President of the Assembly of States Parties regrets withdrawal from the Rome Statute by the Philippines
The President of the Assembly of States Parties, Mr. O-Gon Kwon (Republic of Korea), has reiterated his regret regarding the withdrawal of the Philippines, effective as of 17 March 2019, from the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court (“ICC”).
President Kwon noted, “the Assembly of States Parties, comprising more than 120 States from all regions of the world, is fully committed to the Court’s mandate: to help put an end to impunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.”
“I sincerely hope that the departure of the Philippines from the Rome Statute is only temporary and that it will re-join the Rome Statute family in the future. Encouraging universal adherence to the Rome Statute is key in strengthening our collective efforts to promote accountability for atrocity crimes and the rule of law”, said President Kwon.
“The ICC relies on the continued support of the international community to ensure its effectiveness in the fight against impunity”.
In Parallel Bait Muzna Gallery, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman 18 March – 1 April 2019
‘In Parallel’ interprets artist Rashid Al Khalifa’s artistic œuvre by considering the interconnectedness of styles that define certain periods.
Beginning with landscape painting in the ‘70s and continuing on to minimalistic, parametric structures that Rashid has exhibited most recently, his vast body of work has seen distinct shifts in style through varied use of mediums. However, the recurrence of certain sentiments resonates throughout. Matte, aluminum installations from 2012 onwards, recall his desert landscapes from the ‘70s, whereby the shadows cast by the soft desert light in these early landscape paintings, reawaken decades later in his minimalistic dunes and eclipses.
Mirrored pieces from the 2010’s, call to mind the reflective, fluidity of water and the susceptibility of Bahrain’s desert wadis, a regular feature of his paintings from the ‘80s. Feminine, wispy and emotive forms of the ‘80s and ‘90s, transpire in his lustrous lacquer paintings that began in the late 2000’s, only to reemerge a decade later in his immaculate enamel rose series.
The symmetry, geometric precision and bold hues of colour that define his most recent parametric forms are reminiscent of both his interest in the functionality of traditional Bahraini architecture, as well as the manner wherein these repetitive elemental structures react with their natural environment.
Despite experimenting with varying materials and developing distinct styles over the years, Rashid’s desire to simultaneously explore his heritage and his relationship to his immediate environment, has endured throughout his artistic practice. Essentially, the undercurrent that resonates throughout this exhibition at Bait Muzna Gallery is in many ways, reflective of the consciousness of the artist, the versatility of his work and of particular transitional periods in his life.
About Rashid Al Khalifa Bahraini artist Rashid Al Khalifa (Manama, Bahrain, 1952) began painting at the age of 16 and had his first exhibition at the Dilmun Hotel, Bahrain in 1970. He travelled to the UK in 1972 where he attended the Brighton and Hastings Art College in Sussex and trained in Arts and Design. Al Khalifa’s artistic practice has evolved over time: from landscapes in the 70s and early 80s, to merging elements of his figurative and abstract work in the late 80s, progression towards abstraction and experimenting with the ‘canvas’ in the 90s, and recent mirror-like chrome and high gloss lacquer pieces. His new work also incorporates installations reflecting a clear Bahraini identity.
His solo exhibitions include Penumbra: textured shadow, coloured light (Saatchi Gallery, 2018, London,https://vimeo.com/293801432, https://man.vogue.me/lifestyle/art-and-design/sheikh-rashid-bin-khalifaal-khalifa-penumbra-2018/), Hybrids, Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG6wnHhlp9I, 2018) Les Roses de Bagatelle at Maison Guerlain (2018, https://www.facebook.com/pg/GuerlainFR/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1793190634050514) Convex: A New Perspective, Bahrain National Museum, Kingdom of Bahrain (2010); Art Department, Shuman Arts Organisation, Jordan (1997); De Caliet Gallery, Milan, Italy and El Kato Kayyel Gallery, Milan, Italy (1996); Biennials include: Bridges, Grenada Pavilion, 57th Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy (2017); 3rd Mediterranean Biennale: OUT OF PLACE – Sakhnin Valley, Israel (2017); Arab Delegation, TRIO Bienial – Rio de Janeiro, Brazi (2015); and In The Eye of the Thunderstorm, Collateral Events, 56. la Biennale di Venezia – Venice, Italy (2015).
The Mubarak Mosque on the Oostduinlaan in The Hague was opened in 1955 and is the oldest mosque in The Netherlands. It belongs to the Ahmadi-Muslims or Ahmadiyya who believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad from the city of Qadian (India) was the Mujaddid, the promised Saviour or Mahdi. He preached a return to the basis of Islam to his followers, who today number well over ten million worshippers worldwide.
The Ahmaddiyya firmly believe in living within the communities where they settle. In the Netherlands they want their children to go to regular schools and to get their religious training at home or in the mosque. They participate as a community as well as privately in the life of the city and the country. Their charitable collections are disbursed to organisations like the Dutch KWF Cancer Fund, food banks and refugees. In order to promote dialogue and to foster mutual understanding, once a year they organise an open house, where people who live in quite a large circle around the mosque are invited to meet, talk and enjoy a curry dinner.
On March 16th this year the open house took the form of a Peace Conference. There was an impressive panel of speakers including among others a senior Alderman from the City of The Hague, Mr. Rachid Guernaoui, a member of the City Council of Rotterdam, Mr. Narsingh Balwantsingh, a journalist and media expert Mw. Tjalina Nijholt and several members of the Ahmaddiyya comunity.
The conference was held under the black cloud of the massacre in Christchurch, which underlined the need for dialogue and cooperation.
Mr Guernaoui stressed that in The Hague, a city with at least 180 nationalities, this dialogue is crucial. “We need to concentrate not on where people came from, but where they are going, what their future can be”. He is preparing an action plan for the city that concentrates on work, language (Dutch!) and a community without demarkations. Only when we can understand one another and listen to one another can we learn about one another and feel confident to be in each others work groups.
Mr. Narsingh Balwantsingh
Mr. Balwantsingh, a Hindu, was so overcome by the tragedy in New Zealand, that he had thrown his prepared speech away and gave an impassioned plea for mutual understanding, citing several stanzas from the Veda’s, the Hindi Holy Scriptures ending with an almost Spinoza like saying that everything is related, everyone is related to everyone.
Tjalina Nijholt talked about the influence the media have on society. The media can spread information, but they can also spread hatred. Where ill is spoken, ill will follows. She talked about her grandparents, good god-fearing people with not a racist bone in their bodies, who yet, because of what they read or saw on the television, are dead scared of the people down the street who wear black head scarves.
A local conference like this with perhaps 50 guests is small potatoes, but if you get more, if you get many efforts like this, you’ll end up with a big stew. And we all know that it is the variety of meat, vegetables and herbs that makes a good stew so irresistible.
22 February 2019, Milano, Italy: Daniel Lee hosted his runway début at Bottega Veneta within a specially erected glass pavilion on Piazza Sempione. The décor was sleek and stark, benches covered in Bottega Veneta’s signature woven leather in brown and duck egg blue. The pent up longing is for the kind of sophisticated, effortless and glamorously minimalist wardrobe fused alongside the leather heritage and good taste of Bottega Veneta.
Lee offered some of the garments essential to that wardrobe: a black coat evoking Bottega Veneta’s leather weave yet in cloth, a rigid and flared black tuxedo trouser with a ribbed panel down the side, and a long-sleeved knitted turtle-neck dress in charcoal with a cut-out and arched décolletage. It also appeared as an aubergine.
Elsewhere, the 32 year old Briton put his directional ambition in top gear. Knitted dresses were decorticated and interspliced, tailoring with fluid cut-outs lined in padded leather recalled retro futurism, and super sculpted blazers and coats with magnified and raised neck and shoulder lines felt decidedly made for fashionable people.
On the menswear side, hacked-up black and navy roll-necks and cut-glass black tailoring and power coats that match the ideal dystopian science fiction style of Daniel Lee. The latter was exemplified in a wildly boxy, cape-sleeved, lapel-less black blazer worn bombastically over an all-leather motorcycle suit, the trouser tucked into an unyielding Storm Trooper leather boot. However the delicate elegance of a very contrasting transparent blouse worn under a delectably skinny black overcoat with matching black trousers and a black capitonnage leather derby trumped the quotidian elegance sought after by male wearers.
In a few months a new and extended translation will be published in The Netherlands by Gerard Arp of Arpenco Publishers. It has been for over a century since Noli Mi Tangere has been translated into the Dutch language.
To date the only work of Rizal which has been translated into Dutch. The “Noli” is the first novel published by the Philippines national hero Jose Rizal and is considered one of the great literary legacies of the Philippines.
Originally it was written in Spanish and published in Berlin in 1887. The book was quickly banned by the Spanish authorities in The Philippines because of its critique on the colonial government.
This new translation includes the parts which has been left out in the original 1912 edition by Dr. A.A. Fokker and will be published both in paperback and an exclusive hardback subscribers edition. In the later the names of the subscribers will be included in the book.
Jose Rizal, who was executed in Manila December 30, 1896, was prolific writer and artist. He masterminded several languages during his stay in Europe where he studied medicine, specializing in ophthalmology. His works have been inspiring the people of the Philippines in the uprising against the Spanish. There are also plans in translating the sequel to the “Noli” titled El Filibusterismo which originally was published in the Spanish language in 1891.
Ambassador Jeffrey outlines the United States’ next steps in Syria
By Guido Lanfranchi.
In the wake of the Conference of Donors for Syria, the United States’
Special Representative Ambassador James Jeffrey welcomed the international
community’s commitment to support the Syrian people through humanitarian aid.
At the same time, he also stressed the need to continue the fight against ISIS
and to support a political transition in Syria.
On March 12-14th, 2019, representatives
from over sixty countries and international organizations gathered in Brussels
for the donors’ conference “Supporting the future of Syria and the region”,
co-organized by the European Union and the United Nations. The participants to
the conference discussed the situation of Syria and its surroundings, and
agreed to pledge around USD 7 billion in order to assist the Syrian population,
by now affected by eight years of conflict.
Speaking from Brussels in the wake of the conference,
Ambassador James Jeffrey, the United States’ Special Representative for Syria,
welcomed the amount pledged by the conference, underlining the U.S.
contribution of around USD 400 million. At the same time, however, Mr. Jeffrey
stressed that humanitarian assistance is not enough. He accused the government
of President Bashar al-Asad to be at the root of the country’s problem, and he
thus stressed the need to move forward with a serious political process in
order to improve the country’s conditions. Such process – Ambassador Jeffrey
underlined – should be brought forward by the Syrian people, with the
international community set to hopefully play a supportive role.
Special Representative Jeffrey also outlined parts of the
U.S. military strategy in the wake of President Trump’s announcement that the
U.S. would withdraw its troops from Syria. He clarified that there is no
pre-defined timetable for such withdrawal, as well as that, in spite of a
partial withdrawal, the U.S. will maintain some military presence in the country.
This presence will be aimed at avoiding a “destabilizing vacuum” – he noted,
stressing that the US military presence in the region remains “a force for
stability and collective security”.
At the same time, Ambassador Jeffrey noted that the
U.S. and its allies will remain in Syria as part of the Global Coalition’s
mission to defeat the Islamic State. While the terrorist organization has been
defeated militarily, it can still be very dangerous as an underground terrorist
group – he claimed. He also praised U.S. allies from all over the world for
their positive responses to the U.S.’ request for fairer burden sharing on the
mission, although noting that no final decisions on increased military presence
by other countries have yet been made.
Finally, Ambassador Jeffrey also touched upon some of
the many international players involved in the Syrian scenario. He voiced the
U.S. willingness to meet the legitimate security concerns of both its Turkish
and Kurdish partners, and praised the crucial, albeit difficult, cooperation
between the U.S. and Turkey in the Manbij area. Conversely, Ambassador Jeffrey
condemned Iran for its “destabilizing activities” in Syria and in the broader
region, and underlined that – according to the U.S. position – the Syrian
political process should lead to the departure of foreign troops, and chiefly
Iranian troops, from the country.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Jeffrey stressed
that, in order to have a positive impact in Syria, the U.S. needs the support
of the international community, including its partners in the region as well as
the European Union. As the international community has proved to be effective
in pledging humanitarian support to the Syrian people – he noted – similar
mechanisms will have to be at play to address the country’s political
situation.
In the picture sitting from left to right: H.E. Ms. Sahar Ghanem, Ambassador of Yemen, H.E. Ms. Sabine Nölke, Ambassador of Canada, H.E., Ms. Ngo Thi Hoa, Ambassador of Viet Nam, H.E. Ms. Brandusa-Ioana Predescu, Ambassador of Romania, the President of the Dutch Senate, H.E. Ms. Ankie Broekers-Knol, H.E. Ms. Marithza Ruiz, Ambassador of Guatemala and coordinator of the group of Women Ambassadors, H.E. Ms. Irene Florence Mkwawa-Kasyanju, Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Heidemaria Gürer, Ambassador of Austria and H.E. Ms. Rawan Sulaiman, Chief of Palestinean Mission.
From left to right: H.E. Dr. Ilze Rūse, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia, H.E. Ms. Eksiri Pintaruchi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand, H.E. Ms. Mirsada Čolaković, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Ms. Kaili Terras, Ambassador of Estonia, H.E. Ms. Päivi Kaukoranta, Ambassador of Finland, H.E. Ms. Tatiana Pârvu, Ambassador of Moldova, H.E. Ms. Andrea Gustovic Ercegovac, Ambassador of Croatia, H.E. Ms. Regina Maria Cordeiro Dunlop, Ambassador of Brazil, H.E. Ms. Sanja Stiglic, Ambassdor of Slovenia, H.E. Ms, Adia Sakiqi, Ambassador of Albania, H.E. Ms. Maria Alonso, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain, H.E. Ms. Rosa Batoréu, Ambassador of Portugal, H.E. Ms. Maria Teresa de Jesus Infante Caffi, Ambassador of Chile and H.E. Ms. Soraya Alvarez, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba.
Thursday 14th of March, the Ladies Ambassadors’ group in The Netherlands gathered at the Eric Jan Fransen Kookstudio. After International Women’s Day, it seemed like the perfect time for the President of the Dutch Senate, H.E. Ms. Ankie Broekers-Knol, to come have a discussion with about 20 other ambassadors, all women.
By Aurore Heugas.
“Every day should be International Women’s Day, but this seemed like a fitting time to welcome Ankie Broekers-Knol among us”, started H.E. Ms. Marithza Ruiz, Ambassador of Guatemala to The Netherlands and coordinator of the Ladies Ambassadors’ group in The Hague. “Seeing so many women Ambassadors in one country is not common, and should be celebrated”.
The Ambassador of Guatemala and the President of the Dutch Senate. Close to them the Ambassador of Finland, H.E. Ms.Päivi Kaukoranta, the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova, H.E. Ms. Tatiana Pârvu and the Ambassador of Croatia, H.E. Ms. Andrea Gustovic Ercegovac.
For this annual meeting, a guest of exception came for a visit. Ankie Broekers-Knol, President of the Dutch Senate, was there to discuss with other powerful women.
Talks revolved around current affairs, from Dutch politics and the approaching Senate elections, to Brexit, as well as International Women’s Day. This gathering took place at The Hague’s Kookstudio in Javastraat, offering an intimate atmosphere with dim chandelier and candle light along with a robust fireplace.
Ms. Lucia Rodriguez Fetzer, Counsellor and Consul General of Guatemala., H.E. Ms. Marithza Ruiz de Vielman and Ms. Celeste Marinelli, Consejero, Press Officer, Embassy of Guatemala
More than a discussion, this
gathering was the occasion for likeminded women to think of new ways to reach
common goals.
After about an hour and a half, the group took a break to take a picture together, showing a united front between the Women Ambassadors in The Netherlands. This photo is the demonstration of different cultures coming together and trying to help one another, in the spirit of global diplomacy and in the spirit of International Women’s Day.
The President of the Dutch Senate, H.E. Ms. Ankie Broekers-Knol, together with many women ambassadors in The Hague during the discussions.
H.E. Ambassador Rumen Alexandrov hosted a reception in The Hague on 7 March 2019, celebrating the 141st year of the re-establishment of the Bulgarian state. It was the end of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) that ultimately led to the signing of Treaty of San Stefano of 3 March 1878.
The reception also celebrated the 110th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. An exposition showcased documentation pertaining to the longstanding cordial diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo H.E. Mr Lirim Greiçevci and the Ambassador of the Philippines, H.E. Mr. Jaime Victor Ledda during the Bulgarian reception.
Ambassador Rumen Alexandrov started his welcome remarks by saying: it is my privilege to welcome you all this evening to celebrate the National Day of Bulgaria We have arranged a small exhibition of facsimiles of documents related to the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the Netherlands, but also illustrating the Bulgarian presence in The Hague in multilateral fora back more than century ago. For example, you may be surprised by the fact that Bulgaria was represented in full capacity at already at the First Peace Conference in the Hague in 1899.
Nowadays we work with the Netherlands bilaterally, but also as EU members and NATO allies on a wide agenda with the ultimate aim to make our countries stronger, our communities safer, and our economies more prosperous.
Last year, my country has also demonstrated its positive political agenda and leadership during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU which was also an opportunity to enhance our bilateral relationship with the Netherlands (with numerous high level visits to our country of the Prime Minister Mark Rutte, many of the Government ministers, members of parliament and hundreds of Dutch officials ).
H.E. Archbishop, Aldo Cavalli, Apostolic Nuncio and the Ambassador of Israel, H.E. Avid Shir -On.
This year the Bulgarian – Dutch cooperation at local level was symbolically marked by another special event: the second largest city in Bulgaria – Plovdiv was passed the title of European Capital of Culture for the year 2019 from the Dutch city of Leeuwarden in Friesland, the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Plovdiv – one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, integrates an abundance of cultural events, a well-developing business sector and a rich history. Populated successively by Thracian, Romans, Byzantines, Slavs and Bulgarians,
Plovdiv is currently a cosmopolitan city – a home of different nationalities, cultures and religions. Plovdiv is celebrating its year in the spotlight as “European capital of culture 2019” with a rich programme of nearly 500 cultural events.
Mr. Arno Brok, the King`s Commissioner for Friesland.
Our cooperation at local level is also very strong, having in mind the excellent cooperation for already 18 years between the twinning cities Dordrecht and Varna, which has developed strong ties in the business, cultural and social sphere and I take this opportunity to thank to the people from the Dordrecht Varna foundation and from the municipality of Dordrecht who are today with us but mostly to our special guest and friend of Bulgaria Mr. Arno Brok, the King`s Commisioner for Friesland, who previously was Mayor of Dordrecht, and who contributed immensely to the Bulgarian-Dutch relations in particular between Dordrecht and Varna, and to whom I have the pleasure to give the flour now.
H.E. Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan and the President of the International Criminal Court, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji.
Following Mr Arno Brok ’s remarks, Alexandrov proceded with his remarks. I take once again this opportunity to congratulate the people of Bulgaria on our National Day, and to thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate this special occasion with us.
Few more remarks – the distinctive red and white tassels you have seen around are known as “Martenitsa”. They are the Bulgarian way of celebrating the arrival of the spring. We wear them for health and good luck.
Emilian Tоdinov, played the gaida.
In conclusion, the young Bulgarian musician – Emilian Tоdinov, played on one of the best-known Bulgarian folk instruments, the Gaida– the Bulgarian bagpipe. A reception followed.
Washington, DC, March 13.- The Washington Academy of Political Arts & Sciences™ nominates Geovanny Vicente Romero to the Political column of the year category of the Napolitan Victory Awards 2019, a recognition of his weekly political column on CNN.
These awards -considered the most prestigious and coveted awards of political communication, recognize the best campaigns aimed at Spanish-speaking audiences around the world. In addition, professionals are valued in the media, academics, technological and digital media, books and political magazines as well as the production of video and audio campaigns, among others.
Geovanny Vicente Romero is a columnist for CNN based in Washington, DC. also published frequently in Diplomat Magazine. He is a political strategist, international consultant and lecturer. He has published many articles on development, human rights, governance, democracy, elections, the environment, as well as the role of women in society. Geovanny is the founder of the Dominican Republic Center for Public Policy, Leadership and Development (CPDL-RD).
Geovanny has a masters degree from George Washington University in political communications and strategic governance.
“I am honoured to receive this recognition for the work I do through my weekly column in CNN, where I analyze not only the political landscape and democracy of Latin America in the wider world but also injustices, human rights and political equality. I am grateful that the Napolitan Victory Awards has taken into account what we are doing. This nomination has great value for me. Also, I want to thank my readers for their feedback and support, ” said Geovanny Vicente Romero
“This year we received an avalanche of proposals in that line whose influx exceeded the number of candidacies raised since the founding of these awards,”, manifested Jéssica Osorio, Director of Communications of the academy, who said: Geovanny Vicente Romero it is an example of the commitment to excellence that the academy seeks to recognize each year, according to its members”.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — 14 March 2019 — The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala, H.E. Ms Sandra Erica Jovel Polanco, during a visit to OPCW Headquarters in The Hague yesterday.
The Director-General and the Minister of Foreign Affairs discussed progress in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention. The discussion also focused on enhancing the OPCW’s capabilities to address the threat from chemical weapons use and the project to upgrade the Organisation’s Laboratory into a Centre for Chemistry and Technology.
Both officials acknowledged the need to intensify international cooperation and assistance to promote the peaceful application of science and technology and to advance the sustainable development of OPCW Member States.
The Director-General expressed: “Guatemala has my sincere gratitude for its staunch commitment to the goals of the Convention and for its support of the Organisation. Only together can we rise to the security challenges of this century, including the permanent eradication of chemical weapons from our planet.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs stated: “Our ultimate goal in this Organisation is to achieve a world free of chemical weapons and in that regard, the Convention and the OPCW are our only instruments. We must preserve them”.
