Dorothee ter Kulve, founder of Friendship Netherland.
10 years ago Friendship Nederland was founded by Dorothee ter Kulve to support Runa Kahn, founder of Friendship Bangladesh, in realizing her dream of bringing healthcare to the forgotten Char people of North Bangladesh.
In those 10 years Friendship Bangladesh has grown into a trusted organization that commits itself to the social and economic development of these remote islands. Throughout this journey Dorothee and Friendship Nederland have proven to be invaluable partners for Runa and her organization.
Last May 17, Friendship Nederland celebrated this 10 year anniversary in the Humanity Hub in The Hague with an inspiring afternoon on Inclusive Citizenship. The event was organized together with the Hiil organization (The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law). Both Friendship and Hiil are convinced that equal access to justice is a critical part of a stable and prospering society.
Runa Kahn, founder of Friendship Bangladesh.
Past year Hill has done extensive research on the Bangladesh judicial system. Prof. Dr. Maurits Barendrecht and Data Analyst Martijn Kind where invited to present the results of the Hiil report “Justice Needs &Satisfaction in Bangladesh” (www.hiil.org)
Professor Barendrecht talked about making the law more accessible for everybody, and the (digital)innovations that can make this possible.
Friendships founder Runa Kahn approached the subject from her grassroots experience with the remote Char communities : “You can only start to think about pursuing your civil rights when you are healthy and have some food in your belly”.
The first 10 years Friendship has focused on health and education. Since a few years they have taken the next step by launching their Inclusive Citizenship Program(www.friendship.ngo.) This program helps the Char people gain access to information about their civil rights and obligations. For these forgotten people this is an important step forward to becoming self-reliant citizens of Bangladesh.
The afternoon ended with a big thank you from Dorothee ter Kulve to Friendships committed group of sponsors: “An organization like Friendship cannot exist and realize its dreams without you. I have always felt the overwhelming support and encouragement by all of you. Our combined effort alone cannot lift the country out of poverty, but it can make people a lot healthier, safer and smarter, so they are able to do the job themselves”Friendship Netherland’s 10th Anniversary.
About
Dorothee ter Kulve, Chairman
Dorothee studied business administration in Rotterdam and International Relations at Johns Hopkins University. She worked for five years at a multinational company and then spent five years as an independent entrepreneur in the Czech Republic. This has enabled her to get to know the professionalism of a large organization and the entrepreneurial spirit of a small company. She lived with her family for a long time in former Eastern Europe and China. All these different experiences together have laid the foundation for Dorothee’s vision and involvement in development work. “I am convinced that the problems of population growth and persistent poverty can best be addressed by investing in education and health care in underdeveloped areas. As these areas develop, the birth rates will decrease what is needed for a peaceful balanced and sustainable world. ”
Runa Khan, Founder and Director of Friendship
Runa Khan is the founder and CEO of Friendship. The roots of Friendship lie in the broad experience of Runa in, among other things, education, tourism, communication and setting up small businesses. She is the author of eight published books (6 on pedagogy and 2 on children’s stories). Runa is a board member at Global Dignity and country manager of Global Dignity Bangladesh. She is also founder of Friendship International, an organization that works in four European countries. Her work for Friendship is based on practical innovation, empathy, respect and a deep sense of justice. Runa has won several international awards, such as Ashoka, IDB Schwab Foundation and Positive Planet. In addition, she is the only Rolex Laureate from Bangladesh.
The Israeli Food Festival at the Crown Plaza Promenade was a most successful event. Three evenings with an almost full house, people revelling in the colours and flavours of this unique cuisine.
Few countries, especially not small ones, have as much of a cultural variety as well as international exposure as Israel has. Culture determines what you can achieve with food, but the land, the terroir, gives you the basic ingredients. For millennia the land has been known for its fertility and its produce. Expressions like “Land of milk and honey”, and “The fertile crescent” (which includes the Lebanon) show that if there is water, the bounty of the land is plentiful and good.
With very scientific irrigation and advanced desalination, Israel has learned to farm in spite of the aridity of the area and proud of its achievements uses the land to grow beautiful tasty and above all healthy produce. Being able to share this expertise could mean vast improvements in the lives of all of its neighbours.
H.E. Ambassador Aviv Shir-On and chefs Jonathan Borowitz and Amit Aaronsohn.Israelis travelIt is almost de rigueur for young graduates to travel the world upon their release from the army. From Cuzco to Laos you’ll find internet shops with Hebrew letters stuck to the keyboards. This has given most Israelis an international outlook. Take the two festival chefs for example. Jonathan Borowitz travelled a year through South America and studied cooking at the famous International Culinary Center in New York. He is inspired by the home cooking of his family and friends and is obsessed by the methods in culinary science.
The combination of seeing what mothers and grandmothers cook all over the world combined with the professional rigour one is taught by the teachers at the ICC or any of the other top cooking schools, is what makes Israeli food so special.
Amit Aaronsohn has found on his travels that cooks anywhere speak the same language. He is a food writer, TV show host and sees himself as an ambassador for the food revolution that has taken place in Israel. He has a Masters degree in Food, Culture and Communication UNISIG, the Italian University of Gastronomic Sciences.
He spent the 80’s and 90’s chasing the world’s cuisines and now spends his time in search of the true new Israeli cuisine. “It is exciting”, he says, “but there is a great cloud hanging over us in the shape of millions of Palestinians. Imagine what we could do together if they were a proper nation, and we could sit and eat together in peace.”
Ambassador Aviv Shir-on emphasises that Israel is a start-up country and a high-tech powerhouse that is used to look outward for inspiration. That is as true in cooking as it is in agriculture and in chip design. It shows in the original combinations of flavours of Israeli foods, mixes of Middle Eastern, East European, Indian, East Asian etc.
Food is not just physical nourishment, but one of the essential pleasures of life. People all over want to improve their lives. And good food and good wine can help people reach the promised land of togetherness in peace.
On the picture young models and actors from Bangladesh together with Dr Nasrin.
Bangladesh House, official residence of Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands, took a festive look to showcase colourful art and heritage of Bangladesh to the diplomatic community in the Netherlands.
Overwhelmed upon witnessing the colourful cultural display of fashion parade, mock wedding and holud, aspects of Tribal heritage, life of women and children etc, the diplomatic representatives also attempted to immerse into Bangladeshi culture.
Bangladesh House.
The diplomatic participants while rehearsing for the painstaking saree wearing or wrap themselves up with other cultural attire or artifacts, or joining the chorus for welcoming the bride and groom during mock wedding or holud, invitees turned Bangladesh House into a little Bangladesh.
As part of the regular programme of Ambassadors’ Spouse Association’s (ASA), spouses of 20 Ambassadors based in the Netherlands gathered in the Bangladesh House on 27 June 2018. As an active member of ASA, Dr. Dilruba Nasrin, a renowned epidemiologist and spouse of Bangladesh Ambassador in the Netherlands organized this get together.
Dr. Dilruba Nasrin, Bangladesh.
The main objective of this program was presenting the rich culture of Bangladesh to the ASA members. Spouse of the Ambassador of United Kingdom, Jordan, Spain, Iran, Thailand, Poland, Peru, Hungary, Mexico, South Africa, Malaysia, Pakistan, Slovakia, Morocco, Belarus, Panama, Philippines, Uruguay, El Salvador, Rwanda, spouse of the Deputy Mayor of The Hague, Ex President International Women’s Club, and representatives of print and electronic media attended the program.
At the outset, to draw the attention of the Diplomatic community towards Rohingya crisis, Dr. Nasrin delivered a presentation on this very pertinent and timely issue. She flagged few important points like- being a densely populated country how Bangladesh is hosting more than one million Rohingyas, the largest refugee camp is in Bangladesh, sufferings of Rohingyas who are the most persecuted community in the world, clear example of ethnic cleansing, how vulnerable women and children could be in this twenty-first century and the five point proposal of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resolve the issue.
She also highlighted the courageous and humane leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whom the world now came to know as “Mother of Humanity” in making all out arrangements to host such a large number of people and advocating for safe and secured return of the Rohingyas to their own country.
Apart from Rohingya issue, the guests were presented the concept of Saree, the traditional outfit of Bangladeshi women and the diverse varieties of Saree. In her eloquent deliberation she presented the weaving, texture, combination, wearing style, occasion and details of traditional jamdani, maslin, tangail tant, mirpur katan, Mirpur benarashi, rajshahi silk and katha stitch.
She mentioned that UNESCO recognized Bangladeshi jamdani weaving as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Later on, members of embassy family displayed each kind of saree walking on the ramp as a part of fashion design and parade to promote Bangladesh.
To present the wedding culture of Bangladesh, children portrayed gaye-holud and wedding ceremony of Bangladesh. The bride and groom took the get up of the ceremony.
The enthusiastic guests enjoyed the display so much and joined the bride and groom on the stage. Attire of Tribal people of Bangladesh, primarily Chakma attire and dance were also presented to the guests. Later, interested guests participated in a saree wearing demonstration. Besides the programme, the guests enjoyed traditional Bengali cuisine.
Overwhelmed guests while expressing their satisfaction to Dr. Nasrin and Bangladesh Embassy for organizing such a joyful event which not only showcased the rich culture of Bangladesh, also encouraged them about their human duty to do their part for the expedited solution of the Rohingya problem.
H.E. Mr. Fernando Bucheli and spouse Narumi Bucheli.By Roy Lie Atjam.
The Hague, 31st July 2018, H.E. Ambassador Fernando Xavier Bucheli Vargas of the Republic of Ecuador, hosted a triple event celebrating the upgrade of his country’s mission in the Netherlands. As of now the Diplomatic status of the mission is that of an Embassy.
On the same day, Ecuador organized the National Day of Ecuador. In addition to this, a Diplomat Meet and Greet event was also celebrated.
For additional Roy Strik’s pictures, please open the new link here below https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157699809542495Mr. Marcel de Vink,, current Director of the Western Hemisphere Department of the Dutch MFA.
The activities were held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and was attended by fellow Ambassadors from India, Japan, Austria, Sweden, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Canada, Indonesia, Morocco, Afghanistan, Egypt, Holy See, Italy, Viet Nam, Tanzania, Guatemala, Palestine, and Diplomats from Nigeria, Belarus, Panama, El Salvador just to mention a few. Also present at the event OPCW Director General, ICJ Registrar, ICC registrar, Secretary General Permanent Court of arbitrage, Director of International Organisation for Migration, Secretary General The Hague Law.
The festive activities also brought together members of the Dutch Business community, Government representatives, the Ecuadorian diaspora and specially invited guests.
Naromi Bucheli, Ambassador Bucheli and the Ambassador of India, H.E. Venu Rajamony.
Guest of honor was Mr. Marcel de Vink, a former Dutch Ambassador and the current Director of the Western Hemisphere Department of the Dutch MFA. De Vink lauded the good relationship between the two countries and the upgrading of the Ecuadorian Embassy.
Ambassador Fernando Bucheli successfully created an atmosphere that gave one the feeling of being in Ecuador. The music, video presentations, banners and food (ceviche, crepes de banana and chocolate)contributed to the ambiance. Noteworthy was the presence of an Ecuadorian hat maker Ms Tania Pelaez. Ambassador Bucheli and his spouse Narumi Bucheli, warmly welcome the many guests. Ambassador Bucheli delivered a clear speech which you will find hereunder.
H.E. Andrea Perugini, Ambassador of Italy, Narumi Bucheli and Ambassador Bucheli.Mr Marcel de Vink, former Ambassador, Director of Western Hemisphere of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of NetherlandsDear Excellences, representatives of public and private sector, Ecuadorian citizens, ladies and gentleman:On behalf of the Government of Mr. Lenin Moreno, President of Ecuador, I would like to give you a warm welcome to this receptionto celebrate our National Day, which is known in Spanish as “El primer grito de independencia” that means “the first declaration of independence”.After nearly three hundred years of Spanish rule, the citizens of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, were the first in Latin America to rebel and declare independence on 10 August 1809. The efforts of Ecuadorians were seen as a key milestone in the movement across Central and South America that would eventually lead to independence from Europe.Lester Ortega, Minister Counsellor from Guatemala and H.E. Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan with Ecuadorian Hats.It isimportant to remember historicalmoments;with a view to project into the future and in this respectI would like to briefly speak about Ecuador today.Ecuador had a 3,4 %GDP average growthbetween 2007-2016, -0,27 % inflation and 4,6%unemployment rate in 2017 and most important Ecuador has an inclusive economic growth which isthe cornerstone to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. Ecuador gives great importance to education and has increasedits expenditure and had offered almost 20.000 scholarships to Ecuadorean students to the top universities around the world including Netherlands where we have around 300 hundred students.The Ambassador of Peru, H.E. Carlos Herrera, Naruni Bucheli, Veronique Michéa and Ambassador Bucheli.Ecuador concluded in 2017 a Commercial Agreement with the European Union that opens a broad spectrum of opportunities. This agreement puts in place a set of commercial and policy arrangements that provide a degree of certainty for potential investors with a view to increase commerce between Ecuador and Netherlands. Trade agreement concluded with EFTA in July 2018 complementing EU trade agreement. Ecuador member of the Andean Community and associate member of MERCOSUR is now approaching the Alianza del Pacífico.H.E. Philippe Couvreur, Registrar of the International Court of Justice together with Narumi and Ambassador Bucheli Vargas.Ecuador welcomes foreign investment and actually we have proposed to the government of Netherlands discuss a new agreement to protect and promote the investments.The Government of Ecuador has significantly invested in its infrastructure in order to enable good connectivity. Ecuador counts on avery good network of roads, harbors and international airports andhas made a large investment of around 6 billion dollars to construct 8 hydroelectric power stations, and now producing clean energy and in this way also contributes to the protection of the environment.Ecuador National Day and Meet & Greet.Since 2011 until now Ecuador has exported approximately 3.1 billion dollars to the Netherlands and has imported 1.94 billion dollars. The principal products exported by my country are cacao, tuna fish, bananas, exotic fruits, shrimp, flowers and organic fats and oils. On the other hand, we have imported nafta, medicines, machinery and precision devises. Many other opportunities have been identified and explored by Dutch companies such as Van Oord or Nutreco in the food and infrastructure sectors. In fact, in the first quarter of 2018 The Netherlands has invested 222 USD millions in six sectors such as real estate, mining, logistic, manufacture and services sectors.OPCW Director General, H.E. Fernando Arias and H.E. I Gusti Wesaka Puja, Ambassador of Indonesia.Ecuador, one of the 12 most biodiverse countries in the world, offers a unique opportunity for tourism investors, the advantage of traveling to Ecuador is the small distances between the four different regions: I ask you to imagine the following: “Four worlds converge in one territory, from the warm coast drenched by the Pacific that gradually rises towards the snowy heights and temperate valleys of the Andes Mountains, to the green cover of Amazonian biodiversity; all of this as a prelude to a nice reward, the Galapagos Islands”. We are working on increasing the tourism from Europe to Ecuador.We have direct flights from the Netherlands to Ecuador, every daywith a 95% of occupation on average.Ecuador also provides an impressive cultural gastronomy heritage. A mix of colors and tastes attract people from around the world, with exotic fruits and vegetables. Here you will have the chance to taste a sample of the Ecuadorean gastronomy elaborated with Ecuadorean ingredients like quinoa, shrimps, banana and chocolate.Before to end my words I would like to share the good newsthat the Embassy of Ecuador in the Netherlands is reopening since tomorrow.This shows the great interest that Ecuador places on its bilateral and multilateral relations with Netherlands.Tania Pelaez.Finally, I would like to thank Ambassador de Vink, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all of you for coming today. SpecialthankstoDr. Mayeline de Lara Publisher of Diplomat Magazine and Diplomatic Card, for kindly sponsoring this event. Also thanks to Original Beans and Mrs. Tania Pelaez for promoting Ecuadorean products here.Enjoy the food and drinks and wish you a good summer.
On the picture chef Sido de Brabander, Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa and chef Dao Van Son.By Youri Moes.It is often said that the best way to understand a person is to sit down with them and share a meal. To see how people gather around a communal space with each other is a window into their methods, traditions and culture. We are happy to have experienced this again with another great gastronomic event, Flavours of Viet Nam, organized together with the Embassy of Viet Nam, Crowne Plaza Promenade and Diplomat Magazine. With this being the latest of these events it is always a pleasure to see people learn about a nation’s culture through the most enjoyable way possible, its food.For additional Hester Dijkstra’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157698165609201Vietnamese painter Nguyen Minh Son .Of course there is more to a culture than just culinary prowess. Before the dinner began a reception was held where some impressive artwork made by Nguyen Minh Son was on display. In these paintings people saw beautiful style of life as well as landscapes. The artist was present to talk to guests, and answer questions. His style and love for his country were very much present, with scenes of the old city of Hanoi being painted in beautiful warm colours. Many pieces were on display, and made it clear that there is diverse and beautiful art coming out of Viet Nam. The ambassador of Japan, H.E. Hiroshi Inomata trying Vietnamese food.These beautiful pieces of art were accompanied with new export items, all coming in from Viet Nam. Coffee, tea, dolls and toys, among other things were all on display. The embassy clearly shows that Viet Nam has much to offer to the world. To further emphasize this point, representatives from Vietnam Airlines were there to advertise their new fleet of flights, with their new direct flights from European airports to Vietnam, now Amsterdam, Paris, Moscow, London, Vienna, Prague, Rome, Madrid, Nice, Barcelona and Frankfurt. They helped bring the culinary talent of the evening, Chef Dao Van Son as well as the painter Nguyen Minh Son from Vietnam to be present for the event. Many guests were present among which, ambasadors, diplomats, Dutch ministry staff, business leaders and entrepeneurs. Food is often a great incentive to reconnect and see old friends, and in this regard the event was a great success. All throughout the night greetings were heard between old friends, remarking how long it had been since they last saw one another. Ambassadors from Russia, Venezuela, Philippines, Palestine, South Africa, Japan, Bulgaria, Thailand, and many others were present. To see these parts of society come together over a shared admiration of Vietnamese cuisine truly is a testament to the importance of celebrating cultures.Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa, the Ambassador of South Africa H.E. Bruce Koloane and the Ambassador of Bulgaria H.E. Rumen Alexandrov.Naturally the main event was the food, and the guests of the event were in for quite a treat. Chef Dao Van Son, a master chef with 2 Michelin star prepared the dishes for the event. Chef Dao Van Son is famous throughout the culinary world for his work in the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi and Sofitel Plaza Saigon. His most acclaimed work is in his restaurant La Table du Chef in Hanoi; the modest Son cooked already for the King and Queen of Norway, presidents like Jacques Chirac, Vladimir Putin, Bin Clinton, Jiang Zhe Min, Fidel Castro and more.H.E. Ambassador Haifa Haissami Madah, Chief of Mission OPCW – ICC Permanent Mission of Venezuela and H.E. Jose Bucarello Ambassador, Multilateral Mission of Venezuela.The dishes on display took the guests on a culinary trip of classic Vietnamese food, prepared by a master of the craft. With flairs of fish sauce, coriander, spice and fresh ingredients, the food was loved by all people in attendance. Spring Rolls with lobster, lotus root salad, bún cha style pork and roast duck were just a few of things the guests were allowed to indulge in. Just looking at the ingredients that were used by chef Dao Van Son, we see the core elements of Vietnamese cuisine. Using star fruit, banana flowers, beansprouts in combination with beautifully fresh fish and meats the chef makes amazing experiences in sweet, sour and spicy flavours.The amazing culinary and artistic experience, together with great company and an open bar, was sure to lead to an amazing atmosphere and resulted in people leavingwith full stomachs and happy memories. Viet Nam Flavors was part of a series of gastronomic events hosted at Crowne Plaza once a month. We will have events like this one together with the embassies of Mexico, Uzbekistan, Italy and Hungary. Naturally we would be happy and honoured to see returning faces to these culinary experiences.
By Roy Lie Atjam.
On Monday 30th July 2018, Sri Lankan Ambassador H.E. Adam Sadiq hosted a lively farewell reception for Australian AmbassadorDr. Brett Mason, on behalf of the Asia-Oceania group of Ambassadors. The venue was “Lakmedura” the residence of Ambassador Sadiq.
Ambassador Mason thanked Ambassador Sadiq for spearheading Australia’s inclusion in the group; Australia’s historical links with Europe and the US form part of who Australia is today, but there’s no question that Australia’s future lies in the dynamic Asian region.
Ambassador Sadiq had been such a great friend to Australia, quipped Mason, that he might consider serving as Australia’s Ambassador to the Netherlands at the conclusion of his current appointment as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador(laughter)
Ambassadors of the Asia-Oceania group, along with none members of the group, turn out in their numbers to take leave of Brett Mason.
Ambassador Jaime Victor Ledda of the Philippines also addressed Ambassador Mason. He thanked him for his contributions to the Asia-Oceania group.
Ambassador Mason received a commemorative plaque and a Sri Lankan tea set.
A reception including savoury Sri Lankan food concluded the gathering.
Uzbekistan introduces the system of registering and issuing electronic entry visas E-VISA.UZ
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a resolution “On further measures to optimize the order of entry of foreign citizens into the Republic of Uzbekistan” on 4 July.
The head of Uzbekistan abolished compulsory address of foreign citizens to diplomatic missions and consular offices of Uzbekistan abroad.
Starting from 15 July, Uzbekistan introduced an order of visa-free entry, temporary stay and departure from Uzbekistan through checkpoints of citizens of 101 states that transit through Uzbekistan at international airports for a period of not more than five days.
H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
In this case, passengers must have an air ticket to a third country. The carrier must provide the Border Guard units of the State Security Service of Uzbekistan with timely information on passengers. Visa-free entry, temporary stay and departure from Uzbekistan are introduced for foreign citizens who have not reached the age of 16, if they have a foreign passport or a biometric travel document accompanied by their legal representatives, for the period of validity of the entry visa in the passport of the accompanying person, but not more than 90 days from the date of entry into Uzbekistan.
When foreign citizens reach the age of 16 during their stay on the territory of Uzbekistan, an exit visa is issued by the migration units and registration of citizenship of the internal affairs bodies in accordance with the established procedure.
An electronic visa is issued for a period of stay in the territory of Uzbekistan up to 30 days with a single entry and is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.
Foreigners must send an application for a visa at least three working days before the planned date of travel to Uzbekistan. Authorized bodies of Uzbekistan will consider the appeal within two working days without taking into account the day of submission of the appeal.
Foreign citizens must pay a consular fee for processing and issuing an electronic entry visa in the amount of US$20. The consular fee is paid electronically through international payment systems.
Countries for whose citizens visa-free transit entry is introduced, temporary stay and departure from Uzbekistan:
1. The Australian Union
2. The Republic of Austria
3. Republic of Albania
4. Algeria
5. AntiguaandBarbuda
6. ArgentineRepublic
7. The Bahamas
8. Barbados
9. Kingdom of Bahrain
10. Belize
11. Kingdom of Belgium
12. Principality of Andorra
13. Republic of Bulgaria
14. Republic of BosniaandHerzegovina
15. FederativeRepublic of Brazil
16. The State of BruneiDarussalam
17. Kingdom of Bhutan
18. Vatican
19. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
20. Hungary
21. Republic of Venezuela
22. The SocialistRepublic of Vietnam
23. Gabon
24. CooperativeRepublic of Guyana
25. Republic of Guatemala
26. FederalRepublic of Germany
27. Republic of Honduras
28. Grenada
29. The HellenicRepublic
30. Kingdom of Denmark
31. Dominica
32. DominicanRepublic
33. Republic of India
34. Ireland
35. Iceland
36. The Kingdom of Spain
37. ItalianRepublic
38. Canada
39. State of Qatar
40. Republic of Cyprus
41. The People’s Republic of China, including the Special Administrative Region
42. Hong Kong People’s Republic of China
43. Republic of Colombia
44. Republic of CostaRica
45. State of Kuwait
46. LatvianRepublic
47. Lebanon
48. Republic of Lithuania
49. Principality of Liechtenstein
50. GrandDuchy of Luxembourg
51. Republic of Mauritius
52. The Republic of Macedonia
53. Republic of Maldives
54. Republic of Malta
55. Kingdom of Morocco
56. Mexico
57. Principality of Monaco
58. Mongolia
59. The Republic of Nauru
60. Kingdom of the Netherlands
61. NewZealand
62. Kingdom of Norway
63. UnitedArabEmirates
64. Sultanate of Oman
65. Republic of Palau
66. Republic of Panama
67. Republic of Peru
68. Republic of Poland
69. PortugueseRepublic
70. Romania
71. Republic of SanMarino
72. Kingdom of SaudiArabia
73. Seychelles
74. SaintVincentand the Grenadines
75. SaintKittsandNevis
76. Saint Lucia
77. Republic of Serbia
78. The SlovakRepublic
79. Republic of Slovenia
80. USA
81. Republic of Suriname
82. Kingdom of Thailand
83. Republic of TrinidadandTobago
84. TunisRepublic
85. Turkmenistan
86. Uruguay
87. Republic of Fiji
88. Republic of the Philippines
89. The Republic of Finland
90. FrenchRepublic
91. Republic of Croatia
92. Montenegro
93. CzechRepublic
94. Republic of Chile
95. SwissConfederation
96. Kingdom of Sweden
97. Sri Lanka
98. Republic of Ecuador
99. Republic of EquatorialGuinea
100. The Republic of Estonia
101. SouthAfrica
102. Jamaica
Mr. Francis R. Fannon, picture by the US State Department.By Guido Lanfranchi.During the last week of July, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Energy Resources, Mr. Francis R. Fannon, met with government officials and business representatives in Kyiv, Warsaw, and Athens. These bilateral meetings revolved around the issue of European energy security and diversification.
Mr. Francis R. Fannon is the first Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Energy Resources, United States State Department. This post has been established only recently, in spring 2018, and according to Mr. Fannon this “underscores the critical importance of energy diplomacy” for the current US administration. In his first trip abroad, Mr. Fannon decided to travel to Europe, and more specifically to Ukraine, Poland, and Greece, three critical energy partners for the US. In the capitals of these countries, Mr. Fannon met with government officials and business representatives, in order to discuss European energy policy and energy security.
At the center of the discussions there was the controversial project Nord Stream 2, the planned expansion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline running from Russia to Northern Europe via the Baltic Sea. Indeed, in his European trip Mr. Fannon visited two of the staunchest opponents of such project, namely Ukraine and Poland. In a telephonic briefing, Mr. Fannon reiterated the US “unwavering opposition” to the Nord Stream 2 project.
While he declined to comment on any future actions of the US administration, Mr. Fannon warned multiple times that companies involved in the construction of Nord Stream 2 might be exposed to a higher risk of sanctions. This is partly because the US administration sees Nord Stream 2not as a commercial enterprise, but rather as a solely geopolitical project, aimed at increasing Russia’s leverage in the Ukrainian conflict.
Speaking about Ukraine, Mr. Fannon reiterated the US full support to the Ukrainian government, especially in this moment of transition, in which the country is developing democratic institutions and a competitive market economy. In the energy domain, Mr. Fannon praised the Ukrainian government’s ongoing efforts to open and liberalize the country’s energy market, as well as its efforts in tackling corruption. In particular, Mr. Fannon mentioned the memorandum of understanding recently signed by Naftogaz and MGU, which is set to enhance Ukraine’s efforts in the energy sector’s reforms by 2020.
The US support to Ukraine is a crucial factor in shaping the US position on Nord Stream 2. As the direct connection between Russia and Northern Europe would be expanded, Ukraine would see its role as transit country significantly reduced, and therefore it would become more exposed to Russian pressures. In order to avoid such a scenario, Mr. Fannon declared that the US is ready to oppose the expansion projects through different means, ranging from diplomatic pressure to commercial sanctions, in collaboration with all actors willing to cooperate.
While the US opposes projects that increase Europe’s dependency on Russia, Mr. Fannon stated that the US fully supports any European effort in building energy infrastructure in order to differentiate its energy supplies and enhance its energy security. Mr. Fannon praised the work of some European countries in diversifying their energy supplies. In particular, he mentioned Greece’s efforts in the LNG sector, Romania’s BRUA pipeline, Croatia’s Krk Island terminal, and the recent differentiation efforts in Lithuania.
Finally, Mr. Fannon was questioned about the implications of recent geopolitical events on the international oil markets. Mr. Fannon expressed his confidence that the reduction in oil supplies coming from Venezuela and Iran could be compensated by other producers in the global market, also noting that it is a duty for the US administration to closely monitor global oil markets and to ensure that appropriate supplies are available.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Fannon reiterated once more the importance of European energy security for the United States, pledging that his office will continue to closely cooperate with its European partners. As US-EU tensions seem to rise on the trade front, energy security seems an important issue where the two allies still want to work together.
The jewellery company Tiffany & Co. has opened its first store in the Kingdom of Denmark, which is likewise the first one to open within the Nordic countries.
The new Tiffany & Co. store is located in the Copenhagen-based department store ILLUM, which is the city’s premier luxury shopping destination, according to Managing Director Sandra Mohsni, in charge of the Nordic countries, Germany, Austria and Czechia.
Founded in New York in 1837, Tiffany & Co. is the world’s premier jeweller and America’s house of design. An iconic brand with a rich and storied heritage, Tiffany is a global manufacturer and retailer of jewellery and luxury accessories.
The company operates more than 300 Tiffany & Co. stores in more than 20 countries.
For further information:
Tuesday, 29 May 2018, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: HE Ambassador Edgardo Malaroda, Head of Mission of the Argentine to the Federal Republic of Germany travelled to Hamburg for a maiden courtesy visit to First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher after having taken his ambassadorship on 8 March 2018.
Previously Ambassador Malaroda was representing his homeland as consul general in Frankfurt am Main.
Friendships founder Runa Kahn approached the subject from her grassroots experience with the remote Char communities : “You can only start to think about pursuing your civil rights when you are healthy and have some food in your belly”.
The first 10 years Friendship has focused on health and education. Since a few years they have taken the next step by launching their Inclusive Citizenship Program(www.friendship.ngo.) This program helps the Char people gain access to information about their civil rights and obligations. For these forgotten people this is an important step forward to becoming self-reliant citizens of Bangladesh.
The afternoon ended with a big thank you from Dorothee ter Kulve to Friendships committed group of sponsors: “An organization like Friendship cannot exist and realize its dreams without you. I have always felt the overwhelming support and encouragement by all of you. Our combined effort alone cannot lift the country out of poverty, but it can make people a lot healthier, safer and smarter, so they are able to do the job themselves”
