion, the fact that the Electoral Code establishes a 30 percent quota for women when nominating candidates for deputies is of great importance.

Unified Electronic Voter List

An important innovation of the launched election campaign was the unified electronic voter list (EESI), which currently includes 20.5 million citizens of Uzbekistan. EESI will allow the formation of a single electoral portal, allowing the electorate to receive all the election data on the CEC website. Work in this direction by the CEC began about a year ago after the adoption of a decree of the president of the country on measures to introduce modern information and communication technologies in the electoral process.

“When developing this innovative election mechanism, foreign experience in this direction was thoroughly studied,” the CEC head noted. According to him, other information technologies are also planned for the parliamentary elections. This is an electronic database of constituencies and precincts, members of their commissions with the subsequent publication of this information on the official website of the CEC, an electronic database of candidates for deputies of all levels, an interactive map of constituencies and precincts, an official website and social networks.

The Saylov-2019 mobile application (“Elections-2019”) has already been created, which contains regulations, information on election commissions, guidelines, training materials, etc. A call center is available at the CEC international press center where you can get answer to any questions about the election. All this will make the upcoming elections as open and transparent as possible.

In the parliamentary elections and local representative bodies, which will be held under the motto “New Uzbekistan – New Elections,” it is planned to form over 16 thousand electoral districts and precincts, including more than 50 outside of Uzbekistan.

In accordance with the Electoral Code, election campaigning is not allowed the day before the election and directly on election day.

The Electoral Code of Uzbekistan does not provide for the organization of exit polls. The upcoming expression of the will of the people will be considered valid if at least 33% of those included in the voter lists take part in it. To win the election, candidates will need to get 50% plus one vote.

In accordance with the Electoral Code, the first session of the Legislative Chamber of a new composition should be held no later than two months after the election.

Parliamentary elections will be held with the strengthening of the positions of political parties

Elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan, scheduled for December 22, 2019 will be held with a significant strengthening of the positions of political parties, said Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC).

“Now, according to the Electoral Code, only political parties have the right to nominate candidates for deputies of parliament and local representative bodies, earlier they could nominate their own candidates and initiative groups, and local self-government bodies in regional, district and city Kengashes (Soviets),” – said Abdusalomov. According to him, political parties also have broad powers to monitor the election process.

According to the head of the Central Election Commission, in accordance with the Electoral Code, all five officially registered political parties in Uzbekistan have already signed up and received access to the elections. Movement of Entrepreneurs and Business People – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP), Democratic Party Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival), Social Democratic Party Adolat (Justice), People’s Democratic Party (PDPU) and Ecological party of Uzbekistan.

According to Abdusalomov, the authorities have allocated significant resources for training participants in the electoral process with all the innovations laid down in the new legislation. Thus, over 170 thousand people are involved in the training program, who are in the reserve for election by members of election commissions at all levels. For them, as well as judges of administrative judges and specialists of information and communication technologies, cycles of seminars and trainings are held. Such a large-scale and systematic training before the elections is held in the country for the first time.

More than 600 foreign observers to come to parliament in Uzbekistan

Monitoring of the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan scheduled for December 22 this year will be conducted by more than 600 observers from about 50 states and international organizations, said Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

“We expect that more than 600 foreign observers from about 50 states of America, Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as from all international organizations of the world whose activities are related to election monitoring will conduct monitoring of the election campaign and the elections themselves. For example, the OSCE/ODIHR plans to send the upcoming election is a mission of almost 300 observers from the Central Executive Committee of Russia and the CIS Parliamentary Assembly that they are ready to participate in the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis. these assemblies of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, representatives of a number of independent civil society institutions from the United States”, said Abdusalomov. According to him, during the election campaign that has begun and directly on the day of voting, there will not be a single polling station closed to foreign observers.

According to the head of the CEC, if someone from foreign observers wants to visit a polling station located, for example, in a women’s colony, he will have to inform the Central Election Commission in advance. “We will coordinate this issue with the competent authorities. For this is primarily due to the safety of observers – this is customary throughout the world,” he said. The so-called long-term observers are expected to arrive in the republic in mid-November, and short-term observers a few days before election day.

As Abdusalomov also said, in time for and without significant violations, they signed up and received admission to the upcoming elections all five officially registered political parties in the republic.

These are the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Business People – the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP), the Democratic Party Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival), the Social Democratic Party Adolat (Justice), the People’s Democratic Party (PDPU) and Ecological Party of Uzbekistan. In accordance with the Electoral Code, all conditions have been created in the republic for propaganda of their election programs and bringing their essence to the electorate.

Ambassador Perugini Hosts Luncheon

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Ambassador Perugini Hosts Luncheon

By Catherine Dailey.

The Hague’s elegant Restaurant des Juges, located in the Peace Palace complex, is one of the world’s most exclusive dining rooms. Last Friday, it was the venue for the “Ambassadors Luncheon” hosted by H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini, the Republic of Italy’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  

H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini, Ambassador of Italy.

The luncheon, part of the “Week of Extraordinary Italian Taste” program, featured a four-course menu. It was one of more than 1,000 unique gastronomic events, held in more than 100 countries from November 18-24, during Italy’s fourth annual week-long series of culinary and cultural programs designed to introduce Italy’s gastronomic traditions to the world.  “Food Education, the Culture of Taste” was the 2019 theme.

Permanent Representative of Germany to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Christine Weil and H.E. Hong Xu, Ambassador of China.

The menu featured regional specialities such as swordfish pie with eggplant and basil, risotto carnaroli with shrimps, red shrimps “Capitan Frank Style” and Sicilian cassata, cannoli, and fruit bellavista prepared under the oversight of Sicilian Chef Franco Guilio from Capo d’Orlando.  Chef Denis Botrot, of Restaurant des Juges, worked together with the Sicilian guest chef to prepare the luncheon.  

The ambassadors enjoyed a relaxing informal afternoon together in a club-like atmosphere of friendship and collegiality, as sunlight permeated a dining room offering panoramic views of one of the world’s most iconic symbols of peace—the Peace Palace.

Italian chefs working at the Restaurant des Judges’ kitchen.

Ambassador Perugini chose a Sicilian Chef to organize and prepare the menu for the luncheon. The decision was especially appropriate given that Sicily, a Mediterranean “cultural crossroads” has gastronomic and viticulture traditions developed over the course of millennia.

 The event, an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic, is organized in the Netherlands by the Italian Embassy in The Hague in cooperation with the Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura.  In addition, some sixteen Italian restaurants participated in the weeklong program designed to educate the public about the flavors of authentic food and the health benefits of the “Mediterranean Diet.”

Other Events, hosted or sponsored by the ambassador, were held at Europol, the European Space Agency (ESA ESTEC), the Hotel Crown Plaza Promenade, and more.  Several of the events were preceded by concerts performed by the Italian prodigy, pianist Daklen Difato, and Letizia Elsa Maula (clarinet) and Mario Rio (Cello). Both are internationally renowned musicians, who regularly perform together as the “Philia Duo.” 

Three local restaurants supporting the event include Da Braccini, Vino e Cucina and Bacca Perbacco.  In addition to programs which took place in the Netherlands during the past week; concerts, lectures, seminars, cooking classes, wine tastings, dinners, as well as various other culinary presentations and cultural initiatives such as movies and documentaries showcasing Italian food culture and traditions, were organized throughout the world. 

H.E. Archbishop, Aldo Cavalli, Apostolic Nuncio and Belgium’s Permanent Representative to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador William Roelants de Stappers.

The “Mediterranean Diet”, the essence of Italian food culture, was added to UNESCO’s representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage to Humanity in 2013.  This year, the “Week of Italian Gastronomy in the World” placed a special emphasis on the “Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene” located not far from Venice, in north-eastern Italy.

The area, which includes part of the vine growing landscape of the Prosecco wine production area, was recognized by UNESCO in July of this year, for being of “outstanding universal value.” The Prosecco region is Italy’s second wine producing region to receive such a distinction—the first being “the Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Lange Roero and Monferrato.”

In 2015, the city of Parma, home to the corporate headquarters of Barilla, the world’s largest producer of pasta, and a major supporter of Italy’s worldwide “Week of Italian Taste” event, was the first Italian city to receive the UNESCO “Creative City” award for demonstrating “tradition, talent and innovation” in gastronomy.  

ALMA, the famed international culinary school and the Academia Barilla are also located in Parma. Barilla’s 14,000 volume gastronomic library and 5,000 plus collection of historic menus are of particular interest to both professional foodies and culinary adventurers.

While the week of “Italian Gastronomy to the World” has become a new “tradition” of promoting Italian food culture abroad, Italy has long been appreciated by “foodies” for a long-standing tradition of regional culinary food festivals taking place throughout the entire year. Noteworthy is Alba, the capital of Piedmont, which has also been recognized as a “Creative City” for gastronomic excellence. Today, the “Truffle” city, closed the  89th International White Truffle Festival!

Epicureans, wishing to further explore Italy’s gastronomic traditions and cultures, are invited to visit the “Gastronomy” page of the “Travel Ideas” section of the Italian National Tourist Board for more than thirty suggestions for the very best of Italy’s authentic culinary inspired experiences.

Twitter:

@ItalyMFA @ERTourism @UNESCO #ItalianTaste2019 #HelpVenice

Presidential Representative, Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed passes away

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Presidential Representative, Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed passes away

Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan – Picture by WAM, Emirates News Agency.

Monday, 18 November 2019, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Presidential Representative, the late Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (b. 1 December 1956) passed away. 

He was the second son of the nation’s founder, the late President, Amir Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi, brother to the incumbent President, Amir Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi, and half-brother to Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the UAE Armed Forces. 

From 1990 to 2009 the late Sheikh Sultan served as the UAE Deputy Prime Minister; thereafter he was entrusted as Personal Representative to the President in addition to being Chairman of the Media and Cultural centre, Chairman of the Emirates Heritage Club and member of the board of the Supreme Petroleum Council as well as of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. 

For further information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_bin_Zayed_bin_Sultan_Al_Nahyan

https://twitter.com/MohamedBinZayed/status/1197191497587789830/photo/1

Argentine intensifies contacts with Thuringia

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Argentine intensifies contacts with Thuringia

Ambassador Pedro Villagra Delgado & Premier Bodo Ramelow – Picture by Thüringische Staatskanzlei.

Monday, 18 November 2019, Erfurt, Free State of Thuringia, Germany: Argentina’s Ambassador Pedro Villagra Delgado paid his inaugural visit to the Premier of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow. 

The bilateral talks focused in particular on relations between Thuringia and Argentina. Erfurt has been twinned with San Miguel de Tucumán for 25 years. In 2018, this relationship was extended to include a strategic alliance between the Free State of Thuringia and the province of Tucumán.

For further information: 
https://www.staatskanzlei-thueringen.de/medienservice/veranstaltungsberichte/detailseite/beziehungen-zwischen-thueringen-und-argentinien/

Embassy of the Argentine in Germany: https://ealem.cancilleria.gob.ar

NRW regrets missing place for North Macedonia in the EU

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NRW regrets missing place for North Macedonia in the EU

Ambassador Ramadan Nazifi & Minister Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner – Picture by NRW.

Monday, 18 November 2019, Düsseldorf, NRW: Dr. Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner, Minister for European Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia, met Ramadan Nazifi, Ambassador of the Republic of Northern Macedonia, to discuss the postponement of accession negotiations with the European Union. At the EU summit in October, the European Council decided to postpone the start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania.

Minister Holthoff-Pförtner as per statement below: “The decision of the European Council is a historic mistake. We should remember the foresight of the founders of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952 – seven years after the end of the Second World War in 1945 – who laid the foundations for a united, peaceful and democratic Europe. What a fundamentally different decision in the face of an incomparably greater challenge! The postponement of the accession negotiations is a sign of small-mindedness and needs to be corrected”.

The Minister continued: “Macedonia in particular only entered into a very painful compromise for the country in January, when it changed its name to North Macedonia to take account of its neighbour Greece. This positive signal to the EU, combined with the commitment of young people, in particular, who see their future in Europe, must not simply be put to one side.”

Dr. Holthoff-Pförtner announced that he would hold further talks with representatives of Albania, and the Western Balkan states on the European perspective of these countries.

For further information:
https://www.land.nrw/de/pressemitteilung/treffen-mit-dem-botschafter-nordmazedoniens-europaminister-holthoff-pfoertner

Dr. O’Brien welcomed in Bavaria

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Dr. O’Brien welcomed in Bavaria

Dr. Nicholas O’Brien & Minister Dr. Florian Herrmann – Picture by Bayerische Staatskanzlei, bayern.de

Friday, 22 November 2019, Munich, Free State of Bavaria, Germany: State Minister Dr. Florian Herrmann, Head of the State Chancellery and Minister of State for Federal and European Affairs and Media of Bavaria, welcomed the Irish Ambassador to Germany, Dr. Nicholas O’Brien for a bilateral discussion on strengthening Irish-Bavarian ties, particularly in view of the upcoming Irish Trade Office to be opened in Munich. 

Goal of the meeting was to introduced Ambassador Dr. O’Brien to the Bavarian State government. That is to say, deepening of Bavarian-Irish links, and concretely owing to the opening of a novel Irish Trade Office in Munich Ireland’s Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Ms Heather Humphreys, which shall be held last week of November. 

StM Florian Herrmann empfaengt den neuen Botschafter von Irland, Nicholas O’Brien, bei dessen Antrittsbesuch. aufgenommen am Donnerstag 22.11.19 in Muenchen; Foto: Joerg Koch/ Bayerische Staatskanzlei Fotograf: Joerg Koch joerg@joergkochfoto.de; +49-175-1815173;

Bavaria on its part is due to open a representation in London, with likely coverage vis-à-vis the Republic of Ireland. 
Both parties agreed on the mutual benefit of forging further ties in the face of a Brexit environment. 

Ambassador O’Brien and Minister Herrmann recalled the strength of the Irish community in Munich, and hence the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade, noting that next year is the 25th such parade shall take place. The latter being the largest St Patrick’s day parade in mainland Europe

For further information:
Bavarian State Government: https://www.bayern.de/service/fotoreihen/?frid=in128560&fbclid=IwAR36x9ns4b6fS1J42llPNDDPRANBsNuzk48-j1CvlTPwZZWpfo3OONRd0-c

Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation of Ireland: https://dbei.gov.ie/en/

Film ‘Chocolate’s Long Way’ in Erfurt

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Film ‘Chocolate’s Long Way’ in Erfurt

Ambassador Hans Peter Knudsen Quevedo, Premier Bodo Ramelow and Ambassador Manuel Mejía Dalmau – Picture by Thüringische Staatskanzlei.

Thursday, 21 November 2019, Erfurt, Free State of Thuringia, Germany: In nebulous and rainy autumn day, Premier of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow guided through Erfurt’s old town the ambassadors of Colombia, Hans Peter Knudsen Quevedo, and his colleague hailing from Ecuador, Manuel Mejía Dalmau, and their respective spouses. 

On Wednesday, 20 November Guido Kunze had presented his film ‘Chocolate’s Long Way’  to a large audience in Erfurt. The film was was made in the two South American countries.

For further information: 
About the film: https://www.ghost-bikes.com/en/guidos-crazy-travels/

Embassy of Colombia to Germany: http://alemania.embajada.gov.co
Embassy of Ecuador to Germany: https://www.cancilleria.gob.ec

The Fourth Week of Italian Gastronomy

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The Fourth Week of Italian Gastronomy

H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini and the Sicilian famous chef, Sr. Franco Giulio.

By John Dunkelgrün.

As most of you know, the Crowne Plaza Promenade hotel regularly highlights the cuisines of different countries by flying in their best chefs and having its kitchen serve the national specialties for a whole week.

This initiative of the Promenade’s General manager, Mr. Patrick Aarsman and Diplomat Magazine’s Publisher, Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, has become very popular.

Italian Flavours & Italian Gastronomic Week 2019 at Crowne plaza.

On Thursday 21 November there was a remarkable evening in this episode in the culinary series. To mark  the Fourth Annual Week of Italian Gastronomy, an event that takes place simultaneously in over 100 countries, the the Italian Embassy had flown in not just a famous chef, Sr. Franco Giulio, but also four specialists from his ‘Equipe’.

The Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini hosted a bevy of colleagues to let them sample Italian food way beyond what the most Italian restaurants can offer.

H.E. Mr. Elyes Ghariani, Ambassador of Tunisia, H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, Director General of OPC and H.E. Mr. Alexander Shulgin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation.

Mr. Perugini opened the event by explaining that the theme of this Fourth Week of Italian Gastronomy was ‘Food Education and Culture’. Food today needs to be thought of in terms of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

He stressed that in this endeavour, Italy is worldwide in the forefront. Italy’s agriculture produces one of the lowest  chemical residues in the world, about one third of the EU average and only about one tenth of the residues produced in developing nations.

Daklen Difato, an Italian prodigy pianist.

His speech was followed with a recital by the 19 year old piano prodigy, Sr. Daklen Difato.

Your correspondent is not a professional music critic by a long shot, but it appeared to him that Sr. Difato’s undoubted fireworks were more suitable to the power of the Schumann and Prokofief sonatas than to the tender works by Chopin with which he chose to start his recital.

A classical piano concert by Daklen Difato opened the Italian Flavours Gastronomic dinner at Crowne Plaza.

And then came the food, which was as surprising as it was delicious. First of all, there was no pasta (unless you count the playful spikes of toasted capellini or barbini on balls of mashed potato).

Italian Flavours by Chef Franco Giulio.

Secondly the individual creations were served four at a time, prettily arranged on a square plate surrounded by Japanese like round bowls of risotto and couscous. Chef Giulio made magic with his shrimps and swordfish and the pastry chef outdid himself, putting the goal of a healthier lifestyle into question.

Chef Chef Sido de Brabander and the Italian team of chefs from Sicily.

If this dinner could be criticised at all, it would be that it was more of a served buffet of individual specialties than a well balanced meal.

But with such a recommendable spread in the context of a ‘tasting’ that is a small thing. It was an extraordinary experience.

Italian Flavours 2019 Crowne Plaza.
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