Sovereign Prince Albert II and Ambassador Buddhi Athauda – Picture by Gouvernement Princier de Monaco. Wednesday, 6 June, Paris: Sri Lanka was elected to the UNESCO intergovernmental committee for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. Sri Lanka was chosen to one of four seats available for the Asia-Pacific, in the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, for the period 2018-2022, at the election that took place in Paris during the 7th General Assembly of UNESCO, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Sri Lanka said in a press release. Delighted with his victory, His Excellency Ambassador Buddhi K. Athauda in Paris thanked all the ambassadors for voting for Sri Lanka and believe in Sri Lanka’s leadership at UNESCO. Eight countries contested from the Asia-Pacific Group, namely, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia, Palau and Sri Lanka. The countries that succeeded in being elected are:

• China with 123 votes
• Sri Lanka with 122 votes
• Japan with 107 votes
• Kazakhstan with 98 votes

The Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage which became a milestone in the evolution of international policies for promoting cultural diversity was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2003 at its 32nd session. “Recognizing the need to safeguard the traditions and living expressions among communities in Sri Lanka as well as in other countries of the world that are inherited from our ancestors such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festivals, knowledge and practices concerning nature, and knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts, Sri Lanka became a State Party to the Convention in 2008,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said. This is the first time that Sri Lanka contested for a seat in the Committee since becoming a State Party to the Convention. “Sri Lanka recognizes that intangible cultural heritage is an important factor in maintaining cultural diversity in the face of growing globalization, and that an understanding of the intangible cultural heritage of different communities helps promote intercultural dialogue, and encourages mutual respect for other ways of life. The decision to seek election to the Committee at this juncture is driven by the Government’s commitment to the process of reconciliation in the country through which Sri Lanka endeavors to preserve and promote ancient traditions of all communities in the country while fostering respect and understanding of each other’s ways of life, practices, customs and traditions.” “Sri Lanka is deeply appreciative of the invaluable support received from all the States Parties to the Convention that enabled Sri Lanka’s success at this election,” the Ministry statement added. For further information:

• UNESCO intergovernmental committee for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage: https://ich.unesco.org/en/functions-00586
• Functions of the Intergovernmental Committee for the …
• ich.unesco.org
• Embassy of Sri Lanka to France, Delegation to UNESCO (H.E. Ambassador Buddhi Athauda): http://www.srilankaembassy.fr

     

H.E. Mr. Dimitrios Chronopoulos, Ambassador of Greece, H.E. Andrea Gustovic-Ercegovac, Ambassador of Croatia, H.E. Aviv Shir-On Ambassador of Israel, Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Diplomat Magazine’s Publisher, H.E. Regina Cordeiro-Dunlop, Ambassador of Brazil and Mr. Ronaldo Dunlop. By John Dunkelgrün. Israel is a small country surrounded almost completely by entities that are sworn to its destruction. One would think that this would result in an insular mentality, a shutting itself off from a hostile world. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Israel has taken in immigrants from all over the world and absorbed many cultures into its own strong identity. Nowhere is this more clear than in its cuisine. From the very beginning, the early immigrants from Eastern Europe mixed their foods with local foods from the Eastern Mediterranean. Then came Yemenites and Jews expelled from North Africa following the establishment of the State of Israel. Israel then was a poor country, but rich in good local produce, produce that is a staple of its cuisine to this very day as evidenced by its great and thriving food markets. For additional Robert Huibert’s pictures please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157696090793871

Spices like zatar, hummus and tejina, pita breads became as ubiquitous as challah and gefilte fish. By today its cooking has been spiced up by foods from a host of African countries, America’s and Asia. Young Israelis are inveterate travelers and they have brought tastes and recipes from literally all over the planet. This experience along with a growing economy resulted over the years in a unique Israeli cuisine with a bevy of chefs that are enjoying international renown. In recent years Israeli food has become fashionable as far away as New York and London. Some chefs, like Ottolenghi and his partner Sami Tamimi have become celebrities and household names all over the world.

Why is this? As H.E. Ambassador Aviv Shir-On explains, “Israeli chefs, coming from a myriad of cultures opened themselves to the world, traveled widely, taught and learned. They are not political, working with fellow chefs from everywhere and in the start-up country that Israel has become, there are many start-up initiatives in cooking as well. Partnering with Palestinian chefs, cooks from Mali, Asia and almost anywhere you care to name, Israeli chefs are in a very real sense cooking for peace. For example, a renowned Israeli chef Ram Shmueli cooked at a food festival in Vienna together with the chef of the American Colony Hotel in East Jerusalem, Mohammad al Jawi.”

It is lucky for The Netherlands that Mr. Patrick Aarsman, General Manager of the Promenade Crown Plaza Hotel included Israel in its series of international food festivals. He was lucky to get chefs like Jonathan Borowitz and Amid Aaronsohn to work alongside his own chef Sido de Brabander to prepare a magnificent spread of exquisite flavours. Your correspondent is not a professional food writer, but to put it succinctly, they made ordinary sounding dishes truly spectacular. Baby pita breads with lamb and a tahine sauce, beefsteak tartare and a spicy tomato fish stew among others were real taste sensations. Jonathan Borowitz considers it amazing that a country of just 70 years old with immigrants from so many countries has developed a real and recognizable Israeli cuisine. He attributes it to the terroir, the people, and the histories. Jewish holidays like the Shabat and Passover were celebrated with different dishes everywhere and they have come together in Israel. Thus food has become a way of communication. “We are now the third generation”, he said, “we cook from our memories but with modern, international, adaptations.” He worked for fifteen years for different Ministries, but the work didn’t touch him and he didn’t touch people with it. “I hope I can now touch you with my food. Food is a language, food makes people come together, maybe food will bring final peace”.

The opening evening of the festival was a great success, there were over one hundred people among which almost thirty ambassadors. They enjoyed the food, the cordiality that enjoying good food together can bring and, last but not least, the excellent wines. It is a sad thing that thinking about Israel has become overshadowed by thinking about the conflict, a conflict of two peoples living on the same land. Perhaps, by sharing the produce of the land, each other’s foods, learning cooking techniques and above all eating together may bring the peace for which so many millions are hungering

 

By Roy Lie Atjam. The Embassies of the Czech and Slovak Republic, along with Guitar@work hosted a Guitar Concert in The Hague, dedicated to the Centennial of the Founding and Independence of the two countries on 22nd May 2018. The venue of the concert was the monumental Residence of the Ambassador of the Czech Republic H.E. Mrs Jana Reinišová. The room was full to its capacity.

“The didactic projects, Guitar@Work wish to promote creativity, composition skills, and performance skills on the instrument. A previous cooperation with the Embassy of the Czech Republic, The ŠtěpánRak Guitar Competition (2017), succeded in promoting a contemporary classical Czech guitar soundscape, the guitar as a multifacted instrument, the compositions and innovative guitar technique of such a prolific Czech guitar composer as Mr. Rak, and the encounter of a variety of identities in the context of the welcoming Czech one, creating through music a bridge among them. For the celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the Czech and Slovak Republics the event opened with some welcome words from Mrs. Jana Reinišová to her residence. The concert opened afterwards with the Guitar@Work Orchestra performing a Czeck soundscape of guitar solos by ŠtěpánRak, some folk Slovak and Hungarian songs compiled by Béla Bartok and arranged specially for this occasion by Mariel Peñaloza Phd for the Orchestra, and an air of Spanish rhythms entered the baroque decorated room through the interpretation of a Rumba alla Rak. The Guitar@Work Orchestra is a unique ensemble of different nationalities gathered by their love for the guitar, created by PhD. Mariel Peñaloza in 2011 with the idea of making an orchestra of the small orchestras that guitars already are.

It works as an ongoing project to promote ensemble work and to enjoy playing together. Its members have all different ages and nationalities, and come from different schools in the region, namely the International School of The Hague, The Haagse Montessori Lyceum, or the Bonaventura College in Leiden. An example of how different identities can come together in the joyful space offered by music to celebrate such an important occasion as the Centennial Anniversary of the Czech and Slovak Republics. The main part of the concert was the performance of the talented Czech guitar player and composer David Wurczel performing some of his compositions, one of them, Opus 8, a premier that evening. David Wurczel started with a classic theme for guitar, the Romance Anónimo, but after the first section he moved to a more personal interpretation, making use of the unique technique for the right hand he has developed and which he has named rotando. This technique has already been recognized and admired by music professionals and international audiences alike.

It is a special combination of rotating rasgueado, tremolo and an orchestral approach to guitar performance. Often it sounds as if there were more guitarists playing at the same time. This polyphonic approach is the main aspect of Wurczel’s style, which is also why he is not just a guitar composer but an orchestral music composer as well. In his own words, this would not have been possible if he had not met prof. ŠtěpánRak, who inspired him with his very unique and virtuoso style of guitar performance and composing. David and prof. Rak released a Christmas CD in 2011 together, and that year marked David’s first concerts as a guest of prof. ŠtěpánRak. After several years of playing common concerts, David, a guitarist trained by the performances with prof. Rak& other renowned concert musicians, went on to perform as a solo player. With his other interpretations of that evening, Universe Suite and a Tormenta, literally an impressive storm of sounds, we could participate in his passionate way of performing and his contemporary and fresh approach to composing for the instrument. He finished with Rak’sDance around the linden tree, as a respectful homage to the composer, and the audience was granted an encore to close such a great guitar performance with some more of Wurczel’s magic.” End quote. After the guitar concert Ambassador Jana Reinišová thanked the performers, all received a certificate of participation. She further offered Czech chocolates to all the young performers and also thanked Mr. David Wurczel and madam Mariel Peñaloza, they received Czech wine. The evening ended with a reception, the many guests including Ambassador Jana Reinišová colleagues, Indonesia, Korea, Estonia and others, had the opportunity to mingle with the composer and performers. It has been a pleasurable guitar concert. ————- Photography copyright: © Wurczel.

Michel Barnier, EU Chief Negotiator and First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon – Picture by European Commission. Monday, 28 May 2018, Brussels: the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon urged the UK Government to offer more clarity on their plans for the future relationship towards the EU, to engage properly vis-à-vis devolved governments as well as to stay inside the Customs Union and Single Market as the best possible outcome from Brexit, short of continuing EU membership. The latter ahead of a tête-à-tête with the EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier at commission’s headquarters. Nicola Sturgeon hosted a round table with members of the business community in Brussels before she formally opened the expanded Scotland House – an arm of the Scottish Government’s network of hubs across Europe with offices now in London, Dublin, Berlin and soon to open in Paris. Sturgeon also took up the issue with Northern Ireland; due to concerns in London, Dublin and Brussels about rewed tensions across its land border with EU member Ireland, the former is being offered a chance by EU negotiators to retain effective coverage by EU economic regulations after Brexit. According to Scotland the latter would give Northern Ireland an unfair economic advantage over Scotland. Hence the Scottish Government insists that the best scenario – if Brexit is be led to completion – is for the whole of the United Kingdom to remain members of the Single Market and the Customs Union. For further information: https://firstminister.gov.scot/6264-2/