General Assembly elects Judge Mustapha El Baaj of Morocco to serve as Mechanism JudgeArusha, The Hague, 16 January 2019 – On Tuesday, 15 January 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) elected Judge Mustapha El Baaj of Morocco to the judicial roster of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism).
Judge El Baaj is currently serving as a Counsellor at the Court of Cassation in Rabat, Morocco. Judge El Baaj has also served as Deputy Crown Prosecutor-General of Morocco since 2008, a visiting Professor at the Law Faculty of Meknés, Morocco, since 2004 and as First Deputy Crown Prosecutor in The Court of First Instance in Meknés since 1996.
Judge El Baaj was elected following the vacancies on the Mechanism’s judicial roster created by the departure of Judge Bakone Justice Moloto of South Africa and the non-renewal of the term of Judge Aydin Sefa Akay of Turkey. On 21 December 2018 the UNGA elected Judge Yusuf Aksar of Turkey from the list of candidates submitted by the United Nations Security Council and following nominations from Member States of the United Nations.
In accordance with its Statute, the Mechanism has a roster of 25 independent Judges who serve both branches of the Mechanism.
ICC Appeals Chamber maintains Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé in custody and convenes a hearing on their detention on 1 February 2019
The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or ”Court”), by majority, Judge Howard Morrison and Judge Piotr Hofmański dissenting, decided that Mr Laurent Gbagbo and Mr Charles Blé Goudé shall remain in ICC custody pending the Appeals Chamber’s decision on the Prosecution’s Appeal against the decision of ICC Trial Chamber I in relation to the release of Mr Laurent Gbagbo and Mr Charles Blé Goudé following their acquittal.
The Appeals Chamber suspended the effect of Trial Chamber I’s decision to release Mr Laurent Gbagbo and Mr Charles Blé Goudé and scheduled a hearing on 1 February 2019 to hear further submissions on the appeal, and ordered the submission of the appeal brief of the Prosecutor no later than 23 January 2019 as well as responses thereto from Mr Gbagbo, Mr Blé Goudé and the victims participating in the proceedings no later than 29 January 2019.
Decision on the Prosecutor’s request for suspensive effect of her appeal under article 81(3)(c)(ii) of the Statute and directions on the conduct of the appeal proceedingsandDissenting Opinion of Judge Morrison and Judge Hofmański in respect of the decision on suspensive effect
Arusha, The Hague, 19 January 2019 – On 19 January 2019, Judge Carmel Agius, of Malta, assumed office as President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), following his appointment by the United Nations Secretary-General on 30 June 2018 to a term expiring on 30 June 2020.
Judge Agius has been a Judge of the Mechanism since its inception in 2012. He also served as a Judge of the Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) from 2001 and a Judge of the Appeals Chambers of both the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the ICTY from 2009 until the Tribunals’ closures in December 2015 and December 2017, respectively.
Judge Agius served as Vice-President of the ICTY from November 2011 until November 2015 and as the final President of the ICTY from November 2015 until its closure in December 2017.
Judge Agius takes over the Presidency of the Mechanism from Judge Theodor Meron, who served as the Mechanism’s President since 2012.
Upon assuming the function as President of the Mechanism, Judge Agius expressed his deep gratitude to Judge Meron for his exceptional stewardship of the Mechanism since the very first day of this institution’s existence, noting that it was very much thanks to Judge Meron’s work, leadership and dedication that the vision of the Mechanism as a new and efficient model of international tribunal became a reality.
In addition he praised Judge Meron and his staff for all their efforts in making the transition between Presidents exceptionally smooth.
Judge Agius underlined that his main priorities as the Mechanism’s President will be ensuring that the residual judicial proceedings are concluded efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of due process; enhancing the Mechanism’s unique mandate through a unified work culture, inter-branch coordination and harmonisation of practices and procedures at both the Arusha and The Hague branches and fostering a positive work environment with a view to encouraging high staff morale and performance.
On the picture, H.E. Mr. Dilyor Khakimov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan.By Catherine Dailey.
Last Monday, January 14, the Marriott Hotel in the Hague was the venue for a festive cultural event presented by H.E. Dilyor Kakimov, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the Kingdom of Belgium and Head of Mission to the E.U. He is also credited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The event featured a musical performance and cultural and culinary programs. Uzbek artisans were also invited to display a wonderful array of handcrafted products from the center of the ancient silk road, which were also available for purchase.
IWC’s members attended in numbers.
Ambassador Kakimov was invited to open the New Year, on behalf of his country, at the January monthly meeting of the International Women’s Club (IWC), by IWC President, Marian Kools-Biezen, and other members of the IWC Executive Board.
His Excellency briefly informed the members about the many recent economic developments being made by his President Shavkat Miriziyoyez; emphasizing his government’s openness to international cooperation in order to achieve these goals. He also noted that Uzbekistan is a secular state which recognizes equal rights for women and further noted that these rights are set forth in both the country’s Constitution and many other legal instruments.
Featuring Uzbekistan at IWC Monday conference.
Club members turned out in large numbers to enjoy the ambassador’s program which focussed on tourism. The country’s first Ïnternational Tourism Investment Forum, a two day event, was held in November of last year and was attended by business representatives from some 48 countries.
Earlier this month, Diplomat Magazine has reported on these recent developments here and here.
Minister Counselor Ulugbek Agzamov.
To further the development of international tourism, which doubled last year over the previous year, the ambassador announced that the government will introduce a 30 day visa-free travel to EU member states, on February 1, to further promote the country’s globalties.
The ambassador’s announcement received an enthusiastic round of applause from the members, some of whom had previously visited the country. In response to the warm reception he received from the members, the ambassador was quick to invite questions from the many ladies attending the event.
Uzbek market at IWC conference.
Minister Counselor Ulugbek Agzamov, presented a short program showcasing the country’s major tourist destinations which include Tashkent, the nation’s capital with a population of three million people; the silk road cities of Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara; the ancient center of Buddhism in Termezand the Fergana Valley.
Khiva, an ancient open air museum city, is home to some 51 monuments and, in 1990, became the first Word Heritage Site in Uzbekistan to be recognized by UNESCO. Khiva is also noteworthy as having been the birthplace of Al-Khwarizmi, the renowned 9th century scholar, geographer, astronomer and father of Algebra.
Agzamov explained how to best arrive in Uzbekistan and also made note of the country’s modern high speed inter-city rail network. Uzbekistan Railways, Afrosiyob, utilizes the Spanish Talgo-brand trains, to connect Tashkent with Samarkand.
Following the presentations, club members were invited to enjoy a complete buffet luncheon featuring plov, the national dish, paired with a sampling of regional wines.
Goulnara Soultanova, Uzbek pianist.
Music was provided by Uzbek concert pianist, Goulnara Soultanova, who performed three pieces. The first was inspired by the sound of the Dutor, meanining “two strings”, a traditional two stringed musical instrument common to the peoples of Uzbekistan and Central Asia.
She chose to play a second piece, composed by a woman, much to the delight of her overwhelmingly female audience.
Tasting Uzbek flavours.
Both Ambassador Kakimov and Minister Counselor Agzamov warmly encouraged everyone present to visit Uzbekistan at any time of the year—even for skiing, walking and other off-season outdoor activities!
The program’s success was clearly apparent by the number of women who lingered to shop, exchange their impressions of day’s event with each other and to admire the crafts exhibition which was open until 6pm.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands— 15 January 2019 —Ambassador Odette Melono of Cameroon joined the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) yesterday as the as new Deputy Director-General. She is the fourth person to hold this office since the Organisation was established in 1997. She succeeds Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao of India.
The Director-General of the OPCW, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, extended a warm welcome to the new Deputy Director-General and stated: “I look forward to working with Ambassador Melono during this crucial time for our Organisation and am confident that her insight, experience, and remarkable knowledge of chemical disarmament issues will help us to successfully navigate the challenges ahead.”
Ambassador Melono expressed: “I am honoured to join the OPCW as its many achievements have made the world a much safer and secure place. I look forward to working with States Parties, chemical industry, international organisations, civil society, as well as the OPCW staff to ensure our Organisation is fit for purpose as it acts as a vigorous guardian for the norm against chemical weapons.”
As Deputy Director-General, Ambassador Melono will provide advice and support to the Director-General in the implementation of his mandate. The OPCW Deputy Director-General line-manages the six divisions of the Technical Secretariat, chairs several administrative and financial committees and meetings, and helps manage the OPCW’s verification regime.
Ambassador Melono is a career diplomat and foreign policy expert. Prior to joining the OPCW Technical Secretariat, she served as the Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Permanent Representative of Cameroon to the OPCW, from 2008 to 2018. She also chaired the OPCW Executive Council from May 2016 to May 2017. Before her appointment as Ambassador to the Netherlands, Ambassador Melono served at the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon since 1995.
Nos plus sincères et chaleureuses felicitations!
Portuguese and Spanish judicial authorities, along with the Portuguese Judicial Police and the Spanish Guardia Civil, joined forces to dismantle an international criminal network specialised in trafficking in human beings (THB) in Spain. The criminal network, which was active in the Spanish province of Segovia, forced people into labour in agricultural fields. Eurojust contributed to the successful outcome by coordinating the actions of the national judicial and law enforcement authorities.
The Portuguese Criminal Investigation Department of Coimbra (Departamento de investigação e ação penal de Coimbra) initiated and organised the investigation. Eurojust facilitated the investigation by coordinating and supporting the Spanish and Portuguese national authorities.During the operation, the authorities performed nine searches of private residences in Spain and Portugal and seized a large amount of documents, including records of the trafficked people and of their current work situation, as well as material on the organisation of the criminal network. Two firearms were also confiscated.Following the searches, five people were detained and another three members of the criminal network were identified. Further, four people were arrested in Spain and one in Portugal.The operation resulted in the release of ten victims of the criminal network, four in Spain and six in Portugal.
For the first time Diplomat Magazine and the Diplomatic Council shall present the Global Public Diplomacy Award, in Frankfurt. The award constitute a recognition of the efforts of heads of diplomatic missions and other dignitaries to promote strategic diplomatic engagement vis-à-vis state as well as non-state actors.
The Public Diplomacy Award will recognise both top diplomats and other members of the international community; in charge of the selection of the laureates are a group of members of the diplomatic corps and academia.
The award consists of state-of-the-art hand-made prism with the crafted name of the recipient. He or she becomes an honourable member of the Diplomatic Council. The Diplomat Magazine and the Diplomatic Council will promote the accolade on the international stage.
The Global Public Diplomacy Award will be launched during a festive gala in Frankfurt on February first. It will presented by H.E. Buddhi Athauda, Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Founder of the Diplomatic Council and Dr. Heinrich Kreft, Ambassador of Germany, President of the Council, Hang Nguyen, Secretary General Diplomatic Council and Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Publisher Diplomat Magazine.
Created in The Hague, presented to the world
Diplomat Magazine (www.diplomatmagazine.eu) is Europe’s leading diplomatic magazine. The Public Diplomacy Award was created by the Diplomat Magazine and first launched in the presence of ambassadors and noted international relations researchers on 24 June 2016 in The Hague, The Netherlands. The inaugural award was bestowed upon H.E. Gabriel Edgardo Aguilera, Ambassador of Guatemala, in a ceremony at the Carlton Ambassador Hotel located in The Hague.
In February 2018, the Global Public Diplomacy Award was launched in Canada together with the University of Ottawa, it was presented to several ambassadors and academics who exceptionally promoted their country reaching the Canadian public.
REGISTRATION DIPLOMATIC COUNCIL GALA FRANKFURT 2019
Monday, 22 October 2018, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: Austrian head of mission to Germany, Dr. Peter Huber, paid a courtesy visit to Hamburg’s First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher after his accreditation to Germany on 15 December 2017. Ambassador Dr. Peter Huber previously had served as Austria’s top envoy to the Kingdom of Spain and the Principality of Andorra(non-resident).
Dr. Huber is a jurist holding a PhD from the University of Innsbruck. The visitfocused on bilateral relations with Austria as well as the then Austrian presidency of the European Council.
For further information:
https://www.bmeia.gv.at/oeb-berlin/ueber-uns/der-botschafter/
Thursday, 13 December 2018, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: HE Ambassador Per Thöresson (Kingdom of Sweden to the Federal Republic of Germany) paid his first official courtesy visit to the First Mayor of Hamburg, the Social Democrat Dr. Peter Tschentscher after being accredited to Germany on 9 March 2017.
In addition to the outstanding economic relations between Sweden and Hamburg, the both states look back to a rich common history due to the fact that various Swedish cities once belonged to the Hanseatic Union.
President Macron and Chancellor Dr. Merkel – Picture by European Union
Paris/Berlin – French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel are due to sign a new cooperation treaty on 22 January to further strengthen Franco-German collaborations in the run-up to next year´s EU elections.
The two leaders, both of whom have been enfeebled in domestic politics, shall meet in the city of Aachen to ink an accord “which will strengthen the already close ties between Germany and France” according to a statement by the Élysée Palace.
Merkel´s spokesman Steffen Seibert said the eurozone´s two biggest economies “want to move ahead to ensure the security and wellbeing of citizens as well as a strong, sovereign and democratic Europe.”
The treaty will cover joint projects in the areas of defence, climate change and security as well as the sensitive issue of “economic and social convergence”, the French presidency statement said.
Most prominent in the treaty is the Franco-German stratagem to pursue a permanent seat for Germany at the UN Security Council, rather than sharing one as previously examined by both countries.
Khiva, an ancient open air museum city, is home to some 51 monuments and, in 1990, became the first Word Heritage Site in Uzbekistan to be recognized by UNESCO. Khiva is also noteworthy as having been the birthplace of Al-Khwarizmi, the renowned 9th century scholar, geographer, astronomer and father of Algebra.
Agzamov explained how to best arrive in Uzbekistan and also made note of the country’s modern high speed inter-city rail network. Uzbekistan Railways, Afrosiyob, utilizes the Spanish Talgo-brand trains, to connect Tashkent with Samarkand.
Following the presentations, club members were invited to enjoy a complete buffet luncheon featuring plov, the national dish, paired with a sampling of regional wines.
