Finally in Amsterdam, Coffee from Its Origin

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Finally in Amsterdam, Coffee from Its Origin
H.E. Ms. Sahar Ghanem, Ambassador of Yemen. During the World of Coffee Amsterdam 2018, the Yemen Embassy in The Hague celebrated the first participation of Yemeni specialty coffee in international expos. It was a memorable moment as Yemeni coffee, the world birthplace of coffee cultivation, has been out of reach for years after it had dominated the world coffee trade for hundreds of years from Mokha port in Yemen – the origin of Mocha coffee. For additional pictures, please open the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157695628914102 Following the risk-taking voyage of Mokhtar to export Yemeni coffee to the USA during 2015 war in Yemen, Dave Eggers wrote his best-seller story book of the young immigrant who took Yemen coffee to another level. The Monk of Mokha does not only depict Mokhtar’s phenomenal journey but also relates a bit of a background of Yemeni coffee history. The story and other incidents in recent years have brought Yemeni coffee back to spotlight, which triggered many producing and trading businesses to start trading, one of which is Qima Coffee which had an amazing stand at the World of Coffee 2018 representing Yemeni specialty coffee, and Mocha Hunters whose coffee was used by CP Wong from Hong Kong during the World Barista Championship 2018. Other traders also attended the fair to gain better market access after having contributed to the development of the quality and value chain of the Yemeni coffee to position it in global market. The Yemen Embassy in The Hague has promoted for the Dutch market during the last year because the Netherlands was historically the point from which coffee cultivation spread worldwide during the seventeenth century by Dutch sailors. During the World of Coffee fair, Ms. Sahar Ghanem, the Yemeni Ambassador, has also participated in the panel discussion “Make Coffee, Not War”, with other panelists from the coffee industry, ACTED in Yemen and other NGOs, in which they discussed challenges and opportunities for Yemeni coffee during the conflict. Following the fair, and as a form of support and appreciation, Yemeni partners were invited by Her Excellency to celebrate their success before their departure back to Yemen. ————— Photography by the Embassy of Yemen in The Hague.

Even our longest, unbroken, peaceful relationship can be improved

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Even our longest, unbroken, peaceful relationship can be improved
Ambassador Hoekstra. Photography by Jos van Leeuwen. By H.E. Mr. Peter Hoekstra. The United States and the Netherlands have a long history of friendship and cooperation.  This began before John Adams was accepted as the official representative from the United States to the Netherlands in 1782 and even before the Dutch became the first nation to recognize our new nation with the First Salute in November of 1776.  Our joint journey started when Henry Hudson sailed to North America and the Dutch settled in those new lands. Our relationship with the Dutch is the longest, unbroken, peaceful relationship that the United States has with any nation in the world.  The Dutch have long been one of the United States’ most like-minded allies, both globally and within the EU.  We have a special relationship and I want to continue to move that forward by advocating the policies of our administration; expanding the lines of communication between the Netherlands and the United States; and finding common ground to work together for the benefit of both nations.  As Ambassador, my goal is to take an already strong bond and make it stronger. The U.S.-Dutch economic relationship is one of our deepest and most important trade and investment partnerships.  The Netherlands is among Europe’s most dynamic and highly competitive economies, with strong historical trade and investment links to the United States.  The Netherlands is historically the third largest foreign investor in the United States, supporting over 740,000 American jobs, and is the United States’ eighth largest goods export market, worth 40.4 billion dollars. Here in the Netherlands, over 2,700 U.S. companies – nearly a quarter of all foreign-owned companies in this country – directly employ a quarter of a million Dutch workers. The coming years will continue to present changes, challenges, and opportunities.  Changes are coming in the European Union and with the Netherlands’ energy transition.  We also face security and defense challenges, including worrisome activity by Russia.
H.E. Peter Hoekstra, Ambassador of USA to the Netherlands. Photography by Gezichten van Margraten.
As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo again reiterated in his recent remarks at NATO headquarters, the United States has made it clear that NATO should not return to business as usual with Russia until Moscow shows a clear change in its actions and complies with international law.  President Trump has also made it clear that the United States, the Netherlands, and all our NATO allies need to ensure that fighting terrorism is a top priority for the Alliance.We should work with our partners in North Africa and the Middle East to address conditions and activities that enable terrorism, such as the trafficking of weapons, irregular migration, and regional instability.  NATO’s expertise can help strengthen the resilience of partner countries and regional organizations fighting terrorism. Security is not free.  Our collective defense demands fair and equitable sharing of the security burden.  We are depending on the Netherlands and other European nations to make the case to their own taxpayers why it is critical to fulfill their obligations on defense spending. During the Wales Summit in 2014, the Netherlands and every other NATO Ally agreed to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense by 2024, with 20 percent of that share devoted to funding major equipment. It is now up to each ally to make good on that promise by presenting a credible plan. We also face challenges to fair trade.  We want to work with the Netherlands to promote fairer trade policies worldwide, particularly in regard to countries such as China.  China often fails to respect intellectual property, forces technology transfer, provides subsidies to its companies that give unfair advantages, and dumps commodities on world markets which  directly or indirectly harm U.S. and European industry.   We want to encourage like-minded countries to stand with us in taking concrete action against unfair trade practices – whether it is dumping, subsidies, intellectual property theft, or forced technology transfer. American and Dutch companies are natural partners, especially in innovative industries and the knowledge-based economy.  Together we can make greater strides through cooperating in the fields of science, technology, and entrepreneurship.  In April, my friend the Governor of the State of Michigan was here to sign an agreement with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to strengthen innovation in the automotive sector. The United States and the Netherlands have always shared a close bond.  This is in part thanks to our shared history, starting with New Amsterdam and our connections with the Pilgrims through Leiden.  It extends to our shared history during our revolution, when the Dutch provided financial and moral support to our new nation, and then in World War II, when Americans came here as liberators.  It follows through to the Pilgrims through Leiden. when the United States provided aid to help rebuild a nation devastated by war.  Today we look to our shared cultural ties.  We are both nations that believe in rule of law, human rights, and freedom and we continue to work together on these issues. The Netherlands will always hold a special place in my heart and it is an honor to have the opportunity to strengthen relations between the country of my birth and the country that I call home.  I believe that together with the men and women of the U.S. Mission to the Netherlands, we can use my time here to make this already robust relationship even stronger.    

Tanzania Welcomes You to The Roof of Africa!

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Tanzania Welcomes You to The Roof of Africa!
By H.E.  Ms. Irene Florence Mkwawa Kasyanju, Ambassador of Tanzania. Photography Ms. Nkundwe Pamela Kasyanju . Looking for a lifetime adventure? Or simply itching to scratch off yet another item from your bucket list, why not stand on top of the world’s tallest freestanding mountain? Home to 3 volcanic cones; Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira, Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro(“Kili”)is the ultimate challenge in Africa. Large enough to satisfy one’squest for a little solitude and time reconnecting with nature, Kili effortlessly attracts over 40,000 people a year, from all over the world. As one of Tanzania’s many illustrious National Parks, Kili contributes immensely to the country’s travel and tourism sector, and GDP. According to the Tanzanian Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources, due to the success of the country’s National Parks, Tanzania is forecasted to generate at least $11.9 billion in 2027. In 2016, the monumental attraction was recorded to have generated a whopping $78 million from entrance fees alone. Additionally, Kilihas managed to provide continuous work for more than 30,000 porters, guides, chefsand transport assistants, willing to make the challenging journey up with the climbers. While it is only compulsory to work with the local guides who are familiar with the terrain, most trekkers commonly decide to scale with a team, making their climb as smooth and comfortable as possible. Unlike some of the world’s other summits, Kili is considered relatively easy to trek, depending on the route and amount of time taken to scale it. Climbers are advised to slowly venture up in no less than 5 to 7 days, in order to give them enough time to acclimate to the mountain’s altitude levels, which tend to be the most challenging part of the trek. Adventurous Dutchman Wim Hof along with 25 other thrill seekers defied all odds, reaching Uhuru (Kili) peak in just 48 hours back in 2014. This achievement, considered impossible by many, including the Dutch Mountaineering and Climbing Federation, was mystifying given that Hof’s group included men and women aged 29-65. To top of their incredible triumph, it was reported that about 11 of them reached the -20ÂșC summit in nothing but shorts. Kili presents astonishing extremes of weather. It has an equatorial climate due to its location, but arctic conditions as well, resulting from its high altitude. January to February, or August to September is the best timeto climb. Your trek would begin in “the Cultivated Zone,” about 2,600ft – 6,000ft up, consisting mostly of farmland and small villages, and where most of the guides, porters and chefs reside. Expect frequent rainfall as you travel through this zone, crucialfor the mountain’s production of coffee, bananas, avocado and other fruits. You would then come to one of the most beautiful areas; “the Forest or Rainforest Zone.” With its mild temperatures and occasional rainfall, this second zone covers a majority of the mountain with lush beautiful flora and an assorted yet elusive amount of faunaat 6,000ft – 9,000ft. Depending on your route through this zone, you would typically come across animals such as monkeys, baboons, leopards, mongooses, rhinoceroses, giraffes and buffaloes. Moving further along your trail would bring you into “the Heather and Moorland Zone,” at approximately 9,000ft – 13,000ft. This zone is renowned for both its spectacular view and unpredictable climate. Here, you can expect less rain, more winds and giant heathers, wild grasses that get taller as you go, rocky trails and temperatures that run up to 40ÂșC during the day and fall to as low as 0ÂșC at night. The erratic nature of this zone may be much for most travelers to deal with, but it’s beautiful blue skies, as well as breathtaking views of both the rainforest below and Kili’s summit above, make the zone more than tolerable. Getting you closer to the glaciers on the cone of Kibo, the deep gorges and barren landscapes of “the Highland Desert Zone” come next. Finally, comes the treasured “Arctic Zone” beginning at 16,000ft and ending at Uhuru Peak; 19,340ft. So many emotions are sure to hit you here, including the awe of your unbelievable surroundings and sense of accomplishment as you stand on top of the “Roof of Africa.” Wim Hof would agree that when it comes to trekking one the world’s fabled Seven Summits, it isall about great mental preparation and determination. The Embassy of Tanzania cordially welcomes you to join thousands travelling with KLM flight daily to explore this natural wonder and discover itsincredible wildlife, vegetation and history.

Diplomacy in Disguise: The Politics of Sport

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Diplomacy in Disguise: The Politics of Sport
                            By Geovanny Vicente Romero.   The first Olympic Games originated in ancient Greece in 776 BC uniting male athletes from present-day Iberia (Spain) to the west and the Black Sea region (Turkey) to the east. The games were principally to honor religious beliefs and Zeus, the father of ancient Greek Gods. Today’s Olympic Games unite men and women from all corners of the globe, all faiths, and all walks of life. World sporting events are seen as great equalizers and a showing of national values, pride, and legacies. Specific countries and regions cultivate national pastimes such as soccer, cricket, weightlifting, martial arts, among others, while world powers such as the United States of America, China and Russia seek imperial dominance and hegemony over the sports arena. International sporting events, like the Olympic Games and World Cup, offer global platforms for rival countries to unite under unprecedented conditions that can improve fraught relations, expose historical divisions, or foresee future conflicts. It is worth recalling the Berlin Olympics of 1936, held in Nazi Germany under the auspices of Adolf Hitler, which served as a key turning point for the battered country to rebuild its image following World War I on its rise to global dominance. The games were also a breeding ground for international spies to collect critical intelligence leading up to the next world war. It was at these Olympic Games that the Fuhrer’s theories of Aryan racial supremacy and the lengths the country would go to further this aim, were laid bare. Germany’s newspaper declared in the strongest terms that Blacks and Jews be banned from the games. Although Germany’s athletes won the most medals that year, Black American sprinter Jesse Owens dominated in track and field. Interestingly, the Americans pulled their Jewish athletes from the games so as not to embarrass host Germany. Three years later, in 1939, events in Nazi Germany led to the declaration of World War II. With the balance of global power shifting in 2018, the world has witnessed sports diplomacy take center stage with the historic opening of talks between North Korea and South Korea. North Korea’s increasingly bellicose nuclear launches were endangering the world, creating great uncertainty about the safety and security of the South Korea games. Ultimately, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un’s desire to be part of the games was greater than his threat to destroy them. Through intense diplomatic talks with China and South Korea, the historic dĂ©tente with its neighbor, led to North Korea sending 22 athletes to compete in five sports, including fielding a joint women’s hockey team as a unified Korea. Since the February Olympic Games, talks between the United States of America and North Korea have intensified, and led to the historic Singapore Summit, which for the first time in history, united a sitting U.S. President with his North Korean counterpart. Just like in ancient times, the Olympic Games were a forum for political discussions and also the cause of political strife. While the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has a policy of banning politics at the World Cup, there have been formal complaints of politics interfering with the Serbia-Switzerland game, and intrigue about the curious role that Chechnya has played in this year’s contest. The divisions remaining from former Yugoslavia were evident in the recent World Cup game between Serbia and Switzerland. Two of Switzerland’s leading players of Albanian descent—linked to Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008—were fined 10,000 Swiss Francs each by FIFA for making hand-gestures of the two-headed Albanian eagle during the game. For its part, the Serbian team was also fined 54,000 Swiss Francs for its fans’ discriminatory banners, messages, and conduct during the game. The impassioned Balkans history played out during the Russian World Cup, and this incident was not the only brush with politics at the 2018 event. Let’s look closer at the linkages between Chechnya and Egypt, which suggest Russia’s bridge-building between Muslim elements of their own and the Islamic world. Egypt’s national soccer team, led by star Liverpool striker, Mohamed Salah, stayed in the Soviet Republic of Chechnya during their run at the World Cup. Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov enjoyed several public photos with Salah, and even granted him an honorary citizen of Chechnya. This politicization of sports is taking its toll with the Egyptian Football quickly silencing rumors that Salah was bothered by the spectacle and will retire following this event. Should these claims of Salah’s retirement prove true, and are linked to this crass political stunt, there will be deep resentment on the Arab Street, which could negatively affect any Middle East strategy Russia had been laying the groundwork for vis-Ă -vis Chechnya. For Ancient Greeks, sporting events offered the opportunity to discuss politics while reveling in athletic competition. While modern day Olympic Games, World Cups, and other international sports officially are independent of politics, the strong historical currents run through each and every one of these venues, offering the opportunity for redemption, revenge, and revision. About the author: Geovanny Vicente Romero is the founder of the Center of Public Policy, Leadership and Development in the Dominican Republic (CPDL-RD). He is a political analyst, international consultant and lecturer based in Washington, D.C. Follow him at @GeovannyVicentR 

Belgium’s Princely Mission to Argentina

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Belgium’s Princely Mission to Argentina
By H.E. Pablo Grinspun, Ambassador of Argentina to the Kingdom of Belgium. Belgium is one of the most open economies in the world, but the benefits from international trade are being challenged by the new world context, especially the emerging protectionism from some countries and the consequences of the Brexit vote. Therefore, the current environment in key trading partners is asking for a growing diversification of Belgium’s economy. Belgium’s economic missions chaired by HRH Princess Astrid are a unique opportunity to achieve this goal. This year, Argentina and Uruguay will be the destination of the first of the two missions that will be organized throughout the year. It will take place from 23 to 30 June and the delegation will be composed of around 200 people, including authorities and entrepreneurs. We are pleased to see Argentina was chosen as an important partner and a growing market for Belgian businesses to explore. From our view, this decision was not random. It appears as an important milestone in a set of past actions aimed at strengthening the bilateral relationship. Namely, the missions led by the Antwerp Chamber of Commerce (VOKA) and the mission led by Walloon Agency for Export and Foreign Investment (AWEX)to Argentina during the last semester of 2017. Given the current context of closeness between Belgium and Argentina, the mission chaired by SAR Princess Astrid to our country seems relevant. The reasons for investing and trading with Argentina are numerous. The country has one of the richest economies in Latin America. With a population of 44 million people, Argentina is the 3rd largest economy in the region (GDP of 913 Billion USD, in PPP terms) and has the 2nd highest GDP per capita (also in PPP terms), making our country the 3rd largest consumer market in Latin America. Also, it is important to consider Argentina as a member of MERCOSUR (which comprises a population of more than 295 million people), the 5th largest economy in the world and the 4th largest trading bloc after the EU, NAFTA and ASEAN. Besides preferential access to a large market, Argentina stands out by the abundance and diversity of its natural resources: it is the 8th largest country in the world, with 2.8 million km2 and 53% of arable land. In addition, its 4,700 km of coastline over the Atlantic Ocean is an important wealth in terms of fishery resources. The country has a tremendous natural potential that is still underexploited. The unused renewable energy resources are a clear example of this. Currently, hydropower is the main source of renewable energy in Argentina, but there is a very strong potential for solar and wind energies. To take advantage of this, the current administration launched an ambitious program, RenovAr, endeavoring to grow renewables to 20% of the national energy matrix by 2025. In turn, mining activities could also be expanded as only 25% of the area with geological potential has been explored and more than 750,000 km2 still remain unexplored. Even so, Argentina is already the 2nd largest producer of lithium and 3rd largest producer of boron. Finally, Argentina stands out for its huge unexploited hydrocarbon reserves. The Vaca Muerta formation holds the 2nd largest shale gas and the 4th largest shale oil reserves in the world, but they still remain to be fully exploited. An additional factor that makes Argentina a strategic location for investment is the availability of highly qualified human resources, renowned for its technical skills and creativity (the country ranks 2nd in Latin America in the Human Development Index and has a literacy rate of 98.1%). According to the latest “Higher Education System Strength” ranking made by the British consultancy agency QS, Argentina has the best university system in the region. The latest data available provided by the World Bank (from 1998 to 2014), also shows that the total investment in R&D expressed in USD dollars grew more than 300%, achieving the 2nd highest R&D expenditures (relative to GDP) in Latin America.This explains why Argentine institutes of science and technology have an increasing international recognition. In addition to these structural reasons, the growing interest in Argentina certainly lies on a series ofeconomic and political changes that have been promotingthe country’s potential. Indeed, in December 2015, President Mauricio Macri’s government took office after having based his campaign on a promise of normalizing the economy and political institutions. Since the beginning of his mandate, significant progress has been made regarding the three main objectives of the program: macroeconomic stabilization, restoration of the rule of law, and reinsertion of Argentina into the world economy and the international community. After having liberalized the currency market, resolved the holdouts dispute, given the Central Bank complete independence, reduced a large part of the export taxes on agricultural products and removed non-tariff restrictions on imports, the Argentine economy is experiencing an expansion of its GDP and a reduction of its inflation. The forecasts for the year were overshadowed by the increase of the interest rate carried out by the United States. However, for 2019 they still confirm that Argentina is on the way towards sustainable growth (GDP growth rate of 1%). Even if the current international environment is challenging exchange rates stability and inflation targets, the government is striving to improve effective competitiveness to consolidate growth bases. A series of legislative initiatives has been adopted to improve legal certainty, predictability and transparency (Public-Private Participation Law, which created a regime to encourage the investment of private companies in large-scale infrastructure works in partnership with the State; Entrepreneurs Law, to allow easier access to credit and to create companies in one day; and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Law, to relieve their fiscal burden). The institutional change characterized by the new relationship between the Executive Branch and Congress also plays an important role regarding the restoration of the rule of law. Finally, Argentina’s strategy to be in the international spotlight included a more active participation in international high level meetings, signing an important amount of bilateral agreements, reopening free trade agreements negotiations (MERCOSUR-EU), and hosting multilateral forums (host of the 11th WTO Ministerial Meeting and Presidency of the G-20). Argentina also resumed consultations on Article IV of the IMF and made clear its intention to join the OECD. Argentina has historically been a land of opportunities, but the combination of the great potential and the new political era of openness are offering an unprecedented environment for invest and trade. The princely mission is perceived by our authorities as an excellent opportunity to enhance our economic relations. At the moment, Belgium is the 6th largest exporter to Argentina within the European Union (EU), and the 7th importer of Argentine products. The main products imported by Argentina from Belgium are chemical and mineral products (respectively, 40.4% and 21.6% of our total imports from Belgium in 2017), and the main products exported by Argentina to Belgium are food and chemical products (respectively, 36.3% and 19.0% of our total exports to Belgium in 2017). Although the trade balance shows a growing deficit for Argentina since 2010, we believe that the recent evolutions will be able to curb this trend. In addition to the internal competitiveness policies implemented by Macri’s government, we are optimistic about signing the MERCOSUR-EU agreement towards the end of this year. Furthermore, the trade of services appears as a new driver of our economic relations. The services sector is under great development in our country: in the last 20 years, services exports quadrupled, reaching a value close to 15 billion USD. In addition to traditional services, Argentina stands out for its growing production of technological and differentiated services. As a result, Argentina has 4 out of 9 unicorns in Latin America. There is also room for increasing exchanges in those sectors in which the Princely Mission will focus: agribusiness; infrastructure, transport and logistics; sustainable construction; green economy and green energy; health, biotechnology and medical science; aerospace sector; smart cities; and the audiovisual sector. Although Argentina and Belgium already have successful collaborations in many fields, there are new opportunities that could be further explored. We believe that the “transport and logistics” and the “renewables” sectors present a great opportunity for Belgian entrepreneurs, since they have a comparative advantage over other countries. Indeed, to improve our economy’s efficiency the current administration has launched the “biggest investment plan in transport infrastructure in the history of our country”. This plan includes ample opportunities for private sector involvement across several types of projects and partnerships. The investment opportunity in transportation spans nationwide improvements in ground, air and maritime infrastructure, and is estimated in 95 billion USD. In addition, one of the country’s priorities is to secure sufficient power supply as demand grows, while lowering the cost of electricity and reducing CO2 emissions. Because of this, the current administration has put in place a tendering process to fulfill the need for Power Generation. In total, we estimate that there is a 23 billion USD investment opportunity in power generation towards installing an additional 21 GW of capacity by 2025. In this scenario, we are confident that Belgium’s economic mission to Argentina will help to reinforce our commercial and political ties and ensure a fruitful cooperation in the future. ————— Photography by Stephanie Fraikin.

An European counter-terrorism strategy: “stronger together”

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An European counter-terrorism strategy: “stronger together”
Eurojust’s President, Mr. Ladislav Hamran. By Guido Lanfranchi. In the fight again terrorism, Eurojust is at the forefront, trying to enhance European joint counter-terrorism capabilities. On June 20th, 2018, a press conference was held to report the results of the annual meeting of counter-terrorism experts from the Member States. “Together, we are stronger.” These four words could be an extreme summary of the press conference held on June 20th at the Eurojust headquarters in The Hague, just after the annual meeting of counter-terrorism experts from the Member States. The panel of speakers was composed by Ladislav Hamran (President of Eurojust and National Member for Slovakia), FrĂ©dĂ©ric Baab (National Member for France and Chairman of Counter-Terrorism Team), François Molin (District Chief Prosecutor of the Court of Paris, France), FrĂ©dĂ©ric Van Leeuw (Federal Prosecutor, Belgium), JoĂ«lle Milquet (Special Advisor to the President of the European Commission on the support to victims of terrorist attacks). During the conference, the speakers updated the press on the recent cooperation efforts in the Eurojust framework and on upcoming initiatives. In his introduction, Mr. Hamran praised the work of Eurojust in coordinating the work of 30 different juridical systems, with the common aim of “collecting enough evidence to put criminal behind bars.” Mr. Hamran stressed the cooperation between Eurojust and the prosecutors at the national level, with 4400 prosecutors coming to Eurojust for advice, consultation, and coordination during the last year alone. With an eye towards the future, Eurojust’s President also praised the deal recently reached by the European institutions on the reform to Eurojust’s regulation, which will strengthen cooperation among parties, improve the organization’s governance, and enact a stronger data protection regime. Then, Mr. Baab introduced the main issues discussed during the annual conference of national experts of counter-terrorism. The experts dealt with the new phenomenon of the foreign fighters’ return to Europe, as well as the necessity of providing help to the victims of terrorist attacks. Moreover, Mr. Baab announced the joint declaration of the Ministers of Justice of France, Germany, Belgium, and Spain, in which the countries pledged to enhance information sharing on terrorism in the Eurojust framework, proposing the establishment of a European Judicial Counter-Terrorism Register. Mr. Molin focused then on the first issue of the agenda, the return of foreign fighters. He stressed the need to investigate every returnee from sensitive areas, and highlighted how such efforts would be better served by a European cooperative strategy. Moreover, Mr. Molin praised the joint declaration of the four European countries, calling for enhanced cooperation at Eurojust in order to achieve better results. These words were echoed by those of Mr. van Leeuw, who praised the more practical, concrete nature of the four-party declaration, as compared to previous mere declarations of intents. Speaking on the problem of returnees, Mr. van Leeuw then highlighted some of the topic’s complexities, such as the difficulty to cooperate with the Syrian government, the localization of foreign fighters, and the presence of women and minors among the returnees. As of now, 162 minors with ties to Belgium are supposed to be in Syria and Iraq, and would be considered as potential terrorists upon their return. In order to tackle such complex problems, Mr. van Leeuw stressed the need to adopt a case-specific approach, albeit always under the directives provided by international laws, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Finally, Ms. Milquet stressed the need to address not only the root causes of terrorism, but also its consequences, and in particular the ill-fated effects on the unfortunately numerous victims. This category includes not only the families of the killed people, but also the many wounded and traumatized people, who are often in need of help. To fill such gap, she explained that her office has been tasked by President Juncker with three main responsibilities: to better execute existent directives, to strengthen cooperation between the European and national efforts, and to establish a model for action in support of victims. This support can address several problems faced by victims, such as lack of information on the available services and the excessive length of bureaucratic procedures, and it would be arguably better served by a more cooperative approach at the European level. During the Q&A session, the speakers also delved more deeply into a few more issues. Mr. Molin spoke about the learning capacity of the judiciary systems in the wake of investigations on past terrorist attacks, such those in Paris in 2015. Also, the speakers outlined more in detailed the features of the European Judicial Counter-Terrorism Register, which will revolve around increased cooperation in information sharing between the European and the national level to prosecute criminals more effectively. Finally, Mr. van Leeuw explained the efforts of the Belgian judiciary system in proactively tackling the phenomenon of the so-called “homegrown terrorist fighters,” in which Eurojust plans to take new measures too. As terrorism continues to be a concern for many European citizens, it should be relieving to know that there are people who constantly do their best to counter such threats, not only at the national level, but also at the European one.

Looking for life beyond our planet – the efforts of NASA

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Looking for life beyond our planet – the efforts of NASA
By Guido Lanfranchi. Is there life beyond Earth? And if there is, how can we discover it? On which planet or moon could it be? While we often consider such questions as the topic of science fiction movies and books, scientists at NASA are actually busy in finding concrete answers. On June 19th, Dr. James Green, recently appointed Chief Scientist at NASA, shared his insights about NASA’s efforts in searching forms of life in the solar system.   Making reasonable hypotheses on where to find forms of life beyond our planet, sending space probes across the solar system to collect information, gathering and elaborating such information to refine the hypotheses. These are the tasks that several NASA scientists have been doing, day after day, over the past 15 years, thus dramatically advancing human knowledge on the immense universe that surrounds our planet. Dr. Jim Green, Chief Scientist of NASA, shared with the international press the efforts of NASA in searching for life beyond our planet. These efforts – Dr. Green said – started to take a more definite shape when NASA asked to several astrobiologists to come up with a definition of life. The experts formulated a definition that could not really satisfy space scientists, as life’s three key “must have” (metabolism, reproduction, and evolution) were hardly measurable. Nevertheless, NASA did not back down: as metabolism needs water, water became the first criteria to address NASA’s search for life in space. It was in this way that, around 10 years ago, the “follow the water” process started. By 2018, Dr. Green is clearly admitting that NASA has still not found any life yet, but at the same time he proudly informed his public that terrific progress has been made, especially in NASA’s ability to steer and orientate its quest for life. Moreover, while doing so, NASA has also collected an incredible amount of data on all the major bodies in the solar system, by now being able to model planets’ and moons’ evolutions over time. As a result, NASA scientists can now analyze the past evolution of planets such and Mars and Venus. Both planets – Dr. Green explained – were in the past way more similar to the Earth. However, over the past hundreds of millions of years their atmospheric conditions deeply changed, making them inhabitable today. These observations are incredibly interesting for two reasons. On the one hand, the study of such changes can provide useful insights in evaluating where our planet is headed. On the other hand, this is also of utmost relevance for NASA’s quest for life, as life could have well been present on Mars and Venus, for instance, before their recent atmospheric changes. Also, Dr. Green described one of NASA’s most tantalizing findings, that is, distant planets that have been often considered inhabitable due to their icy surfaces might well be hosting forms of life. For bodies such as Enceladus and Titan, superficial ice might indeed just be a crust, under which oceans might be existing and fostering life. In order to follow up on these and many other findings, NASA is now planning a series of missions (e.g. to Venus, Europa, Titan, and the Saturn system), especially thanks to the “tremendous support from the American people.” Questioned by the audience, Dr. Green also answered a series of interesting questions. Questioned about NASA’s budget, Dr. Green expressed its satisfaction with the current sums available, expected to amount to $20 billion for next year only. Moreover, as privates seems to get more and more interested in the business of space, Dr. Green expressed his will to collaborate with the private sector. Such collaboration – he explained – could enable NASA to spare some efforts and money, thus unlocking the organization’s potential to expand its reach into more cutting-edge research domains. Similarly, Dr. Green stressed the profitable cooperation that NASA enjoys with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the US Department of Defense, recently tasked by the US President to establish a military space force. Finally, Dr. Green, asked by the audience about specific projects, discussed some of NASA’s upcoming activities, such as the Europa Clipper mission and the Lunar Orbital Platform Gateway. More specifically on NASA’s Mars program, Green announced the organization’s next step, that is, to be able to bring back to our planet samples from Mars surface. When analyzed with NASA’s technological equipment as it is available on Earth, such samples might well provide interesting insights on possible forms of life living in Mars in the past. While we conduct our daily lives as if nothing was happening, we might want to keep in mind the incredibly important researches that Dr. Green and his colleagues are daily, restlessly working on. The discoveries that NASA is making now – Dr. Green said – “are not going to appear in textbooks for perhaps many years.” Luckily, at least they are going to be in some newspapers and magazine. To all the people interested: food for thought is up for grabs.  

Le Ballet Royal du Cambodge, un héritage et un devoir royal

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Le Ballet Royal du Cambodge, un héritage et un devoir royal
HRH Preah Ang Machas (High Prince) Sisowath Tesso of Cambodia. Entretien avec Son Altesse Royale le Haut Prince Sisowath Tesso, Directeur du Ballet Royal du Cambodge Diplomat Magazine: Prince Tesso, la Princesse Norodom Buppha Devi et vous emmenĂątes une dĂ©lĂ©gation du Ballet Royal du Cambodge en Suisse et en France en mai dernier. Pourquoi est-ce que vous avez choisi ces deux pays ? Le Ballet Royal se produit rĂ©guliĂšrement en Europe tous les 2 ou 3 ans. La France est le principal pays oĂčnous donnons nos reprĂ©sentations dans de nombreuses villes. Cette annĂ©e nous nous sommes produit Ă  Paris au Philarmonique de la CitĂ© de la Musique, mais nous avons beaucoup de plaisir Ă©galementĂ  danser dans des villes de provinces comme MĂ©rignac, Calais, Enghein, etc
 Nous essayons Ă©galement de promouvoir le Ballet Royal dans les autres pays d’Europe, et c’est pour cette raison que le Ballet Royal se produisait pour la premiĂšre fois en Suisse. Diplomat Magazine : Les art et la culture khmĂšres ne sont pas assez connues Ă  l’étranger, croyez vous que ces voyages et reprĂ©sentations aident Ă  promouvoir et crĂ©er une conscience du riche hĂ©ritage du royaume ? Le Ballet Royal du Cambodge est inscrit au patrimoine immatĂ©riel de l’UNESCO depuis 2003, aussi il est un art universel. Nous avons le devoir en tant que Cambodgiens et membres de la Famille Royale de le faire mieux connaitreauprĂšs des autres pays. MĂȘme si cela est difficile et onĂ©reux car nous sommes une troupe d’environ 40 Ă  45 personnes, un spectacle du ballet Royal du Cambodge chorĂ©graphie par SAR la Princesse Norodom Buppha Devi, est un Ă©vĂšnement unique et rare Ă  ne pas manquer de voir au moins une fois dans sa vie. Diplomat Magazine: Ce quoi l’importance du Ballet Royal cambodgien dans la sociĂ©tĂ© khmĂšre actuelle ? Le Ballet Royal, mĂȘme si de nos jours a perdu de son prestige royal et religieux, reste nĂ©anmoins pour beaucoup de jeunes cambodgiens une fiertĂ© nationale, car c’est une forme artistique unique dans le monde, qui prend ses origines depuis le XII-ĂšmesiĂšcle et n’a pas perdu de sa splendeur Ă  travers les temps et les Ăąges. C’est un art fragile transmis oralement du professeur Ă  l’élĂšve et quimĂȘme si les danses sont prĂ©sentes comme un spectacle gardent malgrĂ© tout aux yeux et dans le cƓur des cambodgien un sens profondĂ©ment sacrĂ© et mystĂ©rieux.
Françoise Nyssen, French Minister of Culture with HRH Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, President of the Royal Cambodian Ballet.
  Diplomat Magazine: SM le Roi Sihamoni du Cambodge, SAR la Princesse Norodom Buppha Devi sont des anciens danseurs. Quel rĂŽle est-ce que le ballet joue prĂšs de la royautĂ© khmĂšre ? L’instruction des arts dans la famille Royale du Cambodge est une tradition et fait partie intĂ©grante de notre Ă©ducation. Le dĂ©funt Roi Sihanouk Ă©tait compositeur, musiciens, chanteur et avait Ă©galementrĂ©alise des films. De nos jours hĂ©las les jeunes princes et princesses n’ont plus vraiment la possibilitĂ© de consacrer du temps Ă  leur Ă©ducation culturelle, les obligations des enseignements modernes les obligent Ă  se consacrer plutĂŽt Ă  l’apprentissage des langues et des nombreuses matiĂšres universitaires. Diplomat Magazine: Envisagez la possibilitĂ© de rouvrir le Palais Royale pour faciliter les rĂ©pĂ©titions des danses sacrĂ©s ? De nos jours le Ballet Royal est rattachĂ© au MinistĂšre de la Culture et des Beaux-arts. Ceci permet aux Ă©lĂšves et Ă©tudiantsd’avoiraccĂšs a un enseignement large et varie suivant le circuit scolaire et universitaire comme n’importe quel autre Ă©lĂšves ou Ă©tudiants. Les meilleurs d’entre eux et parfois les plus chanceux, sont alors sĂ©lectionnĂ©s par la Princesse Buppha Devi qui les forme personnellement Ă  son domicile pour qu’elles intĂšgrent sa troupe du Ballet Royal et puissent ainsi suivre une carriĂšre de danseuse Ă©toile. Diplomat Magazine: La Ministre de la Culture, Françoise Nyssen, a participĂ© Ă  une soirĂ©e du ballet Ă  la Philharmonie de Paris. Est-ce que vous voyez un nouvel intĂ©rĂȘt vers le Cambodge en France ? Les liens qui unissent la France au Cambodge datent de plusieurs siĂšcles et ne s’est jamais dĂ©gradĂ© ou estompĂ©, au contraire depuis la fin des annĂ©es noire du rĂ©gime Khmer Rouge et de la guerre, la France a toujours soutenu et encourage le renouveau des arts traditionnels au Cambodge. Le premier spectacle du ballet royal a l’étranger fut donnĂ© au ChĂąteau de Versailles en 1999. Á savoir plus:

Les Mondes de Chaumet in Tokyo

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Les Mondes de Chaumet in Tokyo
The Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum exhibits between 28 June and 17 September 2018 Les Mondes de Chaumet: l’art de la joaillerie depuis 1780.  Drawing together a breathtaking array of pieces from Chaumet’s own archive, as well as from museums and private collectors around the world, the exhibition puts the emphasis on remarkable headpieces, particularly tiaras and diadems. Likewise it celebrates the house’s steadfast relationship with Japan, established during the mid-19th century, when Japonism influenced every aspect of the arts in Europe, and perpetuated by today’s most loyal Chaumet clients, many of whom are based in Japan. For further information: Picture by Chaumet.

Chemical Weapons Convention Adopts Decision

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Chemical Weapons Convention Adopts Decision
CWC Conference of the States Parties Adopts Decision Addressing the Threat from Chemical Weapons Use
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — 27 June 2018 —Today, the Fourth Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) adopted a decision on addressing the threat from chemical weapons use. The decision brought forward by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and supported by 30 countries (Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, and the United States of America), was adopted with 106 States Parties present and voting; 82 States Parties voted yes and 24 States Parties voted no. In adopting the decision, States Parties condemned “in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances, emphasising that any use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anyone, under any circumstances is unacceptable and contravenes international norms and standards”. The decision also condemned the use of chemical weapons since 2012 in Iraq, Malaysia, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well as the use of chemical weapons by State and by non-State actors as a direct threat to the object and purpose of the convention. The decision expressed support and appreciation for the professional, impartial, and independent work of the Director-General and the Technical Secretariat. It also calls upon the Secretariat to put in place arrangements “to identify the perpetrators of the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic by identifying and reporting on all information potentially relevant to the origin of those chemical weapons in those instances in which the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission determines or has determined that use or likely use occurred, and cases for which the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism has not issued a report”. The decision further affirmed that whenever chemical weapons use occurs on the territory of a State Party, “those who were the perpetrators, organisers, sponsors or otherwise involved should be identified” and it underscored “the added value of the Secretariat conducting an independent investigation of an alleged use of chemical weapons with a view to facilitating universal attribution of all chemical weapons attacks”. States Parties also reiterated the role of the OPCW Executive Council regarding cases of non-compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. The decision requests the Secretariat to preserve and provide information to the investigative mechanism established by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution 71/248 (2016), as well as to any relevant investigatory entities established by the United Nations. At the opening of the Conference, OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Ahmet ÜzĂŒmcĂŒÂ stated: “I have not hesitated in pointing out that currently there is no mechanism that would ensure that those who use chemical weapons are held fully accountable. Investigations of alleged use of chemical weapons are essential if we are to preserve the core norms of the Convention, its credibility, and its integrity. Chemical weapons use, wherever it occurs, is a serious offence requiring resolute action. If accountability is avoided, the potential re-emergence and acceptance of chemicals as weapons of war and terror will not be deterred.” At the next regular session of the Conference, scheduled for November 2018, the Director-General is invited to submit: proposals to enhance the capacity and tools of the Secretariat to strengthen implementation of the Convention’s verification regime; options for further assistance the Secretariat may provide to States Parties to enable them to implement their obligations under the Convention, to enhance chemical security, and to enable international cooperation in the field of chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under the Convention; and other proposals to strengthen the capability of the Secretariat.
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