By Roy Lie Atjam.

The Hague, 26 November 2018, Diplomatic The Hague bids farewell to Latin American Ambassadors.
Hence, Diplomat Magazine sponsored by  Diplomatic Card throw a valedictory ceremony in recognition for what these two highly esteemed sons of the Latin America region have achieved during their stint in the Netherlands.

The spotlight was on the Ambassador of Costa Rica H.E. Mr. Sergio Ugalde Godinez and the Ambassador  of Mexico, H.E. Dr Elias Azar.

The two ambassadors were each presented with a Certificate of Merit. Diplomat Magazine award a certificate of merit to parting Ambassadors as a token for the outstanding contribution made to strengthen the ties between their countries and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Furthermore, for the significant collaboration with the multilateral institutions in the Netherlands.

H.E. Ms. Maria Teresa Infante Caffi, Ambassador of Chile and H.E. Mr. Juan José Quintana, Ambassador of Colombia, lauded and express thanks for what the two Ambassadors have achieved for the Diplomatic Community in general and by extension for GRULAC.

Ambassador Ellias Aznar is an advocate of Justice, Democracy and Human rights. Ambassador Sergio Ugalde Godinez was praised for one of his qualities, finding common ground, bringing the sheeps back to the fold despite the different viewpoints. He  is a genuine bridge builder!

Ambassador Ugalde Godinez expressed this thanks to all as follow:

“I am honoured by this token of appreciation hosted by the Diplomat Magazine, who I would like to thank for having us today, at this memorable venue, and for taking up this notable initiative, that is, to bid a farewell ceremony to diplomats who are ending their tenure in the Netherlands.

I am also grateful to share the spotlight with Ambassador Edgar Elias Azar, who I am certain is more deserving of this recognition than myself.

I am particularly indebted to Ambassador María Teresa Infante for her kind and certainly unworthy remarks about me and my time in the Netherlands, but which I accept with infinitive thanks.

I presented credentials to His Majesty, King Willem Alexander, four years ago, and although I had the opportunity to be involved earlier with the Netherlands in other capacity, serving my country as its Ambassador here has been an extraordinary experience.

Costa Rica shares with the Netherlands a long history of diplomatic relations, spanning nearly 170 years, marked by shared interests and policies. Indeed, we have worked closely at the multilateral level on several important issues, including human rights, democracy, the rule of law, the fight against impunity, gender equality and climate change; we are like minded countries, and our desire for a peaceful and fairer world will continue tirelessly.

 

During my time, together with the Dutch Foreign Ministry, we managed to strengthen our bilateral relations even more than before. On that note, we gave a renewed push to the Treaty of San Jose on Maritime Drug Interdiction in the Caribbean Sea, and an important regional security multilateral treaty. 

My Embassy also saw an important increment in trade and investment, and during my tenure we managed to increase trade by around 50%, from some 450 million dollars to nearly 750 million dollars, expected this year. Investment is also strong, as a result of the near completion of a container terminal port being built in Costa Rica by APM Terminals, with an investment of one billion dollars, which will further the trade relations between both countries.

On the political sphere, the Netherlands also hosted my President last year, on an incredibly friendly and fruitful visit, including meetings with His Majesty and the Prime Minister.

Personally, I had gain much from my time here. I am particularly grateful to my country for having afforded me the opportunity to lead its defense in five contentious cases before the International Court of Justice, all of which, I am happy to report, ended in undisputed victories!

I had also an opportunity to actively participate at the International Criminal Court, acting in two consecutive years as its acting President, at the 2016 ASP in The Hague, and the 2017 ASP in New York, where we made history.

During my time I had the great opportunity to share experiences with audiences and students on issues concerning policies that Costa Rica cherishes, which saw me lecturing at the University of Amsterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam and even the Hague Academy on International Law.

However, my fondest memories will have to be from the many friends I made in The Netherlands, including some who are here today.  The warmth and exceptional friendship of the Dutch people, and that of many colleagues in the diplomatic circles will be prized for years to come. 

Lastly, I like to thank my colleagues at the Embassy, past and present, without whom none of our successes would have been possible. They deserve as much or more merit!

I wish to thank again the Diplomat Magazine, specially Mayelinne De Lara, who I recognized for her leadership and extraordinary contributions to the diplomatic circles in The Netherlands, for the honour which is bestowed today to this, your humble servant.

Thank you very much!”

Ture, they will be missed. However, they have left indelible footprints.

The ceremony, although serene, concluded with a joyous Latin
American reception.

The Extra Ordinary Italian Taste On the picture at Crowne Plaza kitchen, Mariska Perugini-Viser, Grabriela Gavazza, H.E. Andrea Perugini and Mario Andolfi. By Roy Lie Atjam. A renown Italian Chef demonstrated his cooking skills at an Italian gastronomic festival at Hotel Crowne Plaza The Hague. Organizers of the festival are the Embassy of Italy, Diplomat Magazine and Hotel Crowne Plaza. The authentic Italian taste was lead by Daniela Gavazza and Mario Andolfi, two Italian chefs awarded with one Michelin Star coming directly from the Liguria region. Zooming into the program one learns that the festival was not only about Italian gastronomy, but also included wine and opera. For additional Robert Huiberts’ pictures please open the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157704092176805

  There have been a number of food festivals in 2018, co-organized by   Diplomat magazine, Crowne Plaza Promenade Hotel and an Embassy. On 22nd November 2018, it was the turn of H.E. Andrea Perugini, Ambassador of Italy in the Netherlands, a lover of gastronomy, to place his country Italy in the limelight. It turned out to be an eventful evening one will not easily forget.

Ambassador Perugini related how the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in 2018 launch the third edition of the Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo. Pergugini added, in 2018 the Italian Mission in The Hague has organized 22 major events. To mention one example, restaurants of the European Patent Office, The European Space Center and other institution in the environ of The Hague, had Italian food on the menu for a week. It has been a successful phenomenon.

Furthermore, a sparkling opera performance by Opera Guitta, the Italian Trio Trioche  has been an integral element of the Italian food festival. Trio Trioche consists of the following performing artists: Nicanor Cancellieri, Irene Geninatti Chiolero, and Franca Pampaloni. The director is Antonio Vergamini; Opera Guitta is anything between melodrama and clownery, further, its an impassioned tribute to the greatest opera arias from Donizetti to Mozart, from Rossini to Verdi.

 

The dinner was a combination of a sitting dinner and buffet was marvellous. To mention a few items on the menu: Rosa di Prosciutto San Daniele, Arancini and Cuoredi Cioccolato. Italian cuisine is very popular throughout the world. The   Italian Flavours soirée at the Crowne Plaza Hotel The Hague was, therefore, an enormous success.

On the picture Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Diplomat Magazine’s publisher and the Tunisian Ambassador H.E. Mr. Elyes Ghariani. The end of the summer and the welcome of the diplomatic community returning to town was celebrated with glamour by Diplomat Magazine in collaboration with Crown Plaza Hotel and the embassies of Argentina, Italy, and Switzerland. The reception included an exquisite motorcars show, a luxury cars exhibition of the world’s most renowned car manufacturers, who presented their latest developments to the Diplomatic Corps. The V Diplomats Welcome After Summer and 2nd Diplomatic Car Tryout showcased the best new cars on the market from the Louwman museum exclusive brands, Maserati, McLaren, Lexus, Mercedes, Alpha Romeo, Fiat, and Jeep. For additional pictures by Robert Huiberts, please open here below: https://diplomatmagazine.eu/2018/11/25/44741/https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157703946331344 Two live Jazz bands led by Daniel Nicolas and Claudio De Rosa serenaded the many diplomatic guests in attendance, as well as special guests including ambassadors from all over the world and people from the business industry. Moreover, numerous Dutch politicians, judges from international courts, and the heads of various international NGO’s headquartered in The Hague also paid their visit to this special event. For additional pictures by Roy Strik, please open the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157700774105502

Patrick Aarsman, the General Manager of Crowne Plaza and Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Diplomat Magazine Publisher welcomed the guests followed by speeches of Veronica Ferrucci, the Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Italy, Nicolas Vidal, the Minister Counselor of the Embassy of Argentina and Mirko Zambelli, the Minister Counsellor of the Swiss Embassy. Besides, each presented the flagship products of their home country.

“It is a great pleasure to support this year’s Diplomat Magazine After Summer Event. I arrived in The Netherlands last July as the new Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Italy and Diplomat Magazine welcomed me on the table of my new home in the Hague, giving me the chance to get acquainted to this city and the diplomatic community.

Today’s event is a great opportunity of networking and promotion and I am very glad that, together with the Swiss and Argentinean Embassies, we were able to support it offering excellent coffee, coming straight from Italy thanks to our sponsor. I wish you all a very pleasant night and I thank Diplomat Magazine for the initiative.” Expressed Veronica Ferrucci.

Attendees enjoyed Italian coffee from Café Fadi, who came to Crowne Plaza with a barista from Italy making authentic Italian coffee on site. The most popular of the night was an amaretto café, and a special collection of top wines generously provided by the Argentinean embassy.

Nicolas Vidal, also added the overview of the worldwide known quality Argentinean wines and introduced two wine importers from Argentina, Belgerette Wines by José Belgerette, and La Giostra del Vino by Jacques Hoogeveen.

“ I would like first to thank Diplomat Magazine and the Crowne Plaza for the opportunity that has been given to us to be present today with Swiss/Lindt stand. And of course a big thank to Lindt Netherlands for being present and for their generosity.” Said Mirko Zambelli. On top of that, the guests were positively surprised by the Swiss presentation of the exceptional chocolates produced by Lindt. Attendants were amazed by the magic of all flavours of the excellent selection of chocolates by Lindt, and everyone was happy to leave the event and come back home with half a kilo of these exquisite Swiss specialties.

“It is a wonderful occasion to briefly making reference to the history of chocolate in Switzerland. The starting point is: how did Switzerland, a country without colonies or cocoa, come to be one of the leading countries in the chocolate market? And it a began in the south of Switzerland, the Italian speaking canton (Canton Ticino) from which I come from. But chocolate wasn’t the luxurious eating experience of today, chocolate was gritty and chewy. In 1836 the Sprungli family set up a shop in Zurich and they later (1899) merged with Mr. Lindt’s from Bern to become the famous brand “Lindt & Sprungli”. Rodolphe Lindt was at the origin of a “chocolate revolution” when he left his machines running overnight that he discovered the conching process which became later the “long conche”, a machine to mix and distribute cocoa butter within chocolate. It is thanks to these pioneers that we can today experience the sweet stuff melting in our mouths. You are all invited to visit us at the Swiss/Lindt stand, a place where you will experience the best of Swiss tradition.” Stated Mr. Zambelli.

This was a special occasion for all attending, not only to connect with many partners, but also to exchange views with colleagues and counterparts.  

On the picture Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust and Lenche Ristoska. First Liaison Prosecutor for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia at Eurojust On 12 November 2018, Ms Lenche Ristoska took up her duties as the first Liaison Prosecutor for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM) at Eurojust. Her appointment is an important contribution to the growing relationship between the European Union and the Western Balkan region in the area of criminal law. Since 2008, Eurojust has established an increasingly strong framework for structural judicial cooperation in the fight against serious cross-border crime between EU Member States and the Western Balkan States. Cooperation agreements, which unlock the possibility of safe and efficient exchange of judicial information and sharing of evidence, have been concluded with Albania, Montenegro and fYROM. The agreements also allow for the partner States to take part in, and benefit from, all the practical cooperation tools offered through Eurojust to prosecute serious, transnational crime cases. Since the conclusion of the cooperation agreement with fYROM in 2008, prosecutors from various EU Member States and fYROM have worked together in a growing number of cases, including in investigations of swindling and fraud, drug trafficking and migrant smuggling. The cooperation agreement also provides for the appointment of a Liaison Prosecutor to Eurojust. Ms Ristoska, a prosecutor from the Special Public Prosecutors’ Office, is the second Liaison Prosecutor from a Western Balkan State at Eurojust after the arrival of the Liaison Prosecutor for Montenegro earlier this year. Liaison Prosecutors work side by side with magistrates from the EU Member States and play an important role in facilitating ongoing investigations of serious cross-border organised crime. Upon her arrival, Ms Ristoska said: ‘It is a great honour and privilege to be the first Liaison Prosecutor for my country at Eurojust. As soon as I joined the Eurojust family, I witnessed the inspiring working atmosphere and deep commitment of all employees. I strongly believe that my country’s presence at Eurojust will contribute to enhancing international cooperation in the fight against transnational organised crime. I am also confident that this will be beneficial not only for my country but also for all countries with which international cooperation exists or will be established.’ Quick facts Ms Ristoska graduated with honours from the Law Faculty of the St Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje and obtained a degree in law. In 2008, she passed her Bar Examination. Currently, she is working on her master thesis in the area of seizure of illegally gained assets. In 2013, Ms Ristoska was appointed as public prosecutor at the Primary Public Prosecutor’s Office of Skopje, after graduating from the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors. In the Primary Public Prosecutor’s Office of Skopje, she worked in the Department for International Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, executing incoming mutual legal assistance (MLA) requests, as well as in the Department for Drugs, Sexual and Violent Crimes. In November 2015, she was appointed as prosecutor to the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office, where she was in charge of matters of international cooperation and MLA requests. She also conducted national criminal investigations into complex cases of illegal interception of communications, abuse of official powers, corruption, illegal political party financing and money laundering.