In the picture H.E. Mr. Carlos Herrera, Ambassador of Peru and spouse Veronique Miclea with a guest.
By John Dunkelgrün
The Cobra Museum in Amstelveen is going Latin with two mostly concurrent exhibitions, one “Intens Mexico” and a solo exposition of works by Enrique Polanco from Lima, Peru.
“Intens Mexico” is the result of an exchange between the Cobra Museum and the Mexican Museo de Arte Moderno. Because of that, it is able to show major works by some of Mexico’s most iconic artists, such as Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and David Siqueiros. The exhibition is divided into four themes and an altar.
“Intens Mexico”, photography by Cobra Museum.
Modern Mexico began during the seven years long and catastrophic Mexican Revolution early in the 20th century. This revolution, which claimed some ten million lives, changed the political landscape and forged Mexico’s identity. Art, which had lingered in a post baroque mold reinforced by traveling Spanish painters, now took off in autonomous directions.
Cobra Museum, “Intens Mexico”.
Whereas before the revolution depicting, even recognizing, local cultures was taboo, artists like the three “Grandes”, Rivera, Siqueiros, and Orozco painted local people, local customs and local politics. This they did predominantly in the muted colors developed by the first truly Mexican painter, Dr. Atl.
“Intens Mexico”, photography by Cobra Museum.
Passions run high in Mexico. Most of the country is strongly macho, male-oriented, but an area in Southwest Mexico is matriarchal and has been totally at ease with different forms of love long before LBGT became a ‘thing’. Part of the Mexican culture is its fascination with death, culminating in all-Saints Day.
Reflecting these themes, the exposition is divided into four distinct areas reflecting art inspired by Identity, Politics, Sex, and Death.
“Intens Mexico”, photography by Cobra Museum.
This very worthwhile exhibition may be seen until March 29th, 2020.
Enrique Polanco, one of the best-known living painters in Peru, is fascinated by his city, Lima. He is an expressionist who works in wild “Fauvist” colors.
Enrique Polanco – solo exhibition at Cobra Museum.
His concern is the city itself, its buildings, its tensions, its unbridled growth, crime, and destruction. His works are not pretty in the traditional sense. He paints the pain of people overtaken by the growth of the city, people migrating into the city and -not understanding it- remaining in the margin.
Enrique Polanco at Cobra Museum.
While he lives and works in Lima and takes his inspiration from that city, the alienation that is the red thread throughout his work applies to large growing cities all over the world. He shows us a mirror to see what is going on behind us, like in his painting of a burning building with a comfortable chair in front of it, but facing away. If only we sat there and took a selfie, we’d see hat terrible things are going on behind us.
Peruvian painter, Enrique Polanco, John and Anne Dunkelgrün and Polanco’s wife.
You may go there until November 11th and see both exhibitions in one visit, perhaps with a break in the museum’s very pleasant café.
On October 20, 2019, Tanzania’s 5th “Swahili International Tourism Expo” (SITE 2019) for the tourism and hospitality sectors was festively concluded. More than 3,000 visitors attended this year’s global event which featured over 170 international and local exhibitors.
A warm Swahili “Karibu” or “Welcome” was extended to buyers, tour operators, travel agents and media representatives, who travelled from some 60 countries to attend East Africa’s largest exposition devoted exclusively to the tourism trade. In addition to the buyers from neighboring African countries, international buyers from Belgium, China, Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Thailand and more attended SITE-2019. Plans are already underway for “SITE 2020”, which will be held from July 24-26, 2020.
L to R: Kijazi, Kigwangala and Ms. Devota Mdachi exit the SITE-Tanzania 2019 Expo.
At the invitation of H.E. Mrs. Irene F. Mkwawa-Kasyanju, Tanzania’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands; reporters, travel counsellors, tour operators and bloggers from the Benelux were invited to attend the exposition.
The ambassador and her team were especially pleased for the opportunity to introduce Dutch social media “influencers” and local representatives from the travel industry to the newly opened “Terminal 3” at the newly opened Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in Dar es Salaam. On 1st August 2019, Tanzanian President John Magufuli inaugurated Terminal 3, built at a cost of TZS 722 billion (USD 314 million), which is expected to increase JNIA’s capacity to an estimated 8 million passengers annually.
The airport, named for Tanzania’s first president, receives international flights from all over the world and is a short flight from Zanzibar, which lays just 40 km off the coast from Dar es Salaam. The island, located just 6 degrees south of the equator, is a year round beach destination famous for, among other things, “Stone Town”—a UNESCO World Heritage Site popular with international visitors to the island and another, of many, destinations widely promoted to the international community of travel industry professionals who visited the SITE 2019 event.
Chief Secretary, H.E. Ambassador Eng. Dr. John Kijazi, the Guest of Honour, represented the President of Tanzania, Mr. John Joseph Magufuli, at the Expo. He spoke briefly and praised both the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, under the direction of H.E. Hon. Dr. Harnis Kigwangala, together with the Tanzanian Tourist Board, headed by Ms. Devota Mdachi, the Managing Director, for their successful efforts with supporting governmental initiatives to promote Tanzania.
Preparations for a Sunrise Serengeti Balloon Safari.
The country is a world-renowned tourist destination for wildlife and nature enthusiasts and both organizations are actively engaged with diversifying, expanding and improving the country’s palette of tourist product offerings.
Marine tourism (Mafia Island Marine Park or MIMP), historic tourism and beach tourism are among other “multi-center” offerings across the country. In addition to Zanzibar Island, with its glistening beaches and historic “Stone Town”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the country offers more than 800 km of largely undeveloped white sand coastline which is available for innumerable foreign investment opportunities.
H.E. Ambassador Kijazi emphasized that, “you are safe in Tanzania security wise and health wise.” Tanzania, as is already known by international travel industry professionals, is widely recognized as being one of the most stable, secure and welcoming countries in Africa. He called upon the country’s ambassadors, who are serving abroad at diplomatic missions around the world, to continue promoting “Wildlife and Nature” tourism to Tanzania.
Tanzania’s tourism sector has seen a whopping 300% growth over the last decade and directly supports more than 450,000 jobs. According to a recent World Bank report, Tanzania has the potential to receive more than eight million foreign visitors in 2025, a nearly seven-fold increase from current numbers, over a span of a little more than five years. Such impressive figures are of particular importance to Tanzania as the country has designated an astonishing 44% of the nation’s land mass to national parks, wildlife game reserves, and other conservation areas.
One must use superlatives when attempting to describe Tanzania’s abundance of natural wealth. In order to meet the rapidly increasing demand for natural tourism offerings, the government encourages the development of public and private partnerships to further develop the country’s tourism products in a sustainable way to support and benefit people who are often living in remote rural communities.
Lioness, apex predator of the Serengeti plains near the Masai Mara river Crossing.
Three of the “Seven Natural Wonders of Africa” including the Great Serengeti Wildebeest Migration; Mt. Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano and Africa’s highest peak (Kibo Summit is 19,341 ft. above sea level) and the Ngorongoro Crater, an extinct volcanic caldera in the eastern Rift Valley can be found in northern Tanzania.
The latter is part of the vast Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Ngorongoro Lengai Crater is Africa’s only UNESCO classified Global “GeoPark”(UGGp) and, together with Tanzania’s other national parks, is home to hundreds of thousands, even millions, of migratory animals.
All locations are well managed undisturbed natural environments where the “Big Five” African mammals can be freely observed in their own habitats. In addition, the country borders on both Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria, the largest lake on the African continent.
Travelers considering a “safari” vacation should begin their “desktop” research by visiting the website of the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) where detailed information about wildlife, bird watching, trekking, family, singles and photo safaris can be found.
An extensive collection of tourist publications can also be downloaded from the site by clicking here.
Our technologically advanced and progressive world is literally overwhelmed by daily flows, or rather avalanches, of information. We are swimming into a sea of fakes, so hard to resist, moving further away from the shore every day. In the “golden age” of misinformation truth, especially about war, based on facts, is the only possible “lifeline” to cling to.
The essence of the unprecedented, even a bit off-putting, concept of “Transparent War” proposed by the Russian defense ministry in 2017 is that journalists from NATO and EU countries are able to visit Syria and see with their own eyes everything that is happening there, at all times enjoying maximum security. General Igor Konashenkov, who heads the ministry’s department of information and mass communications, personally accompanies such groups, providing comments and answering all questions pertaining to Syria.
They had visited well-fortified military bases, saw the Syrian army reorganized with Russian assistance, parts of the country, liberated from jihadists, humanitarian centers, and observed the Syrian people’s return to peaceful life. The most classified things, like the faces of officers and soldiers, photos of military equipment used in the conflict, as well as the everyday life of military personnel are now available for photo and video coverage.
During their press tour, the journalists met with Syrian officials and chatted with civilians in marketplaces and in city streets to hear what ordinary Syrians talks about. Most of the people they interviewed said they hate the Islamic State*, spoke about their dead relatives, about poverty and destruction and also about their heartfelt gratitude to the Russians, who helped restore peaceful life in Syria.
Photography by Pablo Gonzales in Siria.
The government of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s is working hard to provide maximum help to those who are returning to their abandoned homes to resume the life they enjoyed before the war broke out in 2011.
Even though the government’s resources are pretty much strained, with the assistance given it by the Russian state and business organizations, Damascus is putting the country’s war-ravaged industry back on track. In parts of the country, which for so many years had been the site of fierce battles, street markets, shops and cafes have reopened. People can now order a taxi and, even more importantly, to live without the risk of coming under fire – a real blessing for people who have spent the past few years in the maelstrom of a civil war.
And still, the war has deprived people not only of the houses they lived in, but also of their jobs. Without serious investments it will be real hard to bring the country back to its pre-war state. Poverty is a big hurdle on the way of the Syrian refugees’ return home, because they have neither work nor a place to live, they have lost everything. To bring them back the country needs serious investments and peace – this is what government officials in Damascus emphasize.
A month ago the first serious European investor came forward bringing an international hotel chain back to Syria. This isn’t enough, however, as the war-scarred country needs lasting peace and a transparent world.
Unfortunately, there are other countries in Syria, which are pursuing their own interests there. Therefore, one of the most important goals of the concept of “transparent war” is to make sure that those interested in destabilizing the situation in Syria and supporting terrorists have fewer opportunities to at least use the media for this purpose and generate all kinds of fakes and “ghosts” to mislead the world.
The conditions for achieving these goals are already there: just come to Syria and see with your own eyes. The question is, however, whether Western journalists are ready to face the facts and, most importantly, to honestly speak about them. Are they still able to be open, honest, free and independent in the best traditions of democratic values?
In the photo Anna Mari Machado, the vice-president of the National Parliament of the Republic of Cuba and vice-president of the Council of State with Anton Lutter.
Talking with Anna Mari Machado, the vice-president of the National Parliament of the Republic of Cuba and vice-president of the Council of State
By Anton Lutter.
Ms. Machado visited The Netherlands for 1 day, after visiting the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (global organization of national parliaments) at Belgrade. Even with her busy schedule, meeting with parliamentarians and several other officials, she made ample time to talk to Diplomatic Magazine at the same time enjoying the typical Dutch stroopwafel provided by H.E. Ms. Soraya Alvarez the Cuban ambassador in the Netherlands always in the forefront in sustaining cooperation and friendship between our two countries.
The vice-president visit coincided with the passing of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States with Cuba in the Senate, having been passed earlier in Parliament the 26th of September.
Having studied law, specializing in criminal law, Ms. Machado had a distinguished career in the Cuban judicial branch. She served as legal advisor, judge and president of the Municipal Court of Encrucijada, Villa Clara province; chaired the Popular Provincial Court of Villa Clara and was elected Deputy President of the Supreme People Court. Next to that she was delegated to the Provincial Assembly of Villa Clara and chaired the National Electoral Commission in 2010. In July she became Deputy President of the National Assembly and was re-elected, in accordance with the new Constitution, on October 10. She also serves as Deputy President of the State Council of the Republic, permanent organ of the Cuban Parliament between sessions. Interesting to know is that 53% of the National Assembly consists of women and 13% of its members are under 35 years of age.
With Ms. Machado, who is a warm, open, energetic and sharp-witted person, I discussed two important topics both to Cuba and the European Union, the blockade and the change of the Constitution.
El Bloqueo as it is known in Spanish, is a commercial, economic, and financial embargo against Cuba imposed by the United States. The United Nations General Assembly has almost unanimously condemned these sanctions since 1992 a position to be expected on November, 7.
Machado reiterates that the sanctions have a severe effect on the economy as a whole but also on the daily lives of the Cuban people. The economic effects are estimated to be $ 1.2 billion a year on the US economy, yet on Cuba the embargo has cost more than $ 750 billion up until now. For instance, tourism by US tourists – a major source of income – is being restricted as well. As of June this year the US announced a US ban on cruise ship stopovers by Americans on the island and just this month the US will be revoking existing licenses for US companies leasing aircraft to Cuban carriers, and will deny future applications for aircraft leases in a move to hit the Cuban tourism industry.
But the most important thing according to Machado is that personal lives are hard hit by these sanctions which have strengthened under the current US administration. It has resulted in shortages of the basic needs, including bread, eggs and chickens, but also cuts in fuel and energy are the result of broad US sanctions. Other aspects of the sanctions concern the investor and bank activities in dealing with Cuba of which the cap on remittances have damaging effects on people’s lives. However, the Cuban people are used to decades of sanctions, their strength and positive outlook on live will overcome these sanctions, as Machado firmly states.
It is clear that the European Union has a completely different policy towards Cuba, which is based on political dialogue and economic cooperation. 5 years ago European Union started normalization of relations with Cuba ending its Cold war -era policies.
Europe as a whole is the second most important trading partner and source of import. As recently as last September EU High Representative Federica Mogherini offered financial aid to support reforms to attract foreign investments to Cuba. And of course many Europeans visit Cuba every year as tourists and enjoy the culture, food and music.
Another topic of interest are the changes made to Constitution of Cuba which has been enormously supported by the popular vote in a referendum, February 2019. More than 6.8 million Cubans (90+ %) voted in favour of the constitutional change, after being debated for over a year by the Cuban people – including youth – as Machado mentions, who came up with thousands of suggestions and proposals of which many were incorporated in the final draft.
One of the changes in the Constitution is the explicit right to private ownership, including foreigners, but without actually constituting a capitalist system. Machado: This change supports the already practice of about 500.000 Cubans are the proprietors of small businesses. The Constitution stipulates that within 18 months’ new laws have to be instituted to reflect the change of the Constitution. Anna Mari Machado: “we have huge tasks in front of us considering the enormous changes but also opposing the Blockade and creating awareness amongst the European public about this great unjustness. Also important for Cuba is to work with Europeans on every topic which can be of common interest, including investment relations.”
On Tuesday 29th October, the Slovak and Czech embassies in The Hague organised a concert to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, a momentous historical event that took place on 17th November 1989. The concert was organised in De Kloosterkerk church, and saw the attendance of many excellencies, as well as representatives from international organisations and courts located in The Hague.
To begin the evening, the ambassadors of Slovak and Czech Republics, H.E. Mr. Roman Bužek together with H.E. Ms. Kateřina Sequensová addressed the guests and introduced the context giving rise to the crucial regime change that the Velvet Revolution presented for their countries.
The ambassadors of Slovak and Czech Republics, H.E. Mr. Roman Bužek and H.E. Ms. Kateřina Sequensová .
“Thirty years ago Europe and the entire world was completely different place. Europe was divided by the iron curtain. People were not allowed to travel freely, freedom of speech and assembly was constraint, human rights violated.”
“The collapse of the regime opened the way for Czech and Slovak society to parliamentary democracy and the rule of law, which were based on civil and human rights. And for our country the return to the family of democratic states. The changes became known as the Velvet revolution.”
30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution’s concert in The Hague.
Thereafter, the programme of the concert began, with a piece from Franz Schubert performed by an established Czechoslovak duo composed by Mr. Jan Ostrý playing flute and Ms. Miriam RodriguezBrüllová playing guitar. The programme of the evening also included pieces from the composers Johann Kaspar Mertz, Sylvie Bodorová, and Alexander Moyzes.
A reception ensued after the concert, during which Slovak and Czech wines, as well as delicacies from these countries were served. On this occasion, the embassies also presented a photo exhibition that showed the process of the changes that occurred during the year 1989, with the Velvet Revolution being the breaking point for the regime change in Czechoslovakia.
This concert organised by the Slovak and Czech embassies marked yet another pleasurable evening for the diplomatic community of The Hague.
Friday, 1 November 2019, Gabarone, Botswana: Botswana’s fifth president, Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi took his oath of office in the morning at the University of Botswana Indoor Sports Arena here in Gaborone. The swearing-in ceremony will be the first to be held in public and away from the Botswana Parliament Building where the previous four presidents assumed office.
President Dr. Masisi was joined by some of his counterparts including President Filipe Nyusi [Mozambique] and President Edgar Lungu [Zambia] and representatives of other SADC Heads of State and Government who witnessed the historic ceremony.
Duing his inauguration allocution he made reference to a document that shall be drawn up to ‘guide the implementation of our National Vision 2036, which espouses Prosperity for All Botswana. In this regard, the recently appointed National Transformation Strategy Team will lay out the fundamental changes needed in policy, institutions and mindset to transform Botswana’.
Dr. Masisi promised to focus on young people that are the hardest hit by joblessness. ‘In order to address the twin problems of unemployment and poverty amongst our people in general, I have committed to prioritise job creation during my tenure’.
President Masisi announced that the Government of Botswana is in negotiations with Forbes to host the 2020 ‘Under 30 Summit’ in Gaborone as part of the President’s Initiative. It would be the first time that the Forbes Under 30 Summit would be held in Africa. The event brings together at least six hundred of the world’s most elite entrepreneurs and game changers. They will be 200 Africa best, 200 World Best and Botswana Best. The Summit presents yet another opportunity not only for the young entrepreneurs in Botswana to learn from others and grow their businesses but also explore more ways to creating jobs for the youth.
Once upon a time there was a city by the sea with beautiful beaches. Every New Year was welcomed by two large bonfires on the beach that were built by inhabitants of two neighbourhoods that bordered the sea.
The teams of both neighbourhoods competed to build the most large and impressive pyre. That went well for several years, until the teams started building the pile higher and higher, far beyond what was permitted and far beyond what was safe. The mayor of the city was faced by a dilemma. Should she enforce the rules, in view of the clear danger that the fire would get out of control, although this would probably evoke the anger of the people that were building the pile? Or should she tolerate the dangerous behaviour of these people and hope for the best? She decided to do nothing.
She had no luck, because on New Year’s Eve a strong wind from sea blew sparks and embers over the city, causing fires and a lot of material damage. As a consequence she had to abdicate.
This city by the sea happens to be the seat of government of a small country by the sea, that is building its own dangerous bonfires. At first glance, the bonfires that the Netherlands (the country I am talking about, as you will have guessed) is building are very impressive. Thanks to its efficient economy, it is one of the richest countries and although its land area is small, it has become the second largest agricultural exporter in the world.
However, it has accomplished this by ignoring rules and endangering public health and well-being. Almost nowhere is the loss of biodiversity as dramatic. Of all the animals and plants that used to be indigenous, 85% has become extinct in the Netherlands. Most of the remaining natural reserves are endangered. Every year about 12000 people in the Netherlands die prematurely because of air pollution.
A probably even more fatal danger for the Netherlands is climate change. If all the so-called “developing” countries would follow the Dutch example and would produce as much greenhouse gasses per capita, future generations of Dutchmen might literally get in a sea of trouble.
All this is no news, and the Netherlands is party to several international agreements that are aimed at protecting nature, fighting air pollution and preventing climate change. However, in practice the Dutch government has tolerated and sometimes even supported the building of a bonfire of unsustainable growth.
The burning question is: Will the Dutch government follow the example of The Hague and give in to the short term interests of the builders of this bonfire? Or will it take its responsibility?
29-31 octobre 2019, Principauté de Monaco: Sous la thématique : « Réconcilier l’humanité et la planète : perspectives dans l’espace francophone à la veille des 50 ans de l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie ».
On voit sur la photo La Secrétaire générale Louise Mushikiwabo.
La conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie fut précédée par la 108e session du Conseil permanent de la Francophonie (CPF), ayant eu lieu le 29 octobre. sous la présidence de M. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Ministre des Affaires étrangères d’Arménie, aux côtés de la Secrétaire générale de la Francophonie, Madame Louise Mushikiwabo.
La Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie (CMF) fait partie des trois instances consacrées par la Charte de la Francophonie avec le Sommet et le Conseil permanent de la Francophonie (CPF). La CMF assure la continuité politique du Sommet de la Francophonie.
Le Conseil permanent de la Francophonie (CPF) est l’instance chargée de la préparation et du suivi du Sommet, sous l’autorité de la Conférence ministérielle. Il est à la fois animateur, coordonnateur et arbitre de l’action de l’Organisation. Il fait partie, avec le Sommet et la Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie, des trois organes décisionnels consacrés par la Charte de la Francophonie. Présidé par la Secrétaire générale de la Francophonie, il se prononce sur ses propositions et la soutient dans l’exercice de ses fonctions.
36e Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie.
C’était la première fois que Monaco accueillit une Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie générale, il s’agit d’un pas important pour la Principauté.
La Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie sera l’occasion de lancer une réflexion sur les perspectives de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), notamment en faveur du développement durable, dans toutes ses composantes alliant économie, social et environnement. Le Gouvernement Princier a ainsi souhaité mettre l’accent sur un thème qui lui est particulièrement cher : la promotion du développement durable, en ayant fait le choix de traiter ce sujet de manière large et dans sa dimension plurielle sous l’angle : « Réconcilier l’Humanité et la Planète : perspectives dans l’espace francophone à la veille des 50 ans de l’OIF».
Cette proposition avait été soumise par S.E. M. Gilles Tonelli, alors Conseiller de Gouvernement-Ministre des Relations extérieures et de la Coopération, à l’occasion de la 35e Conférence ministérielle de la Francophonie qui s’est tenue à Erevan en octobre 2018 et approuvée par les États et Gouvernements membres de la Francophonie. Ce thème sera décliné par la présentation, par le Gouvernement Princier, d’un projet de résolution relatif à la préservation des océans et par l’organisation d’un événement parallèle relatif au tourisme durable, en partenariat avec l’Institut de la Francophonie pour le Développement durable.
La Principauté de Monaco a mis en place, depuis septembre 2018, un Comité de pilotage, sous la responsabilité de Madame le Directeur général du Département des Relations extérieures et de la Coopération, laquelle est également le Correspondant national auprès de l’OIF.
La Francophonie, une organisation internationale
L’OIF a vu le jour le 20 mars 1970 – sous l’impulsion des présidents Senghor (Sénégal), Bourguiba (Tunisie), Diori (Niger) et du Prince Sihanouk (Cambodge) – 21 pays se sont réunis à Niamey (Niger), pour créer l’Agence de coopération culturelle et technique (ACCT), devenue aujourd’hui l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Les francophones peuvent s’appuyer sur un dispositif institutionnel voué à promouvoir la langue française et la coopération entre leurs pays (l’OIF rassemble actuellement 88 États et gouvernements). Le Sommet des chefs d’État et de gouvernement, qui se réunit tous les deux ans, est la plus haute des instances politiques décisionnelles de la Francophonie, avec la Conférence ministérielle et le Conseil permanent.
L’OIF mène des actions politiques et de coopération dans les domaines prioritaires suivants :
– langue française et diversité culturelle et linguistique
– paix, démocratie et droits de l’Homme
– éducation et formation – développement durable, économie et solidarité. Dans l’ensemble de ses actions, elle accorde une attention particulière aux jeunes et aux femmes ainsi qu’à l’accès au numérique
Conférences ministérielles
La Charte de la Francophonie reconnaît deux conférences ministérielles permanentes qui sont aussi les deux plus anciennes institutions de la Francophonie : la Conférence des ministres de l’Éducation des pays ayant le français en partage (CONFÉMEN) et la Conférence des ministres de la Jeunesse et des Sports des pays ayant le français en partage (CONFÉJES). La CONFÉMEN œuvre pour la promotion de l’éducation et de la formation professionnelle et technique, et constitue l’instrument privilégié qui permet aux États et aux gouvernements de conjuguer leurs efforts en vue de développer leurs systèmes éducatifs. Son rôle est d’orienter les politiques éducatives dans les pays membres à travers des décisions et des recommandations.
La CONFÉJES appuie les pays membres pour l’élaboration et/ou la mise en œuvre des politiques nationales de jeunesse et de sport. Elle met en place des programmes de formation en faveur de l’insertion sociale et économique des jeunes, ainsi qu’à destination des cadres et des sportifs.
By Priscilla C.X. de Leede, employment lawyer at Russell Advocaten.
In general, Embassies and Consulates with local employees fall under Dutch law and are treated like any other employer in the Netherlands. This means that the new Labour Market in Balance Act, that will be effective as per 1 January 2020, will also apply to Embassies and Consulates. What are the fourmost important changes?
I. Contracts
1. Extension of provisions for consecutive fixed-term employment contracts (chain provision)
As per 1 January 2020, employers can conclude three fixed-term employment contracts in three years instead of two years, without an employee being entitled to a permanent contract. This means that Embassies and Consulates can employ an employee for a longer period than at present, without concluding a permanent contract.
2. On-call workers
An Embassy or Consulate may employ on-call workers. On-call workers will receive more rights as per 1 January 2020. The Embassy or Consulate must call up the on-call workers at least four days in advance. If a call for work is cancelled less than four days in advance, the on-call worker will still be entitled to payment of wages.
In addition, after 12 months of employment, the Embassy or Consulate must offer the on-call worker a contract for the average number of hours he or she has worked during those 12 months. If this contract is not offered, the on-call worker is still entitled to wages for the number of hours.
II. Dismissal
3. Cumulative grounds
At present, an employer can only dismiss an employee if one of the eight grounds (grounds a to h) for dismissal applies. The employer must fully satisfy the requirements for one of the eight grounds for dismissal. The employer cannot base the dismissal on combined grounds.
As per 1 January 2020, various grounds for dismissal that have only partially materialized can be combined (for example underperformance of an employee plus a disturbed relationship). This is referred to as cumulative grounds or “i-ground”. This will make it easier for an Embassy or Consulate to dismiss an employee. However, in the event of a dismissal on the basis of cumulative grounds, the Embassy or Consulate might be obliged to pay the employee a maximum of 1.5 times the transition compensation.
4. Transition compensation
At present, each employee who has been employed for at least two years and whose employment is being terminated on the initiative of the employer is entitled to transition compensation. As per 1 January 2020, employees will be entitled to transition compensation from the first working day instead of after two years, thus including during the probationary period.
The amount of the transition compensation depends on the length of the employment:
1/3 of the monthly salary per year of service over the first ten years of service; and
half a month’s salary over the subsequent years; and
one month’s salary for employees 50 years or older over the subsequent years, if the employer has more than 25 employees.
As per 1 January 2020, the accrual of the transition compensation for every employee, irrespective of the duration of the employment, is one third of the monthly salary per year of service. This means employees do no longer receive a higher transition compensation after the first ten years of service.
Further, as per 1 January 2020 not justperiods of 6 months are taken into account for the calculation of the transition compensation anymore.This means incomplete years of service are settled pro rata.
More information:
Do you want to know what the consequences are of the Labour Market in Balance Act for your Embassy or Consulate? Or do you have any other questions concerning employment law? Pleasecontact Priscilla C.X. de Leede, LL.M. (priscilla.deleede@russell.nl)
In the picture Diana Totinska, HoodTransformers, in Sofia.
A great community beautification project, called HoodTransformers, is taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria, co-initiated by a former Diplomat Magazine Team member, Diana Totinska.
HoodTransformers started as a citizen initiative aiming to encourage locals to take care of the public spaces and the neighbourhoods around their homes and offices. Some of the activities of the association include planting flowers and plants in concrete planter boxes around the city streets, clean-up events, raising awareness and sensitivity regarding dirt and litter pollution, cleaning graffiti tags and hate speech from buildings considered as cultural heritage.
HoodTransformers in Sofia.
They also publish on their website easy DIY handbooks and ideas, guidebooks and good case practices on how to beautify the look of their neighbourhoods. Through their activities, the people behind HoodTransformers strive to change the locals’ attitudes towards public spaces and contradict the perception that people from post-Soviet states inherit the lack of social responsibility regarding common spaces.
Their latest campaign #PlantMe inspires people to plant more flowers and plants on the city streets, in the green spaces and around residential areas, especially in those empty concrete planter boxes which the city is full of. The planters are considered property of the municipalities but due to lack of funding and pubic littering, they are left on the streets full of dirt, cigarette butts and dead plants.
Here is where HoodTransformers steps in, encouraging businesses and locals to “adopt” the planter boxes, clean and care for them. The campaign’s goals are to provide more greenery, beatify the streets and improve the appearance of the neighbourhoods, create a sense of community and bring nature back to the city.
Last but not least, through this campaign they hope to raise awareness about the deteriorating condition of bees and other pollinators, who are declining around the world and are especially rare to see in Sofia’s central parts. By providing food and home for them, the participants and the volunteers in the initiative help them come back and thrive in the city.
However, planting only is not enough so the organizers make sure that the flowers and the plants will be taken care of in the future too. „Our strategy includes choosing the most adjustable, drought and cold tolerant plants who are resistant to weather changes but arealso good for bees.Then we make sure to talkto as much people as possible who are living or working in the area where the planting took place and ask them to take care of the plants and water them“– explains Niki Ignatov, one of the two initiators of the project.
“In this way we are spreading awareness and making sure that more people are involved as well as ensuring that our activity is not just a single act of planting but it will have a long-term impact“.
The project founders are two young Bulgarians who had enough of hearing complaints and decided to take things into their hands and do something to change the environment they live in. They believe that Bulgaria has an undeveloped potential to be a great place for living and also tourist paradise and want to take part in improving the image of Bulgaria at home and abroad.
According to Diana, what drives the team forward is summarized by the following quote: “Because loving where you live is just the beginning—it’s about making it better, too”.
