Bridging the Gender Gap in International Law: meet the Women in International Law Network

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Bridging the Gender Gap in International Law: meet the Women in International Law Network

In the picture current Board Members of the Women in International Law Network: Marija Stajic-Radivojsa Legal Adviser, Serbian Embassy in the Netherlands, Katharina Kofler Legal Adviser,  Austrian Embassy in the Netherlands, Yukiko Harimoto, Legal Adviser, Japanese Embassy in the Netherlands, Ana Cristina Rodriguez Pineda Chef de Cabinet and Principal Legal Advisor, United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals and Antonia Pereira de Sousa External Relations and Cooperation Officer, International Criminal Court. 

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

The field of Law is still, be it on a national or international level, a predominantly male dominated territory. How can that be changed? How do women gain traction, tipping the scales towards a more balanced environment, fostering a culture of support and awareness for the potential and the achievements of women, bringing about positive social change? 

This is something the ‘Women in International Law Network’ aims to further. The WIL for short, is an informal network which aims to empower women in the field of law in the Netherlands by bringing them together to foster professional and personal connections. Established in 2017, it provides a forum to enable women to share information, experiences, ideas and knowledge to bring about positive social change and promote gender equality in the field of law.  

Women in International Law

The Network was created by legal advisers from the Embassies of Australia, Austria, Canada, Israel and Switzerland, as well as the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia Chef de Cabinet.

The current board members include the legal advisers of Austria, Serbia and Japan, as well as the Chef de Cabinetand Principal Legal Advisor of the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals and the External Relations and Cooperation Officer of the Registry of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Network includes more than 300 members, and keeps growing with every new event. It is open to mid-level to senior female officials, experts, advisers and academics working in international law in the Netherlands. Men also participate in some of the events facilitated by the WIL.

Since the Network’s establishment several high-level events have been organized and held. Two discussions around the topic of Harassment at the Workplace, how to confront it and all the challenges revolving this issue. The most recent event on this topic was hosted by the Embassies of the Republic of Serbia and Israel, in July 2019. Several high profile speakers, such as the President of the Staff Union of the ICC Ruth Frolich, the Staff Welfare Officer of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Paola Paoletti, and the Coordinator for Safe Working Environment from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gerda Vrielink, enriched the agenda. 

An event at the University of Leiden on the Fight against Gender Inequality with UN Deputy High Commissioner of Human Rights Kate Gilmore to mark International Women’s Day in 2019 inspired and enhanced awareness on the need for all to play an active role to fight against gender inequality in a populist world. Moderated by Professor Patricia Sellers, Special Adviser of the ICC Prosecutor on Gender, and with an introduction by Professor Helen Duffy, the event allowed for the possibility of empowering women who are at different stages of their professional life, engaging with the subject at an early stage. 

Earlier this year a panel discussion celebrating the New Female Voices in Legal Academia was held at the Austrian Residence in The Hague, inspiring fascinating and rich dialogue and co-facilitation from young female researchers on various and ground-breaking fields of international law, including the responsibility of social media companies regarding human rights violations and litigation around achieving sustainable fisheries.

Women in International Law Network

In the previous year’s events such as a mock debate on the (in)effectiveness of Gender Quotas, discussions on Gender barriers in the Workplace, a movie screening on Women’s Suffrage, as well as hearing from guest speakers on Women in Leadership in the field of International Law, grew the Network and paved the way for more events and possibilities for connecting with strong, successful women in the field.  Social gatherings also have allowed members to mingle in a more casual environment and exchange views and experiences. 

All the panellists are exceptional and successful women in strong positions, who have asserted their place in their fields of work and who are now able to pass on their experiences and help shape the future of women in international law.  The Network benefits in particular from the rich and diverse community of women working in and around international law in The Hague, an international hub for international peace and justice, and thrives thanks to this strong and enabling environment. 

The Network is active on its LinkedIn page (Women in International Law (WIL) Network), where information on upcoming events can be found, as well as articles and reflections related to the overall goal of the Network; it is also present on Twitter with the hashtag #WILnetwork 

Anyone interested in becoming a member can send an e-mail to womenilnl@gmail.com  indicating their name, e-mail and organisation/position, and/or ask to join our LinkedIn page.

Komitas Vardapet, a 150th jubilee for an Armenian giant

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Komitas Vardapet, a 150th jubilee for an Armenian giant

In the picture H.E. Ambassador Ashot Smbatyan.

By Dr Tatevik Shakhkulyan and Ambassador Ashot Smbatyan.

Komitas Vardapet (1869-1935) is an Armenian composer, music collector, musicologistand music performer. Devoting his entire life to research of traditional Armenian music, he created a national Armenian style of music composition and outlined paths for development of Armenian music. He was one of the pioneers in ethnomusicology in the world. Komitas is one of the most known personalities in the entire history of Armenia. His life and his activity symbolize the “Armenianness”. Many Armenians perceive him as an identity.

Komitas Vardapet, Armenian composer

Komitas’s birth name was Soghomon Soghomonian. He was born to an Armenian family in the city of Kütahya in the Ottoman Empire. He sang Armenian folk and spiritual songs, but he did not speak Armenian, because Kütahya was a Turkish speaking city. Only later he learnt Armenian. At the age of ten Soghomon moved to Etchmiadzin, the holy center of Armenians, according to the request of the Catholikos Gevorg IV. He studied there at the Gevorgian Spiritual Seminary and graduated in the 1892-93academic year.

At the age of 21 he was ordained a Senior Deacon, followed by Celebrated Priest four years later. When ordaining Soghomon a celebrated priest, Catholicos Makar I named him Komitas in honor of the 7thcentury Armenian Catholicos Komitas Aghtsetsi. Later on he became a Vardapet, which is a church academic degree. 

Receiving his early music education in the Seminary, Komitas got private music classes from the composer Makar Yekmalian and then moved to Berlin in order to study music. 

Komitas received his fundamental music education in Berlin, where he lived and studied in 1896-1899. He graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy of the Royal University (now Humboldt University) and from the private conservatory of Richard Smidt. While studying with the honored musicologists Oscar Fleischer, Heinrich Bellermann and Max Friedländer at the University, Komitas gained practical and theoretical musical knowledge at his classes of the conservatory. Evidently, his studies in Berlin played an outstanding role for him. At the same time, his epistolary heritage witnesses that the teachers themselves were admired by the unusual talent Komitas had.

After Berlin studies, Komitas lived in Etchmiadzin and taught at Gevorgian Seminary. He conducted choirs, among which was the Cathedral Choir. He did field-work of collecting music, which he had started long ago, since 1880s; he composed music and did musicological research. After moving from Etchmiadzin to Constantinople in 1910, he continued his activities as a composer, researcher, choral-conductor and teacher.

During this time he travelled much over Western and Eastern countries for research, lectures, concerts, concert-recitals. He travelled to Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Bulgaria, Alexandria, etc. 

As a founding member of the International Music Society, Komitas was actively engaged in the musicological events of Europe. The organization played a major role in European musicology. It published books and periodicals, organized conferences and congresses, etc.Komitas was one of the most respected members of the Society. His lecture-recitals in many Western cities (including Berlin, Paris, Geneva etc.) were highly covered by the international press.

UnfortunatelyKomitas’s creative life ceased because of the Armenian Genocide in1915. The Ottoman government exiled Komitas along withmany other Armenians, but he was allowed to return after a few weeks due to the intervention ofHenry Morgenthau, who was the USA Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire at that time. Thus, Komitas returned Constantinople, but he gradually stopped his creative activity.

In 1919 Komitas was transferred to Paris for the purpose of medical treatment. He spent there the last sixteen years of his life and passed away on October 19,1935. A year later his remains were transferred to Yerevan and buried in the Pantheon of prominent Armenian people. Komitas’s grave remains there up till now and the Pantheon now carries Komitas’s name. 

Many years later the Komitas Museum-Institute was built in the vicinity in 2015. While not being a place Komitas lived in, the museum-institute became a place with such a role, since it aimed at continuing Komitas’s activities.

Definite portion of Komitas’s works disappeared after the Armenian Genocide. What is available by now, was collected after his death by the so-called Komitas’s Caretaker Committee. 

Komitas collected thousands of folk and church songs and melodies. For that purpose he travelled much targeting remote dwelling places which did not have close contacts with the outer world. Komitas believed that the music and culture was preserved purely in such places. Not only Armenian music, bat also that of neighboring nations – Turkish, Kurdish, Assyrian, Arabic, Iranian – were subject of his interest. 

Komitas studied, analyzed and classified the songs he collected, explaining their characteristic features. He employed the collected materials for research purposes. In the result he derived the structure of the Armenian modal and melodic foundations and consequently created a music-theoretical system, which he used in his works. He published the results of his research in scientific articles and publicized them through his lectures, talks, lecture-recitals. In his works he used Armenian folk and church songs from both his collection and from printed books. Most of his works are based on the theoretical system of his own. 

One of the most noteworthy scholarly works by Komitas was deciphering Medieval Armenian Khaz notation. This was a system of music notation with various signs put above the literary texts. While thousands of such manuscripts dating back to the 10thto the 18thcenturiesare kept in different museums, they are not read now. In the result of about 20 years of research, Komitas managed to find the key to reading them. However, not much has survived from Komitas’s activity. Instead, Komitas himself very often along with the usual five-line notation used the New Armenian Notation, considered as Limonjyan Notation, which was created in the 19thcentury. 

Komitas was a wonderful singer with a nice baritone; he was a sring (Armenian flute) player and a choral conductor. He was gifted with amazing aural skills and music perception. He has conducted numerous choirs in various cities in many Eastern and Western countries. To be noted is his Gusan Choir in Constantinople, which consisted of as many as 300 singers.

2019 is the year of Komitas Vardapet’s 150thbirth anniversary, which is celebrated in association with UNESCO. 

About the authors:

Dr. Tatevik Shakhkulyan. Komitas Museum-Institute, Yerevan: https://komitasmuseum.am/en/

H.E. Mr. Ashot Smbatyan, Ambassador of Armenia in Berlin: http://www.germany.mfa.am/de/

Dutch Labour Law and update for Diplomats

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Dutch Labour Law and update for Diplomats

Diplomats only seminar

In the picture Dr. Hayder Al Tamimi, Legal adviser, Embassy of Iraq and Jan Dop, Russell Advocaten.

On 2 October 2019, in collaboration with Diplomat Magazine, Russell Advocaten hosted a – diplomats only – seminar in The Hague. The subject of this well-attended event was “Dutch labour law and investing in the Netherlands – an update for Diplomats”.

Mr. Omar Tarik Gencosmanoglu, Commercial Attache, Embassy of Turkey and Ms. Eva Balog, from the Embassy of Hungary during the registration period.

The agenda contained the following:

  • (New)Dutch dismissal law
  • Labour Market in Balance Act
  • Employee illness 
  • Investment in the Netherlands

The highly interactive meeting focused in particular on Dutch dismissal law and the mandatory transition compensation. 

Attendees to Dutch Labour Law & Investing in The Netherlands’ seminar by Russel Advocaten in collaboration with Diplomat Magazine.

Key issues for Embassies include:

  • As from next year, every employee who does not quit himself is entitled to a transition allowance from day 1, even in the event of a temporary contract. Even though this obligation does not apply to termination agreements, a minimum comparable compensation will have to be paid in that case too. 
  • As from next year, you may conclude three-year contracts in a row.
  • Every employer, including Embassies, must call in an occupational health and safety officer/company doctor in the event of illness of employees. 
  • It will be possible to combine reasons for dismissal.
  • A wage sanction may be imposed in the event of inadequate supervision of ill employees. 
The Ambassador of Lebanon, H.E. Mr. Abdel Sattar Issa during the seminar.

Diplomats from Finland, Turkey, Kazakhstan, US, Armenia, Iraq, Lebanon, Ecuador, Tanzania, Surinam, Hungary, Nicaragua, Georgia, Singapore, Yemen, South Africa, Italy, Tunisia, Spain, Kosovo, Brazil, Ukraine, Slovenia, Malaysia, Ghana, Estonia, among others attended the seminar.

H.E. Ms. Sahar Ghanem, Ambassador of Yemen.

During the seminar that started earlier in the morning, many asked questions and Russel’s team composed by Jan Dop, Ranier and Paul Russell came back with practical counselling and solutions.

Russell Advocaten regularly publishes updates for Embassies on www.embassydesk.nl, the website for diplomats. You can also read our posts on the website of Diplomat Magazine.

Authentic Cuban cigar lounge in The Hague

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Authentic Cuban cigar lounge in The Hague

On the year of Havana’s 500th anniversary since its foundation, the embassy of Cuba in the Netherlands presented a top selection of some of the internationally recognized brands of Cuban cigars at the VI Diplomats Welcome After Summer event organized by the Diplomat Magazine.

An overwhelming number of diplomats from embassies and international organizations, business companies, as well as politically well-known personalities attended the event, including Dutch ministers, the Ambassadors of China, Malaysia, Rwanda, Indonesia, Vietnam, Iran, Republic of Korea, Uzbekistan, State of Palestine, Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia, Angola, Tanzania, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Holy See, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, and Ecuador; Charge d’ Affaires, a.i. of the Russian Federation, Georgia, Argentina, Panama, Suriname and Azerbaijan; and representatives from the Embassies of the USA, Kenya and Poland.

Cuban cigars tasting at Crowne Plaza VI Diplomats Welcome After Summer.

An unique cigar lounge in the Crowne Plaza Hotel provided an authentic atmosphere of the Cuban capital La Havana, with Jorge Martinez’s music accompanied by a piano and a guitar. The guests could also enjoy a glass of original Cuban Havana Rum together with their cigars, which only intensified the experience of the traditional Cuban tastes. 

Her Excellency the Ambassador of Cuba, Soraya Elena Alvarez Nuñez gave an impressive speech in front of the more than 200 guests attending the reception:

“Today, we are celebrating the relations of friendship and fraternity between the diplomatic community, the authorities of the host country and the Dutch friends in creating spaces and setting bridges between us to continue strengthening cooperation among all parties.

Cuba is a lover of friendship, solidarity and cooperation, these values alone could foster a better world for future generations therefore we are appealing to all of you to support this values.”

6th Diplomats Welcome After Summer Reception in Crowne Plaza

Ambassador Alvarez Nuñez continued by stressing the importance of the international cooperation and solidarity:  

“Cuba is also a grateful country and for that we say to everyone thank you very much for the support that the international community has given my country for more than 60 years in the consolidation of our independence and in facing difficulties caused by unjust blockades and policies. Thanks everyone for your friendship and solidarity with Cubans.” 

Rum from Cuba at Crowne Plaza.

The Cuban Embassy contributed greatly to the pleasurable atmosphere of the VI Diplomats Welcome After Summer reception by showcasing some of the most emblematic symbols of Cuba’s culture: its dance, music, and tastes, represented by the original Havana Rum together with the top Cuban cigars and the warm Cuban rhythms.

The Hague International Open Day

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The Hague International Open Day

On Sunday September 22nd, The International Open Day was held in The Hague, during which many of the international organizations and institutions located in this city opened their doors and offered guided tours as well as presentations to the public. This festival followed and partnered with the Just Peace Festival that was held during the UN International Day of Peace, celebrated on September 21 worldwide, as well as in The Hague – globally known as the international city of Peace and Justice.

The Hague International Day looking inside the international organizations.

This one-day event was a great opportunity to discover how various EU, UN, or intergovernmental organizations, as well as numerous NGOs operate. The Hague is home to institutions such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), Eurojust, OPCW, or the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Peace Palace, the work of which is immensely important to make the world safer and better place.

ICC

In the International Criminal Court, the visitors of the Open Day had the chance to see an interactive exhibition about the victims of the types of crimes that the court deals with, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression, or genocide.

What is more, the public was also guided through the process of investigating these crimes by following the artefacts exhibited in the halls of the ICC. Moreover, every hour the visitors were allowed to enter the main courtroom and listen to a presentation by the employees about their work for the court. 

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) also prepared a rich programme for the visitors of the open day by presenting interactive Q&A sessions with OPCW experts during which they provided an overview of the way this organisation works to eliminate the world’s arsenal or chemical weapons.

Another highlight of the open day visit to this institution were the demonstrations of a live-action of inspectors who showed the special equipment that is being used in OPCW missions. 

Eurojust

The visit to Eurojust enabled the public to “Meet the Prosecutor”– presentations during which the real prosecutors of this institution were describing their work as well as the operational structure of the European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit. The president of Eurojust himself, Mrt. . Hanran gave a important welcome speech about The workers of Eurojust also guided the visitors through the interiors and rooms of the building, where they could discover the environment in which cross-border crime investigations are led.

Overall, the International Open Day was a great success among the public, and by offering a plentiful programme, the participating organisations left a forceful impression on the visitors, while also underlining their contribution to the world peace, and not least, the international nature of The Hague.

Ruinart preparing 300th birthday

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Ruinart preparing 300th birthday

September 2029 shall mark Ruinart’s 300th jubilee as the world’s oldest champagne maison. 

Leading up to this paramount anniversary, each year from now on, Maison Ruinart shall commission a new artistic, or architectural project in Reims that integrates nature into its innovation and creativity. It begins in September 2019 with an immersive installation created by a duo of up-and-coming artists, Mouwad Laurier, who achieve surprising results by combining artificial intelligence with art.

For further information:
https://www.facebook.com/Ruinart/videos/1138374409686839/

https://www.ruinart.com/en-uk/art/artistic-collaborations/retour-aux-sources?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social-advertising&utm_campaign=2019-Retour-aux-sources&fbclid=IwAR3j-qWb0ckp8B3SCz3wxSOhOlwbyDJNdgVuwTVpS6UgUsvcd7d5VZtEzpg

Tonga expands to the Middle East

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Tonga expands to the Middle East

UAE Minister of State Zaki Nusseibeh & King Tupou VI of Tonga – Picture by Gabby Wantok Abariga.

Monday, 30 September 2018, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: HM King Tupou VI officially opened Tonga’s new embassy in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Prior to the opening, His Majesty’s Private Secretary, Mr Sione Fifita offered Christian blessings before HM King Tupou VI unveiled a commemorative plaque followed by a brief inspection of the chancellery situated on Level 26, Tower 3, Etihad Towers.

Tonga’s Ambassador-designate to UAE, ‘Akau‘ola, welcomed guests to his new headquarters at the Etihad Towers. The event was attended by UAE Minister of State (Presidential Affairs), Zaki Nusseibeh; HE Saleh bin Ahmed bin Salem Al Suwaidi, UAE non-resident Ambassador to Tonga; Ahmed Al Hai Al Hamli, the Director of the East Asia and Pacific Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Saeed bin Abdullah Al Qamzi, Director of the Visits Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as well as Tongan top envoys based in London, Canberra, Beijing, Tokyo and New York. 

HRH Princess Latufupeka & The Hon Titilupe Fanetupouvava’u – Picture by Gabby Wantok Abariga.

Fiji’s Head of Mission to the UAE, Ambassador Kamlesh Prakash was also present representing the South Pacific mission already present in the UAE. 

UAE- April 26, 2016: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces ( ), attends the inauguration of Al Hosn Gas Integrated Facility. ( Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court – Abu Dhabi )

For further information :

https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/economy/story/Tonga_opens_its_first_embassy_in_Abu_Dhabi-WAM20190930113157296/

Pictures by CocoNew – The Agency.

ICC President and Prosecutor attend the UN General Assembly

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ICC President and Prosecutor attend the UN General Assembly

Court plays critical role in a rules-based international system

From the 24th to the 27th of September 2019, the President of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”), Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, and ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, attended the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (“UNGA”) at the United Nations (“UN”) Headquarters in New York, to advance their respective mandates under the Court’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute.

Drawing Heads of State and Government, ministers, senior officials and civil society leaders, the annual high-level segment of the UNGA provides a key strategic platform in the margins of the Assembly for the Court’s principals to highlight the work of the ICC within their respective roles, to build support, and to draw on synergies with relevant stakeholders and actors to further the goals of the Rome Statute.

During his stay in New York, President Eboe-Osuji had bilateral meetings with the President of Senegal H.E. Macky Sall, the President of the UNGA H.E. Tijjani Muhammah-Bande, and theForeign Affairs Ministers of South Africa H.E. Naledi Pandor, Trinidad and Tobago H.E. Dennis Moses, Vanuatu H.E. Ralph Regenvanu and Nigeria H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama, as well as informal discussions with a number of Heads of State and Government and other dignitaries, including from several States that are not party to the Rome Statute. In his meetings, President Eboe-Osuji focused in particular on efforts to promote the universal ratification of the Rome Statute in all regions as well as the strengthening of relations between the Court and African States.

“At a time when the multilateral system is facing many challenges, it is crucial to stress the ICC’s irreplaceable value to humanity. Not only does the Court’s mandate help to deliver justice to victims around the world and deter the gravest atrocity crimes; it is also essential to the achievement of peace, security and sustainable development.

As such, the Court’s work resonates strongly with the dominant themes highlighted by world leaders during the General Debate of UNGA”, said President Eboe-Osuji. “I was encouraged by the unstinting declarations of support for the Court expressed during my meetings, in which many interlocutors reaffirmed their conviction that the ICC plays a critical role in a rules-based international system. I am optimistic about the prospects of increasing the engagement of states from different regions in the ICC’s work, while at the same time the Court itself is investing unprecedented efforts in enhancing its efficiencies to better fulfil its mandate.”

In the margins of the UNGA, Prosecutor Bensouda held productive bilateral meetings with, among others, H.E. Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of Central African Republic;  H.E. Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, President of Mali; H.E. Macky Sall, President of Senegal; H.E. Iván Duque Márquez, President of Colombia; H.E. Sheikh Hasina Wazed, Prime Minister of Bangladesh; H.E. Isatou Touray and H.E. Mamadou Tangara, respectively Vice-President and Foreign Minister of the Gambia; H.E. Riyad Al- Maliki, Foreign Minister of Palestine; Pramila Patten, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict; Jim Goldston, Executive Director of the Open Society Justice Initiative, and Richard Dicker, Director of the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch. 

“As we make progress on this necessary journey towards greater accountability for atrocity crimes, and encounter new challenges, what is required today, more than ever, is greater support for our independent and impartial work and the international rule of law more generally; not less. Now is not the time to back down,” said Prosecutor Bensouda. “We need to jointly strengthen the international criminal justice system, with the ICC as its central pillar, through greater dialogue, engagement and cooperation”, she added.

On the 26th of September, President Eboe-Osuji and Prosecutor Bensouda addressed the Informal Ministerial Network (“IMN”) for the International Criminal Court, a network of over 30 Ministers of Foreign Affairs representing ICC States Parties from all regional groups.

The event, hosted by the Swiss State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Pascale Baeriswyl, as well as the Permanent Missions of Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the United Nations, provided a venue for the President and the Prosecutor to update the IMN on the work of the Court, and exchange on the recent challenges and ways to strengthen the Rome Statute system. 

The President and the Prosecutor expressed their appreciation to the States represented for their strong statements of support for the ICC and the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice.

Hessian Peace Prize for Ethiopian PM Ahmed

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Hessian Peace Prize for Ethiopian PM Ahmed

Monday, 23 September 2019, State Assembly of Hesse, Wiesbaden, Germany: The Speaker of the Hessian Diet, Boris Rhein, convened various high-level guests from Hesse and Ethiopia at the Music Hall of the state’s legislature for the bestowal of this year’s Hessian Peace Prize upon the 15th Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Dr Abiy Ahmed. 

Hesse’s Premier Volker Bouffier praised Abiy Ahmed in his encomium: “I am very pleased that the Hessian Peace Prize of the Albert Osswald Foundation, which will be awarded this year for the 25th time, goes to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed. We wish him and the citizens of Ethiopia and Eritrea a lot of strength, patience and success on the road to peace”.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister could not partake himself during the award ceremony, and was represented by the Minister for Peace of his cabinet, Muferihat Kamil, who thanked him on his behalf. “The Hessian Peace Prize is both an honour and an incentive to continue our reforms,” said the Minister on behalf of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The Hessian Peace Prize Foundation is headed by a board of trustees that include Chairman Karl Starzacher, Boris Rhein (Speaker of the Hessian Diet) and Nicole Deitelhoff (Hessian Foundation for Peace and Conflict Research).

For further information 
Hessian Diet: https://hessischer-landtag.de/content/hessischer-friedenspreis-2019-verleihung

Hessian Government: https://staatskanzlei.hessen.de/presse/bildergalerie/verleihung-des-hessischen-friedenspreises-2019-0

Prime Minister of Ethiopia: https://pmo.gov.et
https://diplomatmagazine.eu/2019/08/30/hessian-peace-prize-for-dr-abiy-ahmed/
Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Germany (HE Ambassador Mulu Solomon BEZUNEH): http://aethiopien-botschaft.de/?p=3977

Image by Hessian State Assembly Landtag Chancellery Hermann Heibel.

Bruce Koloane terminates his tenure in The Hague

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Bruce Koloane terminates his tenure in The Hague

In the picture H.E. Mr. Bruce Koloane, Ambassador of South Africa.

By Roy Lie Atjam.

H.E. Mr. Vusi Bruce Koloane, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, the “Rainbow Nation”, has completed his stint in the Netherlands.

Diplomat Magazine and sponsor Diplomatic Card hoisted a Ceremony of Merit for Ambassador Koloane on 26 September 2019. A good number of Ambassadors drop by to take leave of Bruce with whom they have collaborated so well over the years.

H.E. Ms. Irene Florence Mkwawa Kasyanju, Ambassador of Tanzania, H.E. Ms. Haifa Aissami Madah, Ambassador of Venezuela to the Multilateral Organizations, H.E. Ms. Päivi Kaukoranta, Ambassador of Finland, Ambassador Koloane, Ambassador Rawan Sulaiman, Chief of Palestinian Mission, H.E. Ms. Aida Sakiqi, Ambassador of Albania, H.E. Ms. Ngo Thi Hoa, Ambassador of Viet Nam and H.E. Ms. Maria Teresa de Jesus Infante Caffi, Ambassador of Chile.

Ambassador Koloane received a Certificate of Merit,   for his contributions to the bilateral relationship between South Africa and the Netherlands. The certificate also serves as a recognition for what he has done for the Diplomatic community, the multilateral institutions and the Africa group of Ambassadors.

H.E. Mr. Abdelouahab Bellouki Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Ambassador of South Africa and H.E. Mr. jean Pierre Karabaranga, Ambassador of Rwanda.

The Ambassador of Rwanda H.E. Mr. Jean-Pierre Karabaranga and the Ambassador of Morocco H.E. Mr. Abdelouhab Bellouki, loud Bruce in their address for being such a genuine friend and colleague.

Ambassador Bellouki said about him: “Bruce will definitely leave behind delightful memories. You have good words to say about everyone and the right words about everything. A distinguished and elegant representative of the Republic of South Africa. Known for your dedication to your job and engagement for positive endeavors.

Ambassador Koloane and the publisher of Diplomat Magazine, Dr. Mayelinne De Lara.

Your sterling qualities force respect and consideration.  Since your accreditation in October 2014, you demonstrated tremendous hard work, full dynamism, high competence, strong abilities and high skills and talents. You set the bar too high for your successor. Respectful for others’ views and positions, dialoguing in serenity. Anyone who interacted with Bruce cannot but be so generous in compliments.

Ambassador Bellouki during his speech.

At the OPCW, he discharged his duties with commitment, responsibility and passion. Present on all fronts and involved in all consultations and meetings. A creative problem-solver. Aware of everything. Following topics, especially of interest for African countries. You were a brilliant coordinator of our Group.

You represented African Group with distinction, as a cochair or facilitators or conveying to our interlocutors the Group’s concerns on diverse topics. You also did well regarding your duties towards other organizations in the Hague, especially the ICC. You faced many challenges with determination and success.

By your hardworking, you put the African interests focused on. Dynamic, motivated, competent, respected and respectful.”

Ambassadors from Iran, H.E. Dr. Alireza Kazemi Abadi, Finland, H.E. Ms. Päivi Kaukoranta, Georgia, H.E. Mr. George Sharvashidze, Lebanon, H.E. Mr. Abdel Sattar Issa Albania, H.E. Ms. Adia Sakiqi, Tanzania, H.E. Ms. Florence Mkwawa Kasyanju, Nigeria, H.E. Mr. Oji Nyimenuate Ngofa, Chile, H.E. Ms. Maria Teresa de Jesus Infante Caffi, Morocco, H.E. Mr. Abdelouahab Bellouki, Palestine, H.E. Ms. Rawan Sulaiman, Rwanda, H.E. Mr. Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Venezuela, H.E. Ms. Haifa Aissami Madah, El Salvador, H.E. Mr. Agutin Vazquez Gomez, Viet Nam, H.E.. Ms. Ngo Thi Hoa, Mr Amokrane Mourad Charge d’affaires of Algeria, a representative from Mexico, IOM Chief of Mission, Mr. Antonio Polosa, H.E. Mr. Philippe Couvreur and the Minister Counsellor of Russia Mr. Boris Zhilko.

Salute to  Balozi Bruce Koloane, (Balozi is Ambassador in Swahili) for his vision, professionalism, charisma, sense of humour and his ability to mediate in tight situations.

H.E. Mr. Oji Nyimenuate Ngofa, Ambassador of Nigeria and the Ambassador of South Africa, H.E. Bruce Koloane.

All wished Ambassador Bruce Koloane and his family well in the next phase of their life.

Indeed, a colossal has departed from The Hague.

H.E. Mr. I Gusti Wesaka Puja, Ambassador of Indonesia, Ambassador Bruce Koloane and the Minister Counselor of Russia, Mr. Boris Zhilko.

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