Ernest Maragall I Mira. Picture by Generalitat de Catalunya.
2 June 2018, Barcelona, Catalonia, Kingdom of Spain: Long-term Social Democratic politician, Ernest Maragall i Mira was appointed Counsellor for Foreign Action, Institutional Relations and Transparency within the Autonomous Government of Catalonia.
Ernest Maragall had been re-elected to the Catalan parliament in 2017 after serving as Spanish Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2016.Â
Ernest Maragall has the challenge to re-open, and possibly expand, the Catalan foreign representations restricting them to the autonomous tasks entrusted to the regional government in accordance to the Spanish constitution, as all of them had to be cease their functions due to their attempts at canvassing recognition for Catalan independence in 2017.
For further information:Â
Wednesday, 13 June 2018, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: Britain’s Ambassador to Germany, Sir Sebastian Wood and the British Honorary Consul to Hamburg, Nicholas Teller, paid a courtesy visit to First Mayor of Hamburg, Peter Tschentscher.
Sir Sebastian Wood is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s ambassador to Germany since 28 September 2018.
It is a tradition that heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Berlin, pay courtesy visits to the heads of government of the German BundeslĂ€nder or their appointed representative.Â
Ambassador Dion has headed the Canadian Embassy to Germany since 6 June 2017. He is also a Special Envoy of the Canadian Government for Europe.Â
Uzbekistan has introduced a new e-visa option for 51 countries, including most European countries, as part of a continued effort to attract international tourism.
The country, which was once at the heart of the Silk Road trade route, has also announced a transit visa-free procedure for 101 countries whose residents are travelling through Uzbekistan to a third country. Foreign citizens under 16 years of age are exempt from visa regulations when entering Uzbekistan.
The e-visa is valid for a period of stay in Uzbekistan of up to 30 days. It is valid for a single entry and for 90 days from the date of issue.
The country, which emerged as an independent state in 1991, after being part of the Russian Empire for the majority of the last 200 years, is slowly beginning to relax its entry requirements in order to attract tourists from around the globe.
The Ambassador of Rwanda, H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga.Kwibohora24: Rwandans in the Netherlands celebrate
The 24th anniversary of the liberation was held under the theme âTogether we prosperâ. On Saturday 21 July in the evening, the Embassy of the Republic Rwanda in the Netherlands hosted the Kwibohora24 celebration in Partycentrum Zichtenburg in The Hague.
His Excellency Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga, his family, the Embassy team and the Rwanda diaspora committee welcomed more than 300 guests, including Rwandan nationals living in the Netherlands, Friends of Rwanda and many others.
For additional pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157697887527631Kwibohora24: Rwandans celebrating at Partycentrum Zichtenburg in The Hague.
After the word of welcome by the MC Mrs. Christine Safari and the speech by Mr. Emmanuel Safari, the chairman of the Diaspora committee in the Netherlands, H.E. Jean Pierre Karabaranga gave his keynote speech to the crowded venue in The Hague.
RwandAir did a very special contribution by organizing a tombola to win 2 RwandAir tickets to any RwandAir destination. The program was graced by the Imisozi 1000 band and included furthermore a wide variety of entertainment, like performances by the famous artist from Rwanda; Teta and Masamba.RwandAir organized a tombola to win 2 RwandAir tickets to any RwandAir destination from Brussels.
By John DunkelgrĂŒn.
The National MuseumVolkenkunde in Leiden fully deserves to be much better known. Together with the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam, the Wereldmuseum in Rotterdam and the Afrika Museum in Berg en Dal it has a world class collection of ethnological items, manuscripts and books.
Together these museums are known as the Stichting Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen. They offer exciting expositions and excellent research facilities. As of Thursday July 27th they present a very important exposition called âCamina el autorâ (the author walks), Criticism and Compassion: Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayalaâ. It consists mainly of a travelling exposition from Peru with some very important artefacts from the National MuseumVolkenkunde itself and the Tropenmuseum.
It is therefore fitting that the Ambassador of Peru, H.E. Mr. Carlos Herrera chose this venue for the annual reception in honour of Peruâs National Day. In the presence of several hundred people among whom at least 30 ambassadors, Ambassador  Herrera signed a document together with Mrs. Miep Huivenaar for the return of a small but historically important piece of finely woven cloth.
The core of the exposition is a magnificent and very important manuscript by Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, the Nueva CorĂłnica y buen Gobierno.
H.E. Mr. Carlos Herrera and Mrs. VeÌronique MicleÌa.
The manuscript of over 1,000 pages with hundreds of very fine illustrations was meant as information for the king of Spain, Philip III. The writer, a direct descendant of the Incaâs, depicts the history of the Inca people before and after the conquest by the Spaniards. He does so very much from the perspective of the people. [to use the word âIncaâsâ for the Inca people is a misnomer, it was the title of the head of state, the king or emperor].
He even, courageously challenged the Spanish claim that they took their country in the name of Christendom, while acting in a most unchristian way themselves. Poma was the first anti-colonialist writer of the new world. In a meticulous way he not only described the problems and hardships under Spanish rule, he suggested solutions. In a way that rings very true today, he almost seems to talk to us across the ages.
Unfortunately the manuscript was neither published nor given to the king in Spain. It disappeared for centuries before mysteriously surfacing in the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen in 1908 where it had languishes since the late 17th century.
Apart from the travelling exposition, which mainly centers about the book and the light it shines on the Inca culture and the Spanish influence, the exposition shows a very rare tunic an uncu, which due to its fragility is hardly ever shown, and a quipu, the knotted cord with which tax receipts were recorded. There are some recent indications, that these cords were also a form of keeping texts, but that is still a question mark.
Added to the exposition are works by the famous Lima painter Enrique Polanco, who made a series of vivid paintings trying to see modern Lima through the eyes of Poma de Ayala.
It is heart warming for your correspondent, as his former gallery was the first to show works by Polanco in The Netherlands.
The exposition may be enjoyed until August 7th 2019.
Museum Volkenkunde | Steenstraat 1 |Leiden. T: 0880042800 | Volkenkunde.nl
During the Summerholidays ( until 2 September 2018) the museum can be visited 7 days a week from 10am till 5 pm and after 7 September the museum will be closed on Mondays.
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Photography By John DunkelgrĂŒn and Kim Vermaat.
In a statement by Kering’s Chairman François-Henri Pinault stated: “I am very pleased to welcome Daniel Lee to Kering as Creative Director of Bottega Veneta. The singularity of his vision inspired by a very personal creative approach convinced me that he was best able to open a new chapter in the history of the House. His work is characterized by great rigor, a mastery of studio expertise, a true passion for materials and an energy that I cannot wait to see take shape at Bottega Veneta.”
Claus Dietrich Lahrs, CEO of Bottega Veneta, said:Â “Daniel Lee has a deep understanding of the Houseâs current challenges both in terms of creation and development. He will bring to Bottega Veneta a new and distinctive creative language that will continue building the House’s success based on the ambitious foundations already developed over recent years.”
About Bottega Veneta
Â
Steeped in the traditions of Italian leather master craftsmen, Bottega Veneta has nurtured a new standard of luxury since its foundation in 1966 in the Veneto region. It has emerged with a unique Italian art de vivre philosophy defined by four unchanging principles: outstanding craftsmanship, timeless yet innovative design, contemporary functionality, and the highest quality materials. The historical motto, âWhen your own initials are enough,â conveys a concept of individuality and confidence that now applies to a full range of collections for women and men: bags, small leather goods, but also ready-to-wear, shoes, jewelry, furniture, fragrances, eyewear and accessories. Bottega Veneta is part of the global luxury group Kering.
The Hague, Netherlandsâ 25 July 2018 âAmbassador Fernando Arias of Spain takes office today as the new Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), becoming the fourth person to hold this office since the Organisation was established in 1997. He succeeds Ambassador Ahmet ĂzĂŒmcĂŒ of Turkey, who completed his second term as Director-General on 24 July 2018.
Ambassador Arias expressed, âI feel privileged to lead the OPCW whose work contributes to international peace and security. Our collective duty is to manage and develop the organisation to be effective and efficient. At the same time, we must never lose sight of the humanitarian side of our work.â
Ambassador Arias also remarked, âI consider my main obligations to safeguard the Chemical Weapons Convention and to protect the future of the Organisationâ.
Ambassador Arias is a career diplomat with extensive multilateral experience at international organisations such as the United Nations and the OPCW where he has cultivated expertise regarding weapons of mass destruction. At the United Nations, he served as Spainâs Ambassador and Permanent Representative from 2012 to 2013 and was the Vice-President of the 68th Session of the General Assembly and Vice President of the ECOSOC.
He also has vast bilateral experience in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, North America and South America. Prior to becoming the OPCW Director-General, he served as the Kingdom of Spainâs Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of the Netherlands as well as Permanent Representative to the OPCW from 2014 to 2018.
Unfortunately the manuscript was neither published nor given to the king in Spain. It disappeared for centuries before mysteriously surfacing in the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen in 1908 where it had languishes since the late 17th century.
Apart from the travelling exposition, which mainly centers about the book and the light it shines on the Inca culture and the Spanish influence, the exposition shows a very rare tunic an uncu, which due to its fragility is hardly ever shown, and a quipu, the knotted cord with which tax receipts were recorded. There are some recent indications, that these cords were also a form of keeping texts, but that is still a question mark.
Added to the exposition are works by the famous Lima painter Enrique Polanco, who made a series of vivid paintings trying to see modern Lima through the eyes of Poma de Ayala.
It is heart warming for your correspondent, as his former gallery was the first to show works by Polanco in The Netherlands.
The exposition may be enjoyed until August 7th 2019.
Museum Volkenkunde | Steenstraat 1 |Leiden. T: 0880042800 | Volkenkunde.nl
During the Summerholidays ( until 2 September 2018) the museum can be visited 7 days a week from 10am till 5 pm and after 7 September the museum will be closed on Mondays.
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Photography By John DunkelgrĂŒn and Kim Vermaat. 
Unfortunately the manuscript was neither published nor given to the king in Spain. It disappeared for centuries before mysteriously surfacing in the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen in 1908 where it had languishes since the late 17th century.
Apart from the travelling exposition, which mainly centers about the book and the light it shines on the Inca culture and the Spanish influence, the exposition shows a very rare tunic an uncu, which due to its fragility is hardly ever shown, and a quipu, the knotted cord with which tax receipts were recorded. There are some recent indications, that these cords were also a form of keeping texts, but that is still a question mark.
Added to the exposition are works by the famous Lima painter Enrique Polanco, who made a series of vivid paintings trying to see modern Lima through the eyes of Poma de Ayala.
It is heart warming for your correspondent, as his former gallery was the first to show works by Polanco in The Netherlands.
The exposition may be enjoyed until August 7th 2019.
Museum Volkenkunde | Steenstraat 1 |Leiden. T: 0880042800 | Volkenkunde.nl
During the Summerholidays ( until 2 September 2018) the museum can be visited 7 days a week from 10am till 5 pm and after 7 September the museum will be closed on Mondays.
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Photography By John DunkelgrĂŒn and Kim Vermaat. 
