Bavaria opens representation in Ethiopia

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Bavaria opens representation in Ethiopia

Director Linda Schraml & Premier Dr. Markus Söder – Picture by Bayern.de

14-18 April 2019, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: the Premier of the Free State of Bavaria, Dr. Markus Söder travelled to Ethiopia pursuing the goal to contribute to the positive democratic and innovative development of Ethiopia as well as to expanding economic ties to Africa in general. 

In a statement Premier Dr. Söder described Ethiopia as an “stability anchor in the Horn of Africa, but at the same time a focal point for global challenges”.  Water scarcity, the decline of forests and soil erosion are an expression of climate change and significant environmental problems in Ethiopia. Moreover, Ethiopia is a central transit country for refugees. The Free State of Bavaria wishes to contribute to ameliorating the situation on the ground as per the government statement. 

Bavaria selected Addis Ababa, owing to its status as a hub for continental diplomacy by hosting the African Union as well as further international organisations, to open its first representation in Africa being led by Director Linda Schraml. 

Federal President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde & Premier Dr. Markus Söder – Picture by Bayern.de

A Bavarian-Ethiopian Business Forum plays a pivotal role in exploring and expanding existing economic business between the two countries. 

During his visit to Ethiopia Dr. Söder also paid a visit to the Gambela refugee camp, and offered Bavarian aid in the fields of education and sanitation. 

For further information: 
Government of the Free State of Bavaria: http://bayern.de/staatsregierung/ministerpraesident/ministerpraesident-dr-soeder-in-aethiopien/

Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (HE Ambassador Kuma Demeksa Tokon): http://aethiopien-botschaft.de

U.S. to ratchet up pressure on Cuba through the Libertad Act

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U.S. to ratchet up pressure on Cuba through the Libertad Act

By Guido Lanfranchi.

Since May 2nd, the United States’ administration will not suspend Title III of the Libertad Act, a historic policy reversal that will step up the U.S. pressure campaign on Cuba. The move comes as a condemnation of Cuba’s domestic political situation, as well as the island’s support for the governments of Venezuela and Nicaragua.

The Libertad Act (also known as Helms-Burton Act) was passed by Congress in 1996 to strengthen the pressure applied by the United States on Cuba after the Communist Revolution of 1959. In one of its crucial passages, known as Title III, the Act allowed U.S. nationals with a claim to confiscated property in Cuba the right to file lawsuits against people or companies trafficking in that property. While for the last twenty-two years successive administrations decided to suspend these rights, things are set to change now, as the Trump administration will not suspend Title III starting from May 2nd, 2019. 

The twenty-two years long suspension – a Senior State Department official clarified – had always been aimed at fostering Cuba’s transition towards democracy. However – the official regretted – such transition has never materialized. To the contrary, the U.S. administration accuses the Cuban government of tightening its control on the country’s politics, committing human rights violations, as well as negatively influencing countries across the region, such as in the cases of Venezuela and Nicaragua, where Cuba has historically supported governments unfriendly to the United States. 

In response to this behavior, the United States administration has vowed to step up its pressure on the Cuban government, while pledging support to the Cuban people – the Senior official clarified, underlining the importance of the decision on Title III in this regard. According to State Department estimates, the move might impact as many as 200,000 certified and uncertified claims, involving large amounts of money, allegedly up to tens of billions of dollars. Moreover – the Senior official clarified – no exemptions at all will be allowed under Title III. 

This move has raised a number of issues for the United States, namely concerning its relations with the European Union. The EU has significant relations with Cuba, and EU policy-makers have made clear that they stand ready to file a case against the US at the World Trade Organization to challenge the U.S. decision. The U.S. State Department tried to downplay the disagreement, noting that the U.S. and the EU broadly agree on the promotion of democracy in Cuba, albeit allowing that “there are some disagreement on the tactics to get there”.

Regardless of all controversies, the U.S. seems ready to step up its pressure on Cuba, and the standoff between the two nations seems set to continue in the next future. 

NRW at German Week in St Petersburg

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NRW at German Week in St Petersburg

Wednesday, 10 April 2019, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation: NRW State Secretary for Justice Dirk Wedel partook at the “German week” and paid a visit to several justice institutions in Russia. 

North Rhine-Westphalia is the partner land from this year’s sixteenth edition of the German Week that is arranged by the German General Consulate in Saint Petersburg to further promote the exchanges in the fields of culture, economy, and civil society. 

State Secretary Wedel was a speaker during his time in Russia at the opening of the “Day of Justice”, which focused on expert discussions about mediation processes to settle disputes in and out of court. State Secretary Wedel compared the framework to the the situation in global conflicts, which could likewise be benefited by mediation processes. 

State Secretary Wedel and his delegation visited two regional courts as well as the Constitutional Court of Sankt Petersburg, and were received by top Russian judges, who explained the Russian justice system as well as possibilities for the citizenry to directly bring forth cases to the constitutional court. In the latter respect State Secretary Wedel highlighted the newly created legal process that allows for citizens in NRW to individually appeal to the regional constitutional court with seat in Münster. 

For further information:
https://www.land.nrw/de/pressemitteilung/justizstaatssekretaer-dirk-wedel-zu-besuch-st-petersburg-anlaesslich-der-deutschen

WEF at Dead Sea in Jordan

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WEF at Dead Sea in Jordan

6-7 April 2019, Dead Sea, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) ended with a call for its stakeholders to increase collaboration on social, economic and climate issues. It should help the region “punch at its weight” instead of below it, co-chairs of the meeting said in the closing plenary.

The co-chairs of this year’s meeting were: Khalid Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive, Bahrain Economic Development Board, Bahrain; Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates; Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Tourism of Egypt; Alain Bejjani, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Holding, United Arab Emirates; Wafa Ben-Hassine, MENA Policy Counsel, Access Now, USA; Sumantra Chakrabarti, President, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), London; Tony F. Chan, President, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia; and Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands.

The 100 most promising start-ups of the Arab world participated in the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa and engaged with industry and government leaders to discuss the future of their industries and how to add value to society.

Prof. Klaus Schwab, Hilde Schwab & King Abdullah II – Picture by Hashemite Royal Court

Their tailored programme included sessions on social impact, cyber security and an informal dialogue between Khalid al Rumaihi, Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, HH Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, as well as Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. The initiative aimed at further integrating the Arab world’s most promising start-up entrepreneurs into a national and regional dialogue on pressing challenges. 

The World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa took place in partnership with the King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD). The meeting marks the 10th hosted by Jordan since it was first convened at the Dead Sea in 2003. It brought together more than 1,000 government, business and civil society leaders from over 50 countries.

For further information: 
https://www.weforum.org/press/2019/04/world-economic-forum-on-middle-east-and-north-africa-urges-leaders-to-develop-full-potential-of-the-region-through-collaboration

Stéphane Dion in the Saarland

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Stéphane Dion in the Saarland

Tobias Hans & Stéphane Bern – Picture by Saarland.de

Tuesday, 2 April 2019, Saarbrücken, the Saarland: Premier Tobias Hans received the Canadian Ambassador to Germany, Stéphane Dion, to for a courtesy call at the State Chancery, and one hour conversation focused on intensifying economic ties between Canada and the Saarland. 

Previous to his vist to the State Chancery, Ambassador Dion was guest of President of Saarland University, Prof. Dr. Manfred Schmitt as well as of Diet Speaker Stephan Toscani. 

In addition to his ambassadorial mission, Ambassador Dion, is Canada’s Special Envoy for the European Union and Europe. 

For further information: 
https://www.saarland.de/SID-136A39D9-C9D7A934/6767_246569.htm

5th term for Benjamin Netanyahu

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5th term for Benjamin Netanyahu

Friday, 12 April 2019, State of Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won the Israeli national election, securing a record fifth term in office despite running neck-and-neck with his challenger General (ret) Benny Gantz.

The closely contested race was widely seen in Israel as a referendum on Netanyahu’s character and record in the face of corruption allegations. In power since 2009, and having led the country for a total 13 years including his first term in the 1990s, Netanyahu had been struggling for his political survival.

Netanyahu highlighted his close relationship vis-à-vis President Donald Trump, who delighted Israelis and angered Palestinians by recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017 and moving the American Embassy to the latter city last May.Two weeks before the election, Trump signed a proclamation, with Netanyahu at his side at the White House, acknowledging Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war.

The latter in accordance to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s pre-election promise, which was widely seen as an attempt to draw right-wing votes rather than a change of policy. Some political analysts fear that with Trump’s moves on Jerusalem, as well as the Golan, the prime minister may feel emboldened to advocate for annexation, in spite of the opposition by most members of the international community. 

President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday, 17 April, commissioned Benjamin Netanyahu with the task of forming a government after 65 out of 120 deputies recommended him. Netanyahu has 28 days to comply, with a two-week extension possible, if necessary.

For further information:
http://www.pmo.gov.il/English/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.pmo.gov.il/English/MediaCenter/Spokesman/Pages/spoke_merkel150419.aspx

The U.S. warns the EU about 5G security issues

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The U.S. warns the EU about 5G security issues

By Guido Lanfranchi.

With upcoming 5G networks and the “internet of things” revolution, issues of network security will be increasingly important. For this reason, the United States is pushing for a risk-based framework, which would include serious controls on the supply chain of 5G infrastructure.

“5G will be truly transformational”, as it will “really start touching all part of our lives”, including very sensitive issues such as telemedicine, autonomous transportation, and automated manufacturing. This is the basic premise laid out by Mr. Robert Strayer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. 

Being aware of the importance that 5G infrastructure will have on the lives of people all around the world, Mr. Strayer and his team have been engaged over the last years in a sustained diplomatic campaign targeting 5G technology and related security issues. The U.S. – Mr. Strayer underlined – is “urging countries around the world to carefully consider how they adopt a risk-based framework for security”, which should crucially include “looking at the supply chain of the vendors that would be part of their 5G infrastructure”.

Mr. Strayer focused specifically on the potential risks arising from including in the supply chain companies headquartered in countries where governments have a much larger role in influencing the companies’ strategies. For instance, in the specific case of China – he claimed – laws “allow the Chinese government to direct the actions of companies for their national interests of China”, thus potentially undermining the national security of countries employing the technologies produced by such companies.

Mr. Strayer also noted that, while the prices of products coming from China can be lower, the intrinsic vulnerabilities of these technologies are likely to drive their price up in the long run. Moreover – he noted – one should also consider that such low prices are often achieved through state subsidies, thus undermining the principle of fair competition. 

As a result, Mr. Strayer and his team will continue their negotiations with partners around the world, notably with the European Union, to pursue more coordinated policies on 5G infrastructure. Such coordination – Mr. Strayer warned – might be necessary to ensure that transatlantic cooperation in economic and security matters will continue as smoothly as in the past decades.

70 ans de relations diplomatiques belgo-indonésiennes

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70 ans de relations diplomatiques belgo-indonésiennes

« 70 ans de relations diplomatiques belgo-indonésiennes : renforcer davantage la coopération entre les deux peuples »

Savez-vous que cette année l’Indonésie et la Belgique fêtent le 70e anniversaire de leurs relations diplomatiques ? Au fil des années, des liens d’amitié se sont profondément tissés entre les deux pays qui se reflètent dans plusieurs domaines d’activités.

Les relations entre les deux pays ont débuté depuis 1947 lorsque Dr. Paul Van Zeeland, alors sénateur coopté, a été choisi comme membre du « Comité des Trois Nations », aux côtés de l’Australien Richard Kirby et de l’Américain Dr. Frank P. Graham, dans le cadre des bons offices pour le règlement du conflit entre l’Indonésie et les Pays-Bas.   

À l’occasion de la commémoration du 70e anniversaire des relations diplomatiques entre le Royaume de Belgique et la république d’Indonésie, l’Ambassade d’Indonésie à Bruxelles organise une série d’événements importants, le premier s’est tenu le 30 mars dernier, sous forme de réunion rassemblant les citoyens belges auxquels le gouvernement indonésien avait attribué depuis 2011 divers programmes de bourse leur permettant d’effectuer une visite organisée en Indonésie.

Ainsi, parmi les 80 anciens boursiers, certains ont pu bénéficié d’une bourse appelée « Darmawiswa » pour étudier la langue indonésienne et des danses traditionnelles dans différentes universités du pays ; d’autres ont pu bénéficier d’une bourse pour participé soit à un programme d’études d’art et culture indonésiens, soit à la Conférence des étudiants du Bali Democracy Forum ou bien à un voyage de familiarisation vers des destinations touristiques en Indonésie.

Enfin un programme de bourse a également été proposé à des citoyens belges mais aussi à des responsables du Parlement européen, dans le cadre d’échanges et dialogues interconfessionnels.

L’Ambassadeur indonésien, Yuri O. Thamrin, a tenu à préciser durant cette réunion, l’importance de renforcer la coopération bilatérale surtout au sein de la jeune génération, ceci conformément au slogan de la commémoration, « Allons plus loin ensemble ».

Cette réunion a été un véritable moment aussi bien de partage et d’exploration de nouvelles idées et contributions apportées par les anciens boursiers du gouvernement indonésien. Certaines d’entre elles sont intéressantes à noter notamment la coopération entre l’Université Udayana de Bali et l’Université de Liège, basée sur accord de partenariat, concernant les recherches effectuées sur la population des macaques de la région d’Uluwatu à Bali. Des boursiers ont mis en valeur d’autres aspects de l’Indonésie, comme son image pluralistique, ainsi que les produits pouvant valoriser le pays dont la qualité de son cacao.  

Toujours dans cet état d’esprit de renforcer une étroite collaboration belge-indonésienne, d’autres activités seront ouvertes au public cette année sous forme de séminaires, de promotions culturelles, d’expositions de photos, de forum des affaires, et le tout clôturé par une réception diplomatique.

Plus de renseignments:

Ambassade d’Indonesie en Belgique et Luxembourg, S.E. l’Ambassadeur Yuri Octavian THAMRIN: 

https://www.kemlu.go.id/brussels/en/default.aspx

U.S. DEA Administrator visits Belgium and the Netherlands

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U.S. DEA Administrator visits Belgium and the Netherlands

By Guido Lanfranchi.

In early April, Mr. Uttam Dhillon, Acting Administrator for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, visited Belgium and the Netherlands. During the visit, Mr. Dhillon discussed DEA’s cooperation with the European Union and visited the Port of Antwerp.

Mr. Dhillon, head of the renowned U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, arrived in Belgium in the wake of a recent visit to Colombia. The combination of these two visits – he said – shows to observers that there is a strong transatlantic link between the cocaine sold in Europe (as well as in the United States) and the powerful South American drug trafficking organizations.

In this dirty business – he underlined – the Port of Antwerp is a key crossroads: in 2018 alone, 50 tons of cocaine were seized by Belgian authorities in the port, and almost the same amount was interdicted before it got there. 

During his visit, Mr. Dhillon met with several partners, including European, Belgian, and Dutch law enforcement authorities. The aim of such meetings – Mr. Dhillon stressed – “is to continue to reinforce our very very strong relationship”. Transatlantic efforts aimed at disrupting powerful drug businesses continue.

The world is meeting in Termez

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The world is meeting in Termez
Bakhshi International Art Festival, Termez, Uzbekistan 

Termez, Uzbekistan. Hundreds of artists of all kind, film producers, teachers, musicians, theatre directors, classical orchestra conducers, intellectuals and historians from around the world are arriving today in Uzbekistan to participate in the epic poetry festival, the unique Uzbek musical art of recreation of histories, named Bakhshi.

The art of Bakhshi is a tradition of epic poetry developed widely in the VI-V centuries BC; Bakhshi means “educator who promotes enlightenment, knowledge”. A “Bakhshi” is a clever and wise artist who sings epic songs and passes on his educational heritage from generation to generation. 

The city of Termez, located at the border with Afghanistan, looks beautiful, with its greenery and spring flowers, such as tulips and early roses. Big signs are well-placed to announce the festival, every large street has been decorated with enormous flower-shaped lights and local dance groups and performers are filling up hotels and buses. 

Bakhshi Festival April 2019, Termez, Uzbekistan Photography by Beckhzod Abdudjabbarov

Looking forward to seeing a rare art expression with dances, scenarios and ethnic musical instruments, film directors from Sweden, Denmark, China, Greece and Belgium are attending the Bakhshi Festival in Termez. Percy Yip Tong from Mauritius, a theatre producer, record label owner, expert in traditional Sega music band with his instrument the Ravanng is in Termez as moderator for two conferences. Bakhshi Festival is also a reunion of international guests, including a number of writers, linguists, musicians and historians, some of them featuring as the festival’s keynote speakers. Besides the talented artists performing in the festival, there will also be a prestigious grand jury, as well as international guests looking for new source of inspiration.

First Bakhshi Festival, Termez, Uzbekistan.

One of the guests, Mohamed Otayeck Joseph, Marema’s manager, an experienced musician who accompanied Alpha Blondy and Steve Wonders for 15 years, arrived yesterday. Marema herself is a big name from Senegal, laureate of the Discovery prize of the RFI in 2014. 

The government of Uzbekistan have invested heavily in the Bakhshi Festival, and the people of Termez have worked very hard to make it happen. Students from the language section of Termez College are disciplined and dedicated guides accompanying every guest, the local schools of dance are participating in different events, together with groups coming from other regions, ethnic musicians, choreographers, and dressmakers who have been working hard for months.

Termez, Uzbekistan at the Bakhshi Festival.

Termez International Airport was today the first setting for the Bakhshi Festival: a hundred young Uzbeks dancers and musicians received a full plain of international guests coming in Uzbekistan Airlines with their music, dances, fruits and flowers. For Karim Dakroub, theatre director from Lebanon, marionetiste and a professor at the University of Lebanon, being here in such a unique place in the centre of the Silk Road and having the possibility to exchange with colleagues from around the world is an immense opportunity.

The unique Bakhshi Festival has just started.

Information: www.bakhshi.uz

Images by Uzbek photographer, Beckhzod Abdudjabbarov.

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