Iran accuses the U.S. of disregarding human rights

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Iran accuses the U.S. of disregarding human rights

By Guido Lanfranchi.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi has reacted to a recent statement by his American counterpart, claiming that in the U.S.’ view, positions on human rights which previously served as a political tool have now turned into a commodity.

In response to the statements of his American counterpart, Mousavi said on Wednesday that it’s now well-known to the whole world that the U.S. regime neither believes in human rights nor is ethically qualified and has the legitimacy to meddle in such issues and take the gesture of a human rights advocate.

“The shameful silence of the U.S. State Department towards beheading and crucifixion of 37 political activists and religious minorities in Saudi Arabia is the latest example of the reality that in the U.S.’ view, positions on human rights which previously served as a political means have turned into a commodity, as well” – he said.

Mousavi also accused the U.S. of economic terrorism, referring to the imposition of sanctions against other nations, leading to great and widespread violations of economic and social rights of human beings. “All countries need to observe human rights, but the United States, which has a dark record of human rights inside and outside the country, needs to carry out an urgent review in this regard” – he said.

“Continuous violations of racial and religious minorities inside the U.S., export of billions of dollars’ worth of weapons for the massacre of civilians, acts of torture in notorious jails, and imposition of unilateral and brutal sanctions on other nations are just part of the U.S.’ dark record in this area” – Mousavi continued. “Iranians don’t need the deceitful and war-mongering support of the U.S.” – he concluded..

Communiqué provided by the Embassy of Iran in the Netherlands. Original on the website of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. http://en.mfa.ir/index.aspx?siteid=3&fkeyid=&siteid=3&pageid=36409&newsview=568950. 

Iran’s Zarif calls for dialogue and cooperation in the Persian Gulf

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Iran’s Zarif calls for dialogue and cooperation in the Persian Gulf

Mohammad Javad Zarif, former Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

By Guido Lanfranchi.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif sent a message to a conference marking National Persian Gulf Day in the southern city of Shiraz on April 30th, 2019.

Dr. Zarif’s message was read out at the event by the Foreign Ministrys director general for Persian Gulf affairs. In his message, the foreign minister expressed congratulations on the occasion. “In our national calendar, this day is a reminder of a glorious memory in Iran’s history and is a well-established witness to the identity of the people who have lived next to its blue waters for centuries,” the message reads.

“The Persian Gulf is the origin of age-old, everlasting cultural and social values that have been manifested in its people’s identity,” he added. “The Persian Gulf is the source of producing wealth in different forms in this region and is reminiscent of bravery, zeal, a courageous spirit and a dedicated campaign against the aggression of any foreigner who has an eye on it (the Persian Gulf),” Zarif said.

The minister said in his message that the geo-political and geo-economic importance of the Persian Gulf region has always drawn the attention of extra-regional players. “The energy and international trade lifelines in the heart of the Persian Gulf have upgraded and institutionalized the status of this region as one of the most vital international issues,” he noted.

The foreign minister noted that political and social developments in some regional countries over the past several decades have set the stage for the unnecessary presence of trans-regional players in this area. “Having the longest coastline, the Islamic Republic of Iran believes the Persian Gulf should stay strong to remain safe in the face of events and greed,” he added.

Iran’s top diplomat underscored that the growth and development of the Persian Gulf is contingent upon a “strong region” approach, not simply a “strong state” one. “But the presence of foreign military troops and mass arms purchases have weakened the region instead of strengthening it, and we are of the conviction that security, strength and tenacity of the Persian Gulf can be insured through cooperation and constructive interaction among regional countries, not through purchases of weapons along with reliance on foreign powers and coalitions which are doomed to fail,” Zarif noted. 

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always insisted on its fundamental positions regarding the necessity of confidence-building, dialogue and cooperation among regional countries, and has underlined the need to refrain from relying on extra-regional powers,” Zarif said. “The idea of establishing a regional forum for dialogue emanates from this strategic viewpoint,” he said. In his concluding remarks, the minister expressed hope that the conference will be able to realize its objectives.

Communiqué provided by the Embassy of Iran in the Netherlands. Original on the website of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. http://en.mfa.ir/index.aspx?siteid=3&fkeyid=&siteid=3&pageid=36409&newsview=568844. http://en.mfa.ir/index.aspx?siteid=3&fkeyid=&siteid=3&pageid=36409&newsview=568844

A new visual identity for Eurojust

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A new visual identity for Eurojust

Monday April 15th 2019, Eurojust and Diplomat Magazine invited diplomats communication officers and press attachees to  discover the organisation’s new visual identity. With a new building, came new press visuals and an ambition to expand beyond Europe. 

By Aurore Heugas.

On Monday, April 15th 2019, Eurojust, in partnership with Diplomat Magazine, hosted a visit of their brand new interior to introduce an also brand new media outreach and logo. 

The concept for the new building was to combine nature, culture and architecture with the refinement of materials and the shapes, meant to emulate the landscape in The Hague. 

Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust.

The logo, was conceptualised to illustrate the partnerships Eurojust has with different countries. It was thought out as a magnet, attracting country flags around it. 

Along with a new logo, Eurojust is developing new tools and channels with visuals and infographics, a new public website, a quarterly newsletter, corporate social media and partnerships with the Justice and Home Affairs Council configuration (JHA) and EU institutions. All of this to expand beyond the Hague, and beyond Europe.

Before speaking of the future, Cecilia Thorfinn, Head of the Corporate Communications Unit, spoke about Eurojust’s accomplishments as well as the organisation constant cooperation with Europol. “Europol and Eurojust would not work without the other”.

While Eurojust takes care of a number of different cases, from drug trafficking, terrorism, human trafficking, to environmental crimes to name just a few, the two biggest occurrences are fraud and money laundering. 

In a few numbers, Eurojust offered practical support to more than 6,500 investigations of serious organised crime, just in 2018. With a steady growth in new cases brought to Eurojust each year, the organisation is supporting an increase of 44% in new cases since 2015. An increase of 19% for 2018, “the steepest increase in the history of Eurojust”, according to Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust. 

Eurojust

A prime example of their work can be seen in Operation Pollino, the largest European investigation in the fight against the mafia, that started in 2014. On a joint “Action Day” on December 5, 2018, 84 suspects were arrested and two million Euros’ worth of assets were seized. 

While Eurojust grows, budgetary constraints arise. “The past year has not been without challenges. The Member States’ increasing demand for support was not always easy to reconcile with Eurojust’s budgetary constraints. (…) As we have no indications that the growth in casework will slow down soon, our budgetary situation will continue to require our attention in the coming period”, said Ladislav Hamran in the Eurojust Annual Report for 2018. Indeed the MFF, or the Multiannual Financial Framework, which is the EU’s long-term budget, has proposed a budget cut of 9% for Eurojust in 2021 to 2027. 

Cecilia Thorfinn, Head of the Corporate Communications Unit.

The organisation might suffer some budgetary constraints, but it doesn’t mean they will cut back on their ambition. Eurojust’s goal in the coming years, is to become a global organisation. While it is still unclear how the Eurojust will develop in the coming months and years, it is safe to assume the cooperation with member states around the world will help reach that goal of going international. 

For now, Eurojust’s goals for 2019 are being put in place, as the president of the organisation concludes: “As of 15 April 2019, the layout used in the Annual Report is how we will present ourselves. It is just one of the ways in which Eurojust is preparing for the future, during which we will continue to be the EU leading partner in bringing criminals to justice.”

U.S. and EU discuss their foreign policy in the MENA region

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U.S. and EU discuss their foreign policy in the MENA region

By Guido Lanfranchi.

In mid-April, the U.S. State Department and the European External Action Service held their regular dialogue on their foreign policies in the Middle East and North Africa. On the agenda there were the many tense situations unfolding in the region, chiefly the current crisis in Libya.

Traditional allies such as the United States and the European Union try to cooperate on as many issues as possible. As foreign policy in the Middle East and North Africa region is crucial for both sides, the two parties usually hold regular policy dialogues on this matter, generally twice a year, in order to achieve some coordination in their efforts. The latest U.S.-EU MENA Dialogue took place in Brussels on April 15th, 2019, when high-level officials from the U.S. State Department and the European External Action Service discussed a number of thorny issues. The agenda included the crisis in Libya and Algeria’s transition, as well as the situation in the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. 

Ambassador David M. Satterfield, Acting Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. State Department, commented on some of these issues in the wake of the dialogue, just ahead of his planned trip to Paris for talks with his French counterparts.

The unfolding crisis in Libya naturally featured in the talks in a prominent way. Ambassador Satterfield reiterated the U.S. administration’s concern over the escalation of violence in the country, and in particular for damage inflicted to civilians. He called on all sides to refrain from violence, reiterating the U.S. support to a political agreement among the parties. Ambassador Satterfield also commented on the influence of other actors in Libya. Commenting on the position of U.S. allies such as Egypt and the UAE on Libya, he noted that, while there might be some differences on how to achieve stability in Libya, this is the shared aim of all allies. By contrast – he noted – Russian involvement is “opportunistic”, and “it does not serve any useful purpose”. 

Questioned by journalists on a wide variety of issues, Ambassador Satterfield outlined the U.S. position on other thorny regional issues. On the situation in Northern Syria, he reiterated that the U.S. will maintain a number of troops on the ground, and that diplomatic efforts are ongoing to find a solution that will meet the needs of both the Turkish and the Kurdish people. As for the standoff between the U.S. and Iran, Ambassador Satterfield defined the IRGC’s designation as a terrorist organization as a natural step in the U.S. campaign of maximum pressure on Iran. Finally, while refraining from commenting on the electoral campaign in Israel, Ambassador Satterfield touched upon the thorny issue of the Middle East Peace Process, reiterating that “the U.S. will support whatever solution the two parties support”.

In all these crises – Ambassador Satterfield concluded – the role of the United Nations is “absolutely vital” in order to advance political processes, and the U.S. strongly supports the mandates of the UN Special Envoys, whose work is “invaluable and irreplaceable”. In addition to that, the U.S. and the EU will continue to pursue common efforts to achieve peace, security, and stability in the Middle East and North Africa.

The U.S. designates Iran’s IRGC as a terrorist organization

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The U.S. designates Iran’s IRGC as a terrorist organization

By Guido Lanfranchi.

In an unprecedented move, the United States designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Such move is part of the “maximum pressure campaign” applied by the U.S. administration on Iran and aimed at curbing Iranian influence in the Middle East.

Over the last two decades, the United States has designated approximately seventy organizations as FTO, that is, Foreign Terrorist Organizations. While FTO designations are nothing new, the most recent designation has a distinctive feature: it targets Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a branch of a sovereign state’s military. Expectedly, the move has been strongly condemned inside Iran, notably by the country’s Supreme Leader, the government, as well as the Parliament. International observers have also largely debated the move, with diplomats and analysts exposing different views on its potential effects.

In the midst of such debate, the U.S. State Department has sought to clarify the rationale behind its choice. Taking questions from the press, Mr. Nathan Sales, Ambassador at Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism, and Mr. Brian Hook, Special Representative for Iran, exposed the views of the U.S. administration on the IRGC, which is considered by the U.S. as an arm of Iran’s expansionist foreign policy. Mr. Hook accused the IRGC not only of sowing instability across the region, but also of being responsible for the death of over 600 U.S. soldiers in the context of the Iraq War. These considerations – the speakers stressed – have led the U.S. to take such a crucial step.

The FTO designation of the IRGC is part of a much broader campaign initiated by the U.S. administration under the Presidency of Mr. Trump. The declared aim of this campaign is to deny sources of revenue to the Iranian government, in order to stop its influence in other countries across the Middle East. In this framework, the IRGC’s designation aims at applying extra pressure to one of Iran’s most relevant foreign policy tools – Ambassador Sales stressed, noting that the measure’s focus will be on issues related to law enforcement, immigration, and especially financial flows. 

Analysts have largely debated the rationale behind the designation’s timing, hypothesizing links with the elections in Israel, as well as with the end of the fight against the Islamic State. Questioned by the press, Ambassador Sales firmly denied any such links, explaining how the move “was just the next logical step in our increasingly robust sanctions measures”. 

As for the measure’s consequences, Ambassador Sales stressed that increased U.S. pressure on the IRGC is aimed at protecting countries across the Middle East from Iran’s influence. “For our Sunni Arab partners in the region, this is a welcome designation” – Special Representative Hook noted, at the same time stressing that such designation is not supposed to hamper U.S. diplomatic relations with its regional partners. However – Ambassador Sales noted – countries will have to make choices: “they can engage with Iran and take the consequences that follow, or they can engage with the United States and our allies and take the beneficial consequences that follow”.

The speakers also touched upon the complex relations with the European Union on the Iranian issue. The areas of agreement between the U.S. and the EU are far more than those of disagreement – both speakers stressed – and disagreements are generally confined to the Iranian Nuclear Deal only. While the EU has sought to shield its companies from the effect of U.S. extraterritorial sanctions, Mr. Hook underlined that such efforts do not seem to be enough to convince large European companies to keep p their ties with Iran.

The designation of the IRGC as an FTO will have a significant further impact on the decision of foreign companies to engage with Iran. As the IRGC has vast stakes in the country’s economy, foreign companies will face high risks when engaging with organizations inside Iran – Ambassador Sales noted, stressing that the aim of the U.S. measures is to “render radioactive the IRGC”.

Finally, Mr. Hook addressed observers’ worries about potential retaliations by Iran. Outlining the administration’s view, he noted that peace and security in the Middle East cannot be achieved without curbing the IRGC’s influence. Failing to do so because of the threats coming from inside Iran – Mr. Hook repeatedly stressed – would be “playing by their rules” and it would not help in tackling the issue.

Far from decreasing, the confrontation between the United States and Iran seems to be moving to an even higher level. 

U.S.-Iran standoff: no more waivers will be allowed for oil imports from Iran

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U.S.-Iran standoff: no more waivers will be allowed for oil imports from Iran

By Guido Lanfranchi.

Starting in May 2019, the United States will not grant any further waivers to its sanctions regime against Iranian oil exports. The move is part of the U.S. “maximum pressure campaign” on Iran, which started one year ago with the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal.

“We have imposed the toughest sanctions ever on the Iranian regime. We’re going to continue to apply pressure on the regime until its leaders decide to start behaving more like a normal nation and less like a revolutionary cause”. These were the words of Mr. Brian Hook, U.S. Special Representative for Iran, in the wake of the announcement by State Secretary Mike Pompeo that the U.S. would not grant anymore waivers for importing Iranian oil.

In May 2018, the U.S. administration of President Donald J. Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal, an international agreement under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear development project in return for the lifting of international sanctions imposed on the country. The U.S. withdrawal led in November to the reimposition of U.S. sanctions on Iran, including extraterritorial measures on the country’s oil exports.

“Our goal has always been to get countries importing oil from Iran to zero as quickly as possible” – Mr. Hook explained. However, he added, the conditions of the global oil markets led the U.S. administration to grant waivers to a handful of countries, allowing them to continue to import Iranian oil during a transition period. The countries who benefited from the exemptions were China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy, and Greece. 

Today, however, market conditions are very much different, with all forecasts predicting that supply will exceed demand – Mr. Hook noted, also stressing the importance of the commitment expressed by U.S. allies such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE to increase their output to offset the lack of Iranian oil in global markets. Moreover, Mr. Francis Fannon, Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Energy Resources, underlined how the U.S. has worked in the past years with its allies in order to find alternative sources of imports for countries dependent on Iranian oil, thus moderating potential negative impacts of the U.S. sanctions. 

Since May 2019, therefore, the U.S. will step up its “maximum pressure campaign” on Iran, with the aim of denying oil revenues to the Iranian government. Special Representative Hook accused Iran of sowing instability in the Middle East, by means of its ballistic missiles build-up, as well as through its support to proxy groups across the region. The aim of the U.S. administration is thus to deny revenue to the Iranian government, forcing it to abandon its “expansionist foreign policy” – Mr. Hook reiterated. 

Moreover, Mr. Hook announced that, while previous administrations have turned a blind eye on entities evading U.S. sanctions, the current administration will enforce its measures in a tougher way. “We will sanction every sanctionable activity, and we’ve already done that” – he stressed, although refraining from touching upon any country-specific situation. 

After the recent designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization, the U.S. is about to take another major step escalating its campaign pressure on Iran.

La Francophonie’s SG Louise Mushikiwabo’s maiden trip to Belgium 

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La Francophonie’s SG Louise Mushikiwabo’s maiden trip to Belgium 

25 April 2019, Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium: the IV Secretary General of La Francophonie Louise Mushikiwabo was received in audience by His Majesty The King of the Belgians at Laeken Castle.

Madame Mushikiwabo presented the monarch with her plans to reanimate the institutions she leads, making it more conspicuous worldwide as well as more vocal. 

Prime Minister and Charles Michel.

Belgium is a founding member of La Francophonie in 1970. 
Previous to her regal engagement Secretary-General Mushikiwabo was hosted by Belgium’s Prime Minister Charles Michel at Lambermont for a working luncheon.

Both dignitaries discussed tentative reforms to be launched during the celebrations of La Francophonie’s 50th jubilee in 2020, or more precisely during the summit for heads of state and government to be held at Tunisia. 

Both dignitaries discussed tentative reforms to be launched during the celebrations of La Francophonie’s 50th jubilee in 2020, or more precisely during the summit for heads of state and government to be held at Tunisia. 

Further high-level meetings were held with authorities from Wallonia as well as the Brussels Capital Region. SG Mushikiwabo was accompanied by La Francophonie’s Ambassador to the EU, HE Stéphane López. 

For further information: 
La Francophonie: https://www.francophonie.org/La-Secretaire-generale-251

Indonesia at Belgium International Pencak Silat Championship

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Indonesia at Belgium International Pencak Silat Championship

On the picture Ambassador Yuri O. Thamrin.

Indonesian Contingent Participates in 24th Belgium International Pencak Silat Championship at Schoten, 26-28 April 2019

Statement by Indonesian Embassy in Brussel 2019.

Brussels, 26 April 2019 – The Indonesian contingent of Silat again participated in the Belgium International Pencak Silat Championship in Schoten, Belgium which was held on 26 – 28 April 2019. The Indonesian delegation at the 24th international championship consisted of 32 athletes (23 male athletes 9 female athletes) and 15 officials from the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) and the DKI Jakarta Student Sports Education and Training Center (PPLM).

In this year’s championship, Indonesian Athletes contingent will compete with 124 other international athletes from 11 countries, namely Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and France.

The Indonesian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, Yuri O. Thamrin, was honored to officially open the annual tournament.

In his opening speech, Ambassador Yuri O. Thamrin welcomed the presence of Athletes and Officials in one of the important events in the Pencak Silat championship in Europe. In particular, the Ambassador then expressed his appreciation to thePieters family and the Belgian Harimau (Tiger) Pencak Silat College as the initiator of the championship, and for its contribution in promoting sports from Southeast Asia in Europe since 1982.

Furthermore, Ambassador Yuri stressed, “Pencak Silat is a very solid bridge to strengthen the relationship of friendship and mutual understanding between people in the Southeast Asia Region and Europe. For this reason, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Brussels continues to be committed to supporting and cooperating with various parties in the promotion of Pencak Silat in Europe. “

In the presence of the President of the European Pencak Silat Federation, President of the Asian Pencak Silat Federation and the Mayor of Schoten, contingents and other invited guests, the Ambassador expressed optimism that Pencak Silat could be one of the sports contested in the Olympics. At present Pencak Silat has been supported by 49 countries from a total of 70-75 support needs. Continuation of strong collective efforts from the stakeholders of Pencak Silat is needed, so that aspirations to enter the Olympics can be realized.

The annual international pencak silat championship in Schoten has become a ground training for martial arts athletes from Europe and Asia to enter greater competition. In addition to showing the results of the training so far, Indonesian athletes who come to this competition are also targeted to find out the strengths of other countries’ athletes, so they can prepare for the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines on November 30 – December 11 2019

In the championship in the previous year, the Indonesian Pencak Silat Team won 6 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 2 bronze medals. In addition, one of the Indonesian Athletes, Sarah Tria Monita, was awarded the best Women’s Pencak Silat Athlete.

For further information:

Ambassade d’Indonesie en Belgique et Luxembourg, S.E. l’Ambassadeur Yuri Octavian THAMRIN:https://www.kemlu.go.id/brussels/en/default.aspx

Classical music in the outdoors

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Classical music in the outdoors

Fifth edition festival Wonderfeel

Wonderfeel is the biggest outdoor festival for classical music in the Netherlands. This year’s festival will take place from July 19th to July 21st, in the natural parks of the Schaep & Burgh estate in ‘s-Graveland (near Hilversum).

More than 400 of the finest musicians will give over 100 performances, ranging the gamut from baroque to minimal, with connections to jazz, pop and world music. Escape the urban frenzy and daily hustle by stepping into the relaxed festival bubble of Wonderfeel, and recharge with classical music in a beautiful environment.

Three days of music, all in a pleasant and accessible atmosphere. The entire spectrum of classical music is represented with solo performances, chamber music, and full-on symphonic concerts. The festival further caters to cultural omnivores with a wide range of poetry, dance, story-telling, music documentaries, and nature walks. Children (who enjoy free entry up to age 18) enjoy an extensive program with music theater, arts and crafts, and workshops. Food and beverages are covered by more than twenty food trucks, as well as the festival’s own restaurant.

Evening of love

On Friday, July 19th, Floris Kortie, known from tv show Podium Witteman, will present “The Evening of Love”. Kortie has composed a diverse program about love in all its forms: love for nature, for God, for one’s homeland, but most importantly, for romantic love. Cuddle close together and enjoy dreamy and exuberant works by composers as diverse as Bach, Puccini, Nina Rota, and Leonard Cohen. Caravan, the ensemble of pianist and composer Julian Schneemann, will provide musical accompaniment for the many guest soloists. 

World premiere

The performances at Wonderfeel are divided across seven stages. Ongehoord will host fresh, innovative creations, including the world premiere of pieces by Aart Strootman and violinist and Dutch Classical Talent Diamanda Dramm, both commissioned by Wonderfeel. 

White Label will present the widest range of classical music, from minimal to jazz, with performances by Gyan Riley, Stella Chiweshe, Mahsa Vahdat, Toko Telo, the Kaja Draksler Octet, Percossa, and many more. At Weeshuis van de Hits you can enjoy classical number-one hits, performed by Ella van Poucke & Caspar Vos, and Rosanne Philippens & Lidy Blijdorp, among others. 

SOLO will showcase soloists of various backgrounds, with, among others, Ralph van Raat, Eline Hensels, Elicia Silverstein, and Ramon van Engelenhoven. At the grand stage Het Veld you can witness performances by Fuse, NES, Pavel Kolesnikov, Judith van Wanroij, Barbara Kozelj & Thomas Beijer, Pynarello, Camille Thomas & de Marinierskapel, Wishful Singing, Tim Kliphuis, who will be performing Bachs Brandenburg Concerts, and of course the festival’s very own Wonderfeel Festival Orchestra, led by Johannes Leertouwer. 

De Schuur will be home to performances that combine both storytelling and music with moving images, such as Shapes of Time by Oene van Geel & Mark Haanstra. Enjoy poetry at Dichter onder de Boom, where poets, curated by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, will recite original works. Find all the latest information at www.wonderfeel.nl.

Nature

Wonderfeel is organized in collaboration with Natuurmonumenten and will take place in the beautiful nature surrounding Schaep en Burgh and Boekesteyn. For an outdoor festival, the importance maintaining such an environment in a sustainable manner cannot be overstated. Visitors will support the preservation of the natural monuments in ‘s-Graveland when they purchase their tickets.

Ticket sales

Ticket sales have started at www.wonderfeel.nl. Wonderfeel wants to give children the chance to enjoy classical music from a young age, which is why the festival is free of charge for anybody who is 18 years old or younger. These free tickets are also available in our webshop. 

Festival location: Schaep & Burgh, Noordeinde 60, ’s-Graveland (entrance: Franse Kampweg 2)

WoNDeRFeeL website, tickets, afterglow 2018, Facebook, Twitter

Belgian courtesy visit to Thuringia 

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Belgian courtesy visit to Thuringia 

Tuesday, 23 April 2019, Erfurt, Free State of Thuringia: Belgium’s Ambassador to Germany, Baron Willem van de Voorde, paid a courtesy call on Thuringia’s Premier Bodo Ramelow, the only head of government within the German federation hailing from the Die Linke [The Left] political party. 

Primarily the encounter served to become acquainted to each other yet also to discuss a possibly visit by Belgian officials to Thuringia, which is the cradle of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, that reigns over Belgium. Other topics included economic relations, the restructuring of contemporary Thuringia as well as Henry van de Velde and the Bauhaus year. 

Ambassador van de Voorde also took the time in Erfurt to pay a visit to the Belgian company X-Fab. This technology company, based in Erfurt, produces components for the semiconductor industry and MEMS in the automotive, medical and telecommunications sectors. It is the largest foundry group of analogue and mixed signals in the world. 

Baron Willem Van de Voorde was accredited to the German Federal Republic on 20 September 2018. Ambassador van de Voorde is a career diplomat previously having served in Vienna as head of mission with accreditations to Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina. Likewise he served in the cabinet of Vice-Premier and Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Reynders.

For further information:
https://www.staatskanzlei-thueringen.de/medienservice/veranstaltungsberichte/detailseite/antrittsbesuch-des-belgischen-botschafters-willem-van-de-voorde/

https://diplomatmagazine.eu/2019/04/24/bauhaus-museum-weimar-opens/

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