On 29 November 2018, the Embassy of Hungary presented a “Pálinka Masterclass”at the Hungarian Corner restaurant in The Hague. Kristian Kielmayer, Chairman of the National Pálinka of Excellence Programme presented a special selection of the Hungarian pálinkas, and the distinguished guests discovered the unique taste of apricot, blackcurrant, elderberry, grape, plum, apple and sour cherry pálinka. The event was organized for Dutch experts and gastronomic journalists and opened by Ambassador Kocsis. The distinctive pálinkas were offered by seven Hungarian distilleries: 1 Csepp, Brill, Csalló, Schiszler, Tarpa, Várda, Zsindelyes. After the tasting, traditional Hungarian goulash and strudel were served to guests.

By Nane Paraiso. On Friday 12th of October, Sonia Meijer was invited to speak at the graduation ceremony for International Baccalaureate students at Comenius College in Capelleaan den IJssel. Last year ex Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende was the key-note speaker, this year in the light of diversity, Comenius College decided to invite a charismatic and inspirational person from the Corps Diplomatic. It was a special evening since the students graduated with the highest marks in the Netherlands. The evening started with a dinner for parents, graduates and teachers. Immediately after, the graduates had to wear their beautiful caps and gowns with a royal blue tassel. The valedictorian Evan Pridmore (a Canadian / American native) who currently studies art history in the UK brought us back to memory lane and with self-deprecating humour reminisced the joy and hardships of the International Baccalaureate programme. After some giggles and melancholic reflective thoughts the master of ceremony announced the Honoray Consul of El Salvador as key-note speaker. Ms. Sonia Meijer began her speech by telling the freshly graduated students “how honoured” she was in taking part of the celebration. The auditorium was filled by emotions when she disclosed on her own life story and career path in the diplomatic world moving from El Salvador to Brasil, Uruguay and of course the Netherlands. In addition Ms. Meijer commended the parents and teachers for their hard work in developing and raising adolescents into global citizens who aspire to travel the world whilst expanding their horizon. Moreover her motto and the message she conveyed that one needs “to dream big dreams” was extremely inspiring for the entire audience. Not only did she shed a light on the challenges one might face in life but also elaborated on the fact that traveling is quintessential to one’s life journey; “sometimes you’ll gain more knowledge through intercultural relationships than from plain knowledge in books.” The poignant, heart-warming, motivational and benevolent speech ended on a positive note that when we embark on a new journey we’ll explore the world and view it from different perspectives. Perhaps some students would choose a career in the diplomatic world and if they aspire this, by working hard and with an open mind, these dreams could become reality. After a musical intermezzo by other talented IB-students, teachers and tutors gave their speech. In general, Comenius College and especially the IB-programme fosters knowledgeable, inquisitive, balanced, risk-taking, caring and open minded people in order to create a better and more peaceful world. ————– The author is a IB Diploma Programme teacher and golf teacher.

The seventeenth session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened today at the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague, The Netherlands. From 5 to 12 December 2018, States Parties to the Rome Statute, the Court’s founding treaty, observer States, invited States, international and regional organizations and representatives from civil society will discuss key challenges facing the Statute, as it is turning 20 this year. States Parties will also make important decisions and adopt resolutions on key issues pertaining to the functioning of the Court and the Trust Fund for Victims, including in relation to their respective budgets, and on cooperation. “At this landmark anniversary that naturally leads us to introspection, review and reflection, we must move beyond making aspirational, grandiose statements in international fora such as this one, beyond adopting resolutions and declarations, to more concrete action”, said H.E. O-Gon Kwon, President of the Assembly of States Parties. “The Court is indeed moving forward, but it can successfully do so only with the support of this family, the Rome Statute family. The time for action is now. ” Addressing the Assembly for the first time as ICC President, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji called for continued support: “it is right and necessary for States Parties acting alone and collectively to defend the Court at all times. In doing so, they create the space the Court needs to operate with independence.” Noting the incalculable cost of atrocities that cause immense devastation and pain that can last for generations, and that “at $1.7 trillion, the world’s annual military spending is roughly ten thousand times larger than the budget of the ICC”, President Eboe-Osuji also emphasised that “investment in justice, such as is administered in this Court, is an investment in the peaceful and stable future we want for our shared humanity.” ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda provided an overview of the activities of her Office in the past year, from further ‘institutional’ enhancements to preliminary examinations, investigations and prosecutions, highlighting successes and challenges faced.  Notwithstanding these inherent challenges, the Prosecutor reaffirmed her principled and unyielding commitment and that of her Office to advance the independent and impartial mandate of the Office of the Prosecutor under the Rome Statute. “Together with my dedicated staff, we have been consistently focused on our mission: the effective investigation and prosecution of the Rome Statute crimes so as to fight impunity and contribute to the prevention of such crimes, with the hopes of ultimately responding to the suffering of victims and affected communities”, she stated. “We will continue to do so with unshaken resolve, commitment and utmost integrity, undeterred in the face of formidable challenges”, the Prosecutor added.

H.E. Mr Motoo Noguchi, the departing Board Chair of the Trust Fund for Victims, stated: “First, the importance of assistance mandate [of the Fund] remains unchanged even if the reparations mandate has started in full operation. Second, it is important to make the reparations proceedings simple and fast so that the reparations proceedings won’t be a physical and mental burden for victims or unnecessarily raise their expectations.”

H.E. M. Soraya Alvarez Ambassador of Cuba, during her welcome remarks, we can see besides her the Ambassador of Poland, H.E. Mr. Marcin Czepelak and Mr. Anton Lutter. By Anton Lutter. The ambassador of Cuba H.E. Soraya Alvarez, hosted a reception – 19^thnov – at het residence welcoming the Deputy First Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA), Dr. Fernando González Bermúdez. Born in 1946 he studied medicine at the University of Havana and obtaining a PhD in 1975, specializing in embryology. Since July 2004 he was appointed in the above office. Earlier he has held the high position in the field of science: deputy director of the Agricultural Health National Center (1976-1978), director of the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba (1979-1983), director general and founder of the National Center for the Production of Laboratory (CENPALAB) (1982-2004) which belong to the sphere of Biotechnology.

In the last few years, he has focused his work on the environment. He has led the Macroproject for the scientific investigation and technological innovation on the dangers and vulnerabilities of the coastal line in the Program of Management of Climatic Change approved by the Council of Ministers. He has taken part in many international events either as head of delegation or as a member to the Conference of the States Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Next to that Dr. González Bermúdez, was a member of the National Assembly of People’s Power (legislative parliament of Cuba) between 1998 and 2013. Dr. Gonzales Bermudez participated in the general debate of the Fourth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention taking place from November 22 to November 30, 2018 at The Hague, which is the seat of the OPCW. In his statement, the Deputy First Minister reiterated the position of principle of Cuba in favor of general and total disarmament under the strict and effective monitoring of the international community, prohibition and elimination of all mass destruction weapons included. Dr. Fernando González Bermúdez said that the destruction of chemical weapons in all categories has remained one of the main objectives of the Organization and that it should be completed by the Possessor State as soon as possible and in accordance with the Verification Annex.

He also spoke of the promotion of the economic and technological development of the States Parties, particularly of those least developed and called to implement the Article XI of the Convention in a full, effective and non-discriminatory manner. In this point of the intervention, he denounced the unilateral policy of the blockade imposed by the Government of the United States against Cuba, noticing it being a violation of what is established in the abovementioned article of the Convention. Dr. González Bermúdezalso underlined two national documents circulated by Cuba in the framework of the Conference: one about the damages caused by the blockade to the chemical Industry in Cuba during the last five years and another one about the main activities developed by our country in the implementation of the Convention. Being in The Netherlands the Cuban Deputy First Minister took the opportunity in visiting the bilateral working program which included meetings and exchanging views with his Dutch counterparts for the promotion of the main elements of Tarea Vida (Task Life).