ICC´s President Chile Eboe-Osuji. Photography by ICC.

On 5 February 2019, the International Criminal Court (ICC) hosted an event launching the hub of the International Gender Champions (IGC) initiative in The Hague, The Netherlands, organized by the Embassies of Canada and Switzerland to The Netherlands.

During the event, Gender Champions, aspiring Gender Champions, and other advocates of gender equality discussed how to put into action the commitment of decision-makers in The Hague to break down gender barriers. Led by H.E. Sabine Nӧlke, Ambassador of Canada to the Netherlands, and H.E. Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn, Ambassador of Switzerland to The Netherlands, The Hague Hub aims to promote gender equality across organisations of all stripes in the city as well coordinating global efforts with other IGC Chapters in Geneva, New York, Vienna and Nairobi.

ICC officials President Chile Eboe-Osuji, Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and Registrar Peter Lewis, in their individual capacity as heads of the three organs of the ICC, joined the IGC leadership network last year vowing to strengthen gender equality at the Court by taking concrete measures jointly and individually within their respective spheres of responsibility.

The event opened with remarks by ICC President Eboe-Osuji, ICC Registrar Lewis, and H.E. Sabine Nӧlke, Ambassador of Canada to The Netherlands. It featured  a panel discussion with ICC Prosecutor Bensouda, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Ambassador of Bangladesh to The Netherlands, Caitlin Kraft-Buchman, Executive Director of Women@TheTable and co-founder of International Gender Champions, as well as Hans de Boer, Chairman of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW).

The panel was moderated by H.E. Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn, Ambassador of Switzerland to The Netherlands.

“We can – and must – make it our culture to include women into public offices in equal numbers as men,” stated ICC President Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji. 

“Equality for women is progress for all. Achieving gender parity is a collective responsibility,” said ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at the event. “I’m delighted to join the President, the Registrar, and other colleagues in The Hague chapter of the International Gender Champion leadership network to contribute – with concrete initiatives – to our shared goals of breaking gender barriers,” she added.

For ICC Registrar Peter Lewis, “the International Gender Champions initiative is very much welcome, as it makes gender equality at workplace a matter of concrete and purposeful steps.” 

Bishop Kevin Farrell, Image by Andrew Incowtown.

14 February 2019, Holy See: Bishop of Rome, Franciscus I, appointed the Irish-American Cardinal Kevin Farrell as the new “camerlengo”, that is, the prelate who runs the Holy See in the interregnum between the death or resignation of a pontiff, and the election of a new one. 

Cardinal Farrell, 71, was in born in Ireland and is the highest-ranking United Stater at the papal household. He succeeded the French cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, who passed away in July 2018.  The camerlengo, or chamberlain, acts as a sort of regent during the Holy See’s vacancy, and matters related to the Vatican city-state during the period known as the sede vacante.

Wheras the position is steeped in tradition and rituals, he cannot make any major decisions and cannot change Church teachings. In the case of a papal death, the camerlengo is the person who officially confirms it, traditionally by tapping the pontiff’s head three times with a silver hammer and calling out his name. He then seals the papal residence and office.
In 2013, Benedictus XVI became the first pontiff in six centuries to abdicate; then Cardinal Tauran began his duties the day the resignation took effect. Franciscus I, aged 81, appears to enjoy good health.

For further information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camerlengo_of_the_Holy_Roman_Church

H.E. Ms. Laura Dupuy, Ambassador of Uruguay and Lic. Anahí Aguirre Toni, Second Secretary.

By Roy Lie Atjam.

On Wednesday 23 rd January 2019 the new Uruguayan Ambassador to the Netherlands H.E Laura Dupuy presented her Letters of Credence to HM The King Willem Alexander.

The formal ceremony, based on a firmly established tradition and protocol took place at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. It represents one the of most memorable moments in the mandate of an Ambassador. As the formal beginning of the ceremony, Ambassador was taken to the palace by official carriage. Following the tradition, Ambassador Laura Dupuy hosted a  vin d’ honneur  at her residence.

Many distinguished guests attended, including fellow Ambassadors and well-wishers. The Ambassador thank everyone for the warm welcome extended to her. She is looking forward to good collaboration with her peers and others. Dupuy particularly mentioned the collaboration with the IHE Delft. She continued, don’t think that I know everything she quip…..I don’t! However, Laura Dupuy is no novice to the Diplomatic community.

Ambassador Dupuis is a career diplomat, graduated in International Relations at the Universidad de la República Oriental del Uruguay, and with three years of legal studies at the same University.

Dupuis was President of the U.N. Human Rights Council 2011/2012, having been the first woman to chair it, on behalf of GRULAC, while she was Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the U.N.-Geneva 2009-2014.

Uruguay and the Netherlands have official diplomatic relations since April 14, 1896. Both countries, the Netherlands and Uruguay have worked together in different subjects, like co-organizing the World Conference on Human Rights of LGBTI persons, in Montevideo, in July 2016, on non-violence, non-discrimination and social inclusion, particularly in view of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ambassador Laura Dupuy co-chaired that Conference with Ambassador Kees van Baar. 

It must have been of utmost significance for Ambassador Dupuy to present her credentials to HM King Willem Alexander and henceforth serve the Republic of Uruguay in such an august office.

Pianist Keiko-Sakuma, at the Austrian residence.

By Roy Lie Atjam.

Once again the Austrian Ambassador Heidemaria Gürer of Austria has open the doors of her residence to host yet another musical evening. During this time the focus was on American-Austrian composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold and his opera “Die tote Stadt”

Caspar Wintermans author of the biography“Een jongen van brutale zwier”: Erich Wolfgang Korngold in the Netherlands 1910-1958″ delivered a lecture on  Korngold and the opera “Die tote Stadt”

Mr.  Nicolas Mansfield, directeur Nederlandse Reisopera, was the second speaker at the event. He stated: ¨we believe that opera performance can change your life. That is why we make operas that connect and connect people. We believe that in a time of polarization and negativity, culture gives hope and connection. ¨  The Dutch Reisopera is the largest travelling opera company in the Netherlands. For more than 60 years, it has been inspiring as many people as possible with opera productions.

Die tote Stadt is a psychologically disconcerting love drama with Hitchcock-like features, about Paul who, after the loss of his beloved Marie, slowly but surely gets entangled in a dream world of obsessions and delusions. The music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold makes a spectacular comeback.

Further, featuring on the program was  Sergei Bolotny, violin, and Keiko Sakuma, piano, they  graced the evening with their  music by Korngold from the opera “Die tote Stadt” and from “Viel Lärmen aus Nichts”

H.E. Ambassador Heidemaria Gürer’s soiree on  Erich Wolfgang Korngold and his opera has without any doubt been a dazzling success. Congratulations to Ambassador Heidemaria  Gürer for taking the initiative to organize un avant gout of the opera “Die tote Stadt”.

______________________

Photography by the Embassy of Austria.

By Roy Lie Atjam.

Wassenaar, 11 February 2019, this year, the event recognized the 40th anniversary of the 11 February 1979, Iranian Revolution.

For this reason, H.E. Mr. Ambassador Alireza Jahangiri,  hosted a reception. Guests turnout in their numbers to congratulate Ambassador Alireza Jahangiri on this momentous day.

The Iranian Revolution was a  nationalistic and Islamic revolution that replaced a secular monarchy. The last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown and replaced by the Islamic Republic. The Shah was perceived by the man in the street as a puppet of the west. Under the Shah’s rule, western powers exploited Iran’s natural resources. Furthermore, the Shah’s regime was oppressive, corrupt and brutal.

In his Revolution Day address on Tehran’s Azadi (Freedom) Square, President Hassan Rohani lash out at the U.S. for conspiring against his country. In his revolution day message, Ambassador Alireza Jahangiri,  stated the following:.

This year’s National Day has a special significance for us since it is the Fortieth Anniversary of the glorious Islamic Revolution of Iran.

From the outset, the Islamic Revolution of Iran has followed the principles of respect for the rights of other nations, standing against oppression, aggression, corruption, tyranny, arrogance, and external interference in the fate of nations along with constructive dialogue and multilateral engagement with other countries based on the principles of equality and respect.

In these forty years, the people of Iran have proudly passed all types of hardships: coup, attempts to overthrow, assassinations, war, sanctions and pressures. The establishment that emerged from the Revolution, the Islamic Republic, in pursuit of its transcendental goals, managed to achieve tremendous success in scientific fields such as aerospace, nano and biotechnology, genetics, academic researches and also public health and welfare, at a level which is not comparable with before the victory of the Revolution. 

While the Iranian people have been the victims of all kinds of conspiracy of the enemies, terrorism and chemical weapons in the past forty years, they have been able to overcome these difficulties, rebuild the destruction of the war, eliminate the effects of sanctions and gain great successes in all indicators by relying on its own capabilities.

Iran has always had cultural relations with the regional countries based on a common historical background and has always been and still is the strategic depth of the culture of the region. Neither in the past 40 years nor before, Iran has never initiated an attack or invasion of its neighbors or other countries and whenever asked for help, it has rushed to aid every country including Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Lebanon, Yemen, Afghanistan and Qatar.

If Iran did not support Iraqi and Syrian people, today we might have seen a different outcome for Baghdad and Damascus and without Iran’s support for Afghanistan, during its struggle for independence, we might have witnessed different conditions in the region.

The intensive and long-term negotiations between the European and American sides with the Islamic Republic of Iran in order to end an unnecessary crisis in the issue of peaceful nuclear activity which led to the JCPOA is a good example of the triumph of diplomacy, multilateralism and Iran’s dedication to its commitments. The 13 reports issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) clearly testifies to Iran’s commitment to its obligations whilst in the contrary the United States, failed in this historic test by violating its obligations.

Unfortunately, other parties, including Europe, have not yet been able to fulfill their obligations as a result of which the balance in the agreement is disappeared. We hope that what the European Union recently unveiled as INSTEX could help both sides to enjoy economic benefits of the JCPOA.

On bilateral relations between Iran and the Netherlands, we have witnessed the expansion of relations in all aspects over the past five years as the officials of both countries were determined to develop the bilateral relations.

Considering the mutual visits by several high-ranking Dutch and Iranian officials in recent years, we do hope that in 2019 this trend will be strengthened and given the capacities and the great incentives to promote economic cooperation between the two countries, the growing volume of economic interactions between the two countries will continue and we also can see an increase in the mutual visits to the capitals of both countries.

At the OPCW which is rightfully based in The Hague, the beautiful city of peace and Justice, the Islamic Republic of Iran as one of the victims of chemical weapons, has always tried to prevent proliferation and use of these weapons through effective interaction with other Member States of this Organization and also to preserve the function of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in the way its founders intended.

I would like to inform you that this is the fifth and last National Day ceremony for me as the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Netherlands as I will be leaving the country next month. I hereby thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, especially, the MENA and protocol departments that without their cooperation, the progress made throughout these years would not have been possible.

If I may be permitted on a personal note, on behalf of my wife Maryam and myself, would like to convey our profound gratitude and deep appreciation for the wholehearted cooperation and friendship that we have received from one and all during our stay in The Hague. Our thoughts will be with our friends here. The Netherlands will always have a special place wherever we are. We look forward to seeing you all in Iran.

An authentic Iranian musical intermezzo and excelent Persian dinner buffet was also an integral part of the festive evening.

NATO Defense Ministerial to be held in Brussels on 13-14 February

On the picture H.E. Kay bailey Hutchison, Ambassador, United States Mission to NATO.

By Guido Lanfranchi.

On the eve of the NATO Defense Ministerial set to be held in Brussels on 13-14 February 2019, Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison, Permanent Representative of the United States to NATO, outlined the meeting’s agenda. The discussions will focus on a broad range of topic, including North Macedonia’s accession protocol, the INF Treaty, defense investment and capabilities, as well as the situation in Afghanistan.

A busy global political agenda is set to characterize the European continent in this week. While Warsaw will host the Ministerial for Peace and Security in the Middle East, Brussels will welcome the Defense Ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. On the eve of this latter meeting, the US Permanent Representative to NATO, Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison, outlined to the press the main points on the agenda.

The discussions will start with the welcoming of the accession protocol for North Macedonia, which is set to become the 30^th member of NATO. Ambassador Hutchison reiterated the full US support to the country’s accession, and expressed confidence that the ratification process will be smooth. Although no timeline is set – she noted – within the end of the year the due procedures might be completed.

Another important point on the agenda will be the INF Treaty. The US recently suspended its obligations under the treaty on account of alleged violations be the Russian side. As a consequence – the Ambassador explained – the US is going forward with due countermeasures as provided by the treaty protocols. As for the way forward, Ambassador Hutchinson clarified that the US “would welcome a new treaty that includes all the countries that have the ballistic missiles that would be a violation of the treaty.”

Defense Ministers will also tackle the issue of defense investment, on which NATO allies have already made “great strides” – Ambassador Hutchison noted. The discussions will focus on the so called “three C’s”: Cash (moving towards two percent of national GDP for military expenditure), Capability (spending twenty percent of this amount to meet capability targets), and Contributions (increasing contributions to NATO missions).

While noting that the established targets are still not met, Ambassador Hutchison welcomed the significant progress made by NATO allies since 2016, and voiced her hope that further progress will be achieved over the next years.

Moreover, deterrence and defense will be on the Ministers’ agenda. Specifically, the focus will be on the so called “four 30s”: 30 battalions, 30 air squadrons, 30 ships in 30 days, wherever needed. NATO allies will also discuss issues such as military mobility and telecommunication security, key aspects of NATO deterrence and defense efforts.

Finally, the last major part of the Ministerial will focus on the current situation in Afghanistan, and notably on the latest developments in the peace process. US Special Envoy Ambassador Khalilzad is “breaking new ground” – Ambassador Hutchison stressed – and while concrete results have not yet been reached, the developments seem to be going in the right direction.

Questioned by the press on potential internal fractures inside NATO, Ambassador Hutchison reassured that the Alliance’s unity on its core function is not at stake. While some divergences among allies do exist, for instance on the domestic political situation of certain member states, such differences are addressed by the US at the bilateral level, and do not poison the tight security cooperation among NATO members. Nevertheless, the Ambassador defined as “very troubling” the plans by Turkey to purchase Russian missile defense systems, and urged the country not to go forward with such decision.

The NATO Defense Ministerial will be held at NATO headquarters on February 13^th and 14^th. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will chair the meeting, which will be the first one for US Acting Secretary of Defense Mr. Patrick Shanahan.