“Have A Royal Winter’ is the festive winter programme of The Hague, the winter city of the Netherlands. Here’s a selection: the Royal Christmas Fair, the Grand Christmas Cirque and Carnivale, skating and toboggans rinks near the impressive Kurhaus building, shopping in beautifully decorated downtown areas, the New Year’s eve shows, concerts and museums, light art inside the Kurhaus and Ridderzaal, the bonfire and traditional Unox New Year’s dive. Everyone will have a blast regardless of age or budget. Enjoy the experience and Have yourself a Royal Winter…A CITY FULL OF LIGHT
The city of The Hague is having a bright winter season in different ways. During The Hague HighLights, enchanting light projects will take place at the Binnenhof and Kurhaus (beach side) every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 18 December.
On Saturday 1 December, the Light Air Show will premiere in the Netherlands above the Scheveningen coastline, with aircrafts and helicopters presenting an impressive light show above the sea.
During the Scheveningen Light Walk on Saturday 8 December, tens of thousands of people will take a walk along the art coast at the seaside resort. From Saturday 8 December onwards, at least 75 entrepreneurs located in The Hague’s downtown will try to claim the TINK Amazing Shop Windows award, the largest winter shop window contest in the Netherlands.
From Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 December, Madurodam will sparkle during VONK18, literally putting the Netherlands in a different light. On the beach right in front of the Kurhaus building, you are welcome to watch spectacular Winter fireworks in December (except on 30 December), and on Wednesday 26 December the Scheveningen Bonfire will be brought to life. Say goodbye to this year along the Hofvijver, joining the national countdown moment and Firework show.
SPORTS, ART & CULTURE WITH A WINTER TOUCH
Those of you wanting to be on the move all the time, are kindly invited to top-level adrenalin sports on 1 December at the Grote Markt, during Rock A Rail, the snowboard event for the low lands. As from Thursday 27 December the Carnivale festival, the famous winter fair, will welcome you all to the Huijgens Park.
Carnivale offers visitors a magical world with thousands of lights, extravagant artists, warmth and cosiness. Also this winter season, those of you visiting the city of The Hague will draw inspiration from wonderful exhibitions in one of the many museums the city has to offer, beautiful (Christmas) concerts, events and New Year Eve’s shows.
ENJOY LATE NIGHT (WINTER) SHOPPING
In November and December, The Hague’s downtown will be your perfect destination to spend a day (winter) shopping. Visit beautifully decorated department stores like Bijenkorf, at a stone’s throw from fashion boutiques and concept stores.
On Grote Marktstraat during the weekend of Saturday 15 December and Sunday 16 December, and also from Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 December, shoppers are welcome to enjoy outdoor entertainment like choirs and street theatre, and reload at the Royal Christmas Fair Food Market, with food trucks selling tasty bites. Enjoy winter entertainment in the style of the Royal Christmas Fair. From 14 December onwards, Denneweg will dedicate Fridays and Saturdays to something called the Denneweg Winter Days with a heart-warming programme.
Shops downtown are celebrating this holiday season with extended hours to make sure everyone has every opportunity to find the perfect Christmas gift. Some of the department stores in The Hague’s city centre will even welcome shoppers on New Year’s Day.
January and February will be all about refreshment and active events like the Unox New Year’s Dive on New Year’s Day. For the 12th time in a row, Cool Event Scheveningen will bring you a 600 m² skating rink called Kurhausplein on Ice. From Saturday 1 December to mid-January, a very ‘cool’ Ice Toboggans Rink and very special Ice Sculpture Show will be held on the beach next to the Pier.
A list of all the events is available on www.denhaag.com/winter
Coen Masselink, Des Indes General Manager and speaker Rem Korteweg together with ambassadors attending the conference.
In the most traditional Des Indes style, Ambassadors and heads of missions participated in a lunch conference on an extremely sensitive issue, Brexit, at a time where no one knows how this situation will evolve.
For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157674623421627Coen Masselink, Des Indes’ General Manager and H.E. Mr. Roman Buzek, Ambassador of Slovakia.
The “Ambassador’s Lunch” initiative is a series of lunch-conferences organized by the experienced General Manager of Des Indes, Coen Masselink, to give the opportunity to Ambassadors and heads of missions to discuss contemporary political subjects with Dutch experts.
For the Brexit conference, the guest speaker was Mr. Rem Korteweg, Head of “Europe in the World” unit at Clingendael Research department.
Mr. Rem Korteweg, Head of “Europe in the World” unit at Clingendael Research department.
After a short reception and a Des Indes signature lunch, the talks started. The theme of the conference was “Brexit means Brexit,” a concise formula that reflects the current status of the developments between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
H.E. Mr. Amgad Ghaffar, Ambassador of Egypt , H.E. Ms. Rosa Batoreu, Ambassador of Portugal, H.E. Mrs Marithza Ruiz de Vielman, Ambassador of Guatemala and H.E. Mr. Aviv Shir-On, Ambassador of Israel.
Mr Korteweg analyzed different scenarios, showing objectivity and evident knowledge.
He touched upon a wide range of topics, including the Parliament’s potential decision to fully review the text, the political approaches taken by different actors, the tensions of the financial markets, the risks associated to Brexit, the possibility of a second referendum, the complex issue of Gibraltar, the no-deal scenario, and the implication of Brexit for the credibility of EU.
H.E. Mr. Yun Young Lee, Ambassador of Korea, H.E. Mr. Kevin Kelly, Ambassador of Ireland, H.E. Ms. Lyndal Walker, Ambassador of New Zealand, H.E. Mr. Matthew Neuhaus, Ambassador of Australia and the Ambassador of the Republic of Malta, H.E. Mrs. Marlene Bonnici.
In the three months to come, the future scenario should take shape more clearly. March 29th will come soon, and in the meanwhile Brussels will likely wait, as the EU cannot do much.
As soon as the talk by Mr. Korteweg came to an end, the questions period started, and several ambassadors, notably H.E. Mr. Matthew Neuhaus, Ambassador of Australia and H.E. Mr. Kevin Kelly, ambassador of Ireland, participated with substantial contributions to the complex theme.
The Ambassador of Lebanon, H.E. Mr. Abdel Sattar Issa and H.E. Dr. Hisham Al-Alawi, Ambassador of Iraq.
At exactly 2:00 pm, in full compliance with the schedule, Mr. Masselink thanked the speaker and the guests and concluded the formal part of the event. Nevertheless, many guests remained in the room to exchange views with Korteweg on the issue of Brexit.
Speaking from Brussels in the midst of meetings with NATO and European allies, the US Special Representative for Ukraine, Ambassador Kurt Volker, condemns Russia for the lack of progress in resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine, as well as for the recent escalations in the Kerch Strait.
Almost five years after its start, the conflict in Ukraine shows no signs of winding down. Rather, after a long period of stall, tensions have recently soared as a result of the confrontation between Ukraine and Russia in the Kerch Strait. With both sides accusing each other of staging a provocation, the rhetoric has flared up again: Ukraine has temporarily declared martial law in ten regions, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused his Ukrainian counterpart to exploit the incident for electoral purposes.
On this backdrop, the US Special Representative for Ukraine, Ambassador Kurt Volker, is currently in Europe for consultations with NATO and European partners. The aim of all these parties – Ambassador Volker stressed while addressing the press – is to put an end to the conflict, ensuring peace and security for the Ukrainian people. In order to achieve such aim, Ukraine, the US and their partners remain committed to the Minsk agreements, however, on the Russian side there is no collaboration – the Special Representative said.
Ambassador Volker firmly condemned Russia’s denial of involvement in eastern Ukraine, as well as the non constructive attitude of its Russian counterparts in the negotiations. Notably, he blamed Russia for showing no willingness to find an agreement on a series of proposals, including an exchange of prisoners with Ukraine and a United Nation peacekeeping mission proposed by the US.
Ambassador Volker also accused Russia of being entirely responsible for the current escalation in the Kerch Strait, blaming it of infringing on Ukraine’s sovereignty and breaching several provisions of international law. While a swift release of the imprisoned Ukrainian soldiers does not seem in sight, the US Special Representative welcomed the unity showed by the US, NATO and European countries in calling for the release of the servicemen.
Ambassador Volker also dismissed the rumours of Ukraine preparing for an offensive in Donetsk as “assertions made by pro-Russian entities in order to deflect attention away from what Russia is doing”. Instead, he praised the restraint showed by Ukraine in responding to Russian provocations, for instance in the Black Sea.
Questioned by the press on the potential countermeasures to be taken by the US and its allies, Ambassador Volker outlined some of the options on the table. Sanctions certainly remain a valuable tool, especially if used by a broad range of allies in a coordinated way. Moreover, Ambassador Volker stressed the need for a “multinational visible presence in and around Ukraine,” both from a political and military standpoint. Finally, he noted that the US is ready to provide foreign military financing and foreign military sales to Ukraine, and that announcements in this regard are set to come up in the next months.
While the conflict continues, engagement from all parties continue too. With the hope that the suffering of the people involved will end as soon as possible.
Over 1 500 money mules identified in worldwide money laundering sting
•168 arrested, 1 504 money mules and 140 money mule organisers identified as a result of the fourth European Money Mule Action ‘EMMA 4’, a global law enforcement action week tackling the issue of money muling.
•The action took place over the course of three months (September-November 2018).
•30 States took part in EMMA 4, alongside Europol, Eurojust and the European Banking Federation, supported by more than 300 banks.
•The joint money muling campaign #DontBeAMule kicks off today to alert the public to this crime.
Working together with Europol, Eurojust and the European Banking Federation (EBF), police forces from over 20 States arrested 168 people (so far) as part of a coordinated money laundering crackdown, the European Money Mule Action (EMMA). This international swoop, the fourth of its kind, was intended to tackle the issue of ‘money mules’, who help criminals launder millions of euros worth of dirty money.
Held over the course of the past three months (September-November 2018), this year’s version of EMMA saw the participation of judicial and law enforcement authorities from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Australia, Moldova, Norway, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.
Across Europe and beyond, 1 504 money mules were identified, leading to the arrest of 168, and the arrest of 140 money mule organisers. 837 criminal investigations were opened; many of them are still ongoing. More than 300 banks, 20 bank associations and other financial institutions helped to report 26 376 fraudulent money mule transactions, preventing a total loss of EUR 36.1 million. The wider community of global and European banks provided support where needed during the three months of action and committed to raising awareness in their countries. Once again, this action highlights the importance of a quick and coordinated response by judicial and law enforcement authorities and the banking sector.
Why do people help criminals launder money?
Money mules are individuals who, often unwittingly, have been recruited by criminal organisations as money laundering agents to hide the origin of ill-gotten money. Tricked by the promise of easy money, mules transfer stolen funds between accounts, often in different States, on behalf of others, and are usually offered a share of the funds that pass through their own accounts.
Newcomers to a State, the unemployed, and people in economic distress often feature among the most susceptible to this crime. This year, cases involving young people selected by money mule recruiters are on the rise, with criminals increasingly targeting financially-distressed students to gain access to their bank accounts.
While mules are being recruited via numerous routes, criminals are more often turning to social media to recruit new accomplices, through the advertisement of fake jobs or get-rich-quick schemes.
Although this may sound like quick and easy money — all it takes is a click to transfer money from an account to another — permitting a criminal group to use your bank account can have severe legal consequences. Mules may face lengthy prison terms and acquire a criminal record that could seriously affect the rest of their lives, such as never being able to secure a mortgage or open another bank account.
#DontBeAMule
To raise awareness of this type of fraud, the money muling awareness campaign #DontBeAMule kicks off today across Europe. With awareness-raising material, available for download in 25 languages, the campaign will inform the public about how these criminals operate, how they can protect themselves and what to do if they become a victim.
As of next week, international partners from judicial and law enforcement authorities, together with financial institutions, will be supporting the campaign at national level.
Do you think you might be used as a mule? Act now before it is too late: stop transferring money and notify your bank and your national police immediately.
H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, and the Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs, H.E. Ms. Adriana Mejia.
The Hague – December 2018. The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, and the Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs, H.E. Ms. Adriana Mejía, met at the OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
The Director-General and the Vice Minister discussed progress in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the results of the recent Review Conference.
The Director-General provided detailed information about the enhancement of OPCW’s capabilities to address the threat from chemical weapons use and the project to upgrade the OPCW Laboratory into a Centre for Chemistry and Technology.
Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs, H.E. Ms. Adriana Mejia and H.E. Mr. Juan José Quintana, Ambassador of Colombia.
They both acknowledged the need to intensify international cooperation and assistance to promote the peaceful application of science and technology and to advance sustainable growth of OPCW Member States.
The Director-General stated: “The OPCW relies on the steadfast commitment of all States Parties to the Convention to promote and uphold the tenets and spirit of the CWC. I commend Colombia’s enduring support for the OPCW and I am confident in its continued close cooperation with the Organisation”.
The Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs expressed: “Appreciating the warm welcome of the OPCW, Colombia reiterates its commitment to the important work of the Organisation in the pursuit of a world free of chemical weapons.”
The Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the National Library of the Netherlands, celebrates International Migrants Day by collecting family migration stories in The Hague.
European Year of Cultural Heritage project on migration culminates in the Netherlands at the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (the National Library of the Netherlands) on International Migrants Day, 18 December 2018.The Hague, 10 December 2018 – 2018 is the European Year of Cultural Heritage, and the Europe we live in today is the result of migration, as generation after generation of people have spread across the continent and carried their ideas with them. To celebrate this occasion, The National Library of the Netherlands is working in partnership with Europeana, the European digital platform for cultural heritage, and migration museums across Europe, to invite people young and old, to share the objects that help them tell their own stories of migration.A special event to celebrate International Migrants Day will take place on 18 December at The Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague.‘Everybody has a story to tell about their origins and the moments that shaped their lives. Europeana is excited to work with The National Library of the Netherlands to encourage people to share those stories and the objects that tell them, and to help us bring them together online. In that way, we can celebrate the diversity and richness of the cultural heritage that is being passed on generation after generation, all over Europe,’ says Harry Verwayen, Executive Director at Europeana Foundation.A special event celebrating Europe’s rich cultural identityIn 2018, the European Year of Cultural Heritage, Europeana have been working with cultural heritage institutions and people from across Europe to collect stories that document how our continent has been influenced and shaped by migration. These stories cover a wide variety of topics: love, education, war, persecution, cuisine, sports, weather and more, and convey as much happiness, love and life as sadness, war and tragedy.This special event offers members of the public the opportunity to share their migration story, as well as enjoy performances of music, hear migration stories and engage with an expert panel discussion on migration. During the day, an exclusive photo exhibition showing portraits of students from the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF) will be on display.To reserve your place, visit: pro.europeana.eu/event/migration-stories-and-objects-collection-day-den-haagThe Koninklijke Bibliotheek invites all visitors to share their family objects and stories to help build this online collection showcasing Europe’s rich history of migration.European Year of Cultural HeritageEuropeana is a partner to the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage. Throughout the year, European will run a series of collection day events in partnership with museums, libraries, archives and audiovisual collections across Europe to build a new online collection that will showcase how the flow of people and ideas has contributed to the richness of Europe’s culture today. If people cannot attend the events they will be able to contribute at migration.europeana.eu/share
As a result of the successful efforts of the members of an Italian/Albanian joint investigation team, 43 people were arrested for large-scale drug trafficking. To date, more than 2 300 kg of marijuana, cocaine and heroin were seized, with an estimated total value of EUR 15 million.
At a coordination meeting held today at Eurojust, representatives from the Public Prosecution Offices of Bari, Italy, and Tirana, Albania, discussed the successful results of an investigation into organised drug trafficking that so far has led to the arrest of 43 people. A joint investigation team (JIT) between Italy and Albania was established in 2017, with financial support from Eurojust. The complex investigation is ongoing.
Two powerful organised criminal groups, composed of Italian and Albanian nationals, operated out of Bari and its environs, including Sicily, Campania, Calabria and Abruzzo, and with the involvement of Albania. Logistics were handled in Puglia, Italy, while the production, packaging, sorting and transfer of the drugs from Albania to Italy were handled by the Albanian operation.
Judicial and law enforcement authorities from Bari (Direzione Anti-mafia, D.I.A.), Carabinieri, Polizia di Stato, Guardia di Finanza and D.I.A. of Rome, Napoli, Reggio Calabria, Catania, Lecce, Catanzaro, Salerno and Bologna, Interpol and the Albanian Police were involved in the investigation and arrests.
Keys to the success of this operation so far are the JIT and the support of Eurojust, which played a major role in setting up and financing the JIT.
On the picture the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, and the Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the OPCW and the Chairperson of the Executive Council, H. E. Ms. Ambassador Jana Reinišová.
OPCW and Municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp Sign Land Agreement for Future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology
THE HAGUE, Netherlands —14 December 2018 —The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, and the Mayor of Pijnacker-Nootdorp, Honorable Ms. Francisca Ravestein, signed an agreement today to provide land for the construction of a new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology. The signing ceremony took place at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
The Director-General expressed: “This is an essential contribution and crucial step for the construction of the Centre for Chemistry and Technology, which will be a recognised leader in research, analysis, training and capacity building in the global effort to rid the world of chemical weapons.”
The Mayor of Pijnacker-Nootdorp remarked: “Signing this agreement today means a lot to our municipality. We are proud that such an important international organisation as the OPCW has chosen business park Heron in Nootdorp to build their new laboratory. We are looking forward to working together on this project.”
On 21 November, during the Fourth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Stef Blok, pledged “€2.3 million to the OPCW for the purchase of land” for the new Centre.
The Director-General thanked the Netherlands for its contribution and concluded with an appeal to all OPCW Member States in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so. He reiterated: “We are seeking the broad support for the project to upgrade the Laboratory and Equipment Store into a Centre for Chemistry and Technology, as it will be for the benefit of all States Parties. All contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.
The ceremony was attended by a number of officials including: the Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the OPCW and the Chairperson of the Executive Council, H. E. Ambassador Jana Reinišová; the Permanent Representative of Canada to the OPCW and co-coordinator of the Friends of the Laboratory Group, H.E. Ambassador Sabine Nölke; the Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the OPCW, co-coordinator of the Friends of the Laboratory Group, and Vice-Chair of the Conference of the States Parties, H.E. Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja; the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Paul van den Ijssel; and the Alderman of Pijnacker-Nootdorp, Ms Ilona Jense.
David and Linda Hurley – Picture by Office of the Governor of NSW.
14 December 2018, Commonwealth of Australia: Prime Minister Scott Morrison named a distinguished military leader as the country’s upcoming governor general, who represents Australia’s monarch Queen Elizabeth II, the country’s nominal head of state, ahead of an election to be held in May 2019.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Sunday that General David Hurley, former Australian Defence Force chief and current governor of the state of New South Wales, has been appointed to the high office. General Hurley (65) had a 42-year military career in the Australian Army culminating in his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force in 2011.
The largely symbolic governor-general’s role has extensive though little-used executive powers. In principle, the Governor-General is commander in chief of the armed forces, appoints ambassadors ministers and judges, gives royal assent to legislation and issues writs to call elections on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.
The current governor-general, General Sir Peter Cosgrove, is due to finish his five-year term in March 2019.
Prime Minister Morrison both appointed General Hurley and simultaneously extended General Cosgrove’s term until after the federal election, allowing Hurley to conclude his duties as state governor of New South Wales as well, which has also has an election in March.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy. The prime minister is Australia’s head of government, yet formally reports on many matters to the Queen’s representative.
The governor general almost always acts on the advice of the prime minister and parliament, but can also dissolve parliament and has done so in the past.
Salome Zurabishvili – Picture by Government of Georgia.
Sunday, 16 December 2018, Tbilisi, Georgia: After taking the presidential oath in the historic King Erekle’s Castle at Telavi, Salome Zurabishvili has been sworn in as the fifth and first ever female president of Georgia.
She will hold office for a six-year term. Between 2004 and 2005 she was likewise Georgia’s first female foreign minister.
According to the Georgian constitution, the President of Georgia is head of state and a guarantor of national independence and unity of the country. He/she ensures the functioning of state bodies in accordance with the Constitution. Moreover, the President is the chief representative of Georgia in foreign relations.
The constitutional reform carried out in 2017 introduces a new model of government which is characteristic for a parliamentary republic, meaning that the next president will not be elected directly by the people. The new president after Zurabishvili will be elected for a five-year term by a special 300-member council starting in 2024.
Amongst the partaking dignitaries was former French President Nicolas Sárközy, the Head of the Georgian Royal House, PrinceDavit Bagrationi Mukhrani and the latter’s brother Prince Ugo Bagrationi.
Prince Davit Bagrationi Mukrani and President Salome Zurabishvili – Picture by Georgian Royal House.
