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/
As official partner of the French Open at Roland-Garros, the Swiss watchmaker Longines has decided to seek out future tennis champions this year. Sixteen children from all around the world will be playing in a tournament leading up to an exciting mixed doubles final involving Gustavo Kuerten and Mary Pierce, who both won the French Open ten years ago.
After this event, Longines will be continuing its support for disadvantaged children through its sponsorship of the charity foundations set up by Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf, two of the brand’s Ambassadors of Elegance. Finally, at a charity dinner a representative of the famous Swiss watch company will have the singular honour of presenting the Longines Prize for Elegance to a sportsperson whose commitment to helping those in need deserves recognition.
Longines has invited 16 children (8 boys and 8 girls between the ages of 10 and 12) from all around the world to come to Paris. Having been selected in their own countries through their national tennis federations, these rising stars are among the best players of their age. At Roland-Garros they will be playing in the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament on 3 and 4 June. They will be playing singles in two groups – boys and girls – and will play the best of 3 sets, each game being scored on the basis of a 5-point tie-break.
The children will be coached by Mansour Bahrami, who set up the Legends Trophy, as well as Tsung-Hua Yang, who is also among Longines’ Ambassadors of Elegance. The two winners of the tournament will then team up with Gustavo Kuerten and Mary Pierce for a show final that will take place on Saturday, 5 June 2010, on court no. 7 at Roland-Garros. This match will give the children an opportunity to play alongside two tennis legends and to gain immeasurable experience.
To reward and support the young victors, Longines will be offering them an annual reward of $2,000 until they are 16 aimed at encouraging their career in tennis. After the final, Longines will also be donating a cheque for $100,000 to the foundations set up by Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf, which will be presented personally to two children from the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas.
A press conference is planned for Saturday 5 June at 12.45 p.m. at the Roland-Garros Tenniseum when the various charity actions will be presented in detail.
For further information:https://www.longines.com/rolandgarros/future-tennis-aces/news
HRH Princess Basmah bint Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – Picture by Private Office of HRH Princess Basmah bint SaudBy HRH Princess Basmah bint Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Founder and CEO of GURA (Global United Centre for Research and Analysis).
For some time now, we have been finding new ways to push ourselves closer to the brink, somehow reassured mistakenly by the belief that we – which is to say our system of nation states – are too big to fail.
But we are livingin a disquieting time when failureis much more likely than we think – and this starts with diplomatic failure, a process that is well and truly underway. There’s hardly a passage of time in living memory which compares with today in terms of the range and spread of conflicts, the array of politically and militarily opposed powers, and the weak and inexperienced leaderships at their helms.
Strong and ethically-driven leaders compromise and engage in diplomacy; weak leaders isolate themselves or say ‘no’ under the illusion that outright refusal is a characteristic of strength.
Nowhere more can we see this in action than in Syria. Here in particular is a theatre hosting a tragedy whose human costs are already scarcely calculable. But beyond this, Syria is being used as a venue to play out the great political game which pits proxy against proxy while their puppet masters get ever more used to playing with a free hand, emboldening their next move.But we find ourselves in this position because powers are choosing to play a game in this way. Pushing one another to the edge is an established tactic to determine quite how far one side is prepared to go or is actually capable of going to try and gain an advantage. But we might well soon find out much more than we wanted to know.
More widely than just in Syria, we are looking at the conversion of opportunity to war, not peace. It seems that if advice is wanted, leaderships consult their generals more than their ambassadors. So,the question is: are we facing a decisive turning point in history, a moment where we choose a path from which we can’t return without catastrophe?
But the real worry is whether diplomacy can ever play a constructive and calming role again. Today, we watch conflict as if it was just another drama on Netflix. We can turn if off at the end, de-sensitised to what was going on.
We have failed diplomacy, and now diplomacy is failing us. There are more threats than possibilities. We respond to challenges with sanctions, not openings. Our aging institutions are not sufficient for the kinds of tasks we need them to fulfil. Are our political systems too big to fail? No – they are fallible like the rest of us, only as strong as the leaderships and structures which drive them.
The UN Security Council is the fundamental mechanism for decision-making within our foremost diplomatic institution, the United Nations, and if it cannot find agreement on the most pressing issues of our time, then this merely contributes to the instability.
The Permanent Five – the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia and China – are clearly split down the middle, and each of them can veto a Security Council resolution at will. While the first three clubbed together in April to conduct missile strikes on targets in Syria they say were responsible forchemical weapons attacks on Syrian citizens, the last two are currently almost as diametrically opposed to the other members as they could be.
Besides: as much as each of those nations wields diplomatic influence as a member of the P5, each is also a formidable manufacturer and seller of arms. How reassured can we be in their diplomatic credentials when selling arms is fundamental to all their economies?. Beyond this, it is a basic observation that the P5 isn’t democratic in the first place. The ability to vetoa resolution in the hands of five nations is hardly the will of the world’s moral majority. In fact, the concentration of power in to the hands of the few exacerbates so many pressing issues in the world today.
The centralized elites continue to speak for the masses, denying them their true voice and masking a discontent at the way in which marginalized peripheral communities struggle. There are great imbalances in terms of the economics, politics, education, and equality between people.
Ultimately, the fundamental gap in credibility between the stated intentions and actions of those leading us is the crucial point at which we will see diplomacy fail with catastrophic consequences. In other words, we will fail, if that’s the course we set for ourselves. Sadly, this seems more likely than ever before. The upheavals in the world in this decade have been too deep and gouging. We must accept the world will not look again like it used to. There is no going back, but at least we can forge a path leading away from the current heading through dialogue.
We must give each and every community their fundamental human rights: security, freedom, education and equality. I’ve packaged it all in something called the Fourth Way Law, which can be used as a handrail. Without this, we will see what the failure of our political systems looks like.
For further information:
GURA: http://www.guraksa.com/en/
Princess Basmah bint Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud: https://twitter.com/PrincessBasmah?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthorhttps://diplomatmagazine.eu/2017/03/06/terrorism-prevention-in-a-globalised-world/
Creative Director of Louis Vuitton, Nicolas Ghesquière and Grace Coddington – Picture by Louis Vuitton.
28 May 2018, Côte d’Azur, France: Louis Vuitton’s Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquière and former Creative Director at large of American Vogue and erstwhile model of Welsh extraction, Grace Coddington, teamed up to to create accessories that reflected both directors’ enthralment of animals. Models carried bags in the shape of her cats, and his dog, all drawn by the stylist at the Louis Vuitton cruise show held at the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Chairman and CEO of Vuitton Michael Burke described the Fondation Maeght as “an extraordinary sanctuary where art and nature meet – epic and awe inspiring”, promising that “the venue and the collection will transport you to a fantasy world” according to Vogue.
For further information https://eu.louisvuitton.com/eng-e1/homepage
The Dutch Royal Court has announced that Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands are due to pay a working visit from 10 to 12 October 2018 to the German federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate and the Saarland. They shall be accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sigrid Kraag. The latter will lead simultaneously an economic mission with focus on digitalisation, life sciences and health – eHealth, mobility and vitality.
Rhineland-Palatinate and the Saarland are two federal states that have transformed from old industrial hubs to a digital economy. Moreover the states are limitrophous to two European countries, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the French Republic, both to the West of their respective borders. Thus European cooperation is at stake.
The Dutch Royal Couple pays annual visits to one or more German federal state with focus on economic relations.
Historically the federal states and The Netherlands are hold relevant connections. For instance, the Wittelsbach Prince Elector of the Palatinate, Friedrich V, who became infamous as the “Winter King of Bohemia”(1619-1620), Fridrich I, was exiled to The Hague after losing the Palatinate as his hereditary lands in the then Holy Roman Empire. Saarbrücken, capital of the Saarland was for centuries ruled by one branch of the House of Nassau, the Counts of Nassau-Saarbrücken (1381-1797). The Dutch Royal Dynasty is itself an offshoot of the German House of Nassau.
For further information:
On the image, the Ambassador of Cameroon, H.E. Ambassador Odette Melono, together with guests.By Roy Lie Atjam.
The Republic of Cameroon celebrated her 46th National Day on 20th May 2018, This year the theme was “Cameroonian citizens, let us remain united in diversity and preserve social peace, for a stable, indivisible and prosperous Cameroon.”
In the capital city Yaoundé, a large civil and military parade was presided over by H.E. President Paul Biya.
Here in The Hague, Her Excellency Mrs. Odette Melono, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon, hosted a celebratory reception at the Marriott Hotel on 25th May 2018. The Ambassador and her team warmly welcome the guests.
A lineup of Ambassadors and diplomats, amid Egypt, Denmark, Nigeria, Indonesia, Algeria, Malaysia, Russia, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, El Salvador, the Holy Sea, and many others, members of the international tribunals, Dutch business personalities, NGO’s; Dutch Government officials and others. They all came by to felicitate Ambassador Melono on her country’s National Day.
Signing the guests book at Cameroon National Day.
A lavish buffet with a variety of authentic national dishes such as an exquisite creamy rice soup, fish, beans, ground provisions and an excellent cake featuring Cameroon’s flag was at the disposal of the many guests.
By all means, it has been a pleasurable Cameroonian evening.
Cameroonian cuisine at its best!
Minister Dr. Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner accompanied Ambassador Richard Grenell when he signed the guest book of NRW’s Government – Picture by Land NRW U. Wagner.
Thursday, 17 May 2018, Düsseldorf: The Honourable Ambassador Richard Grenell was paying a maiden visit to the US Consulate General located at Düsseldorf, and took the opportunity to also pay a visite de courtoisie to the head of government of Germany’s largest state, Premier Armin Laschet who welcomed the US envoy alongside the Minister for European and International Affairs, Dr. Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner. Ambassador Grenell was accompanied in his turn by the US Consul General in Düsseldorf, Michael R. Keller.
According to statistics by NRW about 13,500 US Americans live in the federal state. Between NRW and the USA there are 35 state partnership between cities. Beyond the latter there are 104 school partnerships, 327 signed cooperation agreements between NRW and US American universities and colleges that intensify the transatlantic exchanges.
Richard Allen Grenell is the accredited ambassador of the United States of America to the Federal Republic of Germany since the day of his arrival on 8 May 2018 after presenting letters of credence to President Franz-Walter Steinmeier.
On the picture Amadeu da Conceição (Mozambique), Jaqueline Pires (Cabo Verde), Mario Vilalva (Brazil), João Mira Gomes (Portugal), Luís Faro Ramos, Institute.
Friday, 25 May 2018, Freie Universität Berlin: A seminar titled “O Ensino do Português como Língua Estrangeira no Ensino Superior: Bases, perspetivas, boas práticas” (The teaching of Portuguese as a foreign language in higher education: bases, perspectives, and good practices) was organised by the Freie Universität in coordination with the Institute Camões, and in cooperation with the Portuguese Embassy to Germany.
The university’s Vice-Dean Klaus Mühlhahn, the ambassadors of Portugal, João Mira Gomes and Brazil Mario Vilalva in Germany as well as the presidente of Camões Institute, Luís Faro Ramos, opened the event. Professors Isabel Duarte from Universidade do Porto and Paulo Feytor Pinto from the Universidade de Coimbra partook as lecturers.
The heads of mission of the Lusophone countries Mozambique, Amadeu daConceição and of Cabo Verde, Jaqueline Pires, also buttressed up the event through their attendance.
For further information:http://www.instituto-camoes.pt/sobre/comunicacao/noticias/19825-alemanha-seminario-o-ensino-do-portugues-como-lingua-estrangeira-no-ensino-superior
By Jochebed Kastaneer, MSc.
From the 25th to 27th of May, Crowne Plaza Hotel in the Hague was home to the second edition of Peruvian flavours, showcasing traditional Peruvian cooking at his best.
Peruvian Flavours was organized and presented by courtesy of the Peruvian Embassy for the Promenade Food Festivals.
Ambassador Carlos Herrera, Veronique Micléa and Crowne Plaza’s General Manager, Patrick Aarsman.
His Excellency Mr. Carlos Herrera, Ambassador of Peru to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, opened the Festival on the first evening and hosted a diner for invitees together with Diplomat Magazine.
Amongst the illustrious guest was present, Ambassador Alain Wagner, previous Peruvian ambassador to the Netherlands, in route for an official trip; H.E. Philippe Couvreur, Registrar of the International Court of Justice, H.E. Aviv Shir-On, Ambassador of Israel, H.E. Marithza Ruiz deVielman, Ambassador of Guatemala, Pablo Piñeiro Aramburo, Minister Counselor of Argentina.
Peruvian Flavours. The fresh products that were on display thanks to BUD Holland were: Chilis: Ají Amarillo, Ají Limo, Ají Panca, Ají Mirasol, Rocoto. Vegetables: Ollucos, Mashuas, Ocas, Yacón Fruits: Mamey, Lúcuma, Chirimoya, Granada.
H.E. Carlos Herrera and his wife Mrs. Véronique Micléa personally welcomed all the guests before the official opening. In this atmosphere of the warm and welcoming Peruvian hospitality the key address of His Excellency was: “The most important is that you enjoy the evening and enjoy the Peruvian cuisine”.
And enjoy is exactly what everyone did. We were welcomed with a glass of an exceptional ‘Pisco Sour’, a cocktail made of the ‘flagship beverage’ of Peru the ‘Pisco’. One would think that Pisco is a liqueur but Pisco is an elixir derived from distilled grapes, protected by the first Peruvian Denomination of Origin. And Pisco is also protected by the ‘Ladies of Pisco’, a non-profit worldwide women’s association dedicated to the promotion and culture of Pisco nationally and internationally.
Chef Lourdes Centy Pluvinage, from ‘El Picaflor’ in Paris, Chef Sido de Brabander, chef at Crowne Plaza, Veronique Micléa and Ambassador Herrera
During the evening Mrs. Ana María Korver and Mrs Miryam Jara Villegas, ladies of Pisco for the Netherlands, were present and kept a close eye on the Pisco cocktails being served to assure that they were of the traditional high quality.
Peru has been voted the number one culinary destination for years. And to show us why, the Peruvian Embassy has brought Chef Lourdes Centy Pluvinage, owner of the famous restaurant ‘El Picaflor’ in Paris. Together with her Mr. Sidode Brabander, chef at Crowne Plaza and responsible person supporting the cooking team.
For starters Chef Lourdes served a ‘Causa’ of potato-tuna with avocado, a ‘Papas a la Huancaina’ (potato with typical Peruvian spicy cheese sauce) and a Cod ‘Ceviche’ from heaven, with crusty sweet potato and corn duo.
By the time we’ve put our forks down our resolute and unanimous verdict was: ‘That’s it, I’m going to Peru!’. Effective culinary diplomacy at his best; and Chef Lourdes was just getting started. No wonder that the first edition of Peruvian Flavours marked the start of the Promenade Food Festivals. And some of the Peruvian dishes have even been included in the regular Menu of Crowne Plaza restaurant ever since.
Main course meant being lavishly spoiled with an exquisite ‘Chupe de Camarones’(Shrimp soup with corn, pumpkin, potato, rice, beans and huacatay), ‘Arroz con Pato’ (Sticky rice with duck and coriander), ‘Seco de Cordero’ (Lamb stew), ‘Escabeche de Pescado’ (Fried fish with marinated onions), ‘Quinoa Atamalada’(Spicy quinoa with feta cheese), white rice and white beans with bacon and piment.
And to make sure we remained in heaven we had ‘Tartelette de Lucuma’ (Lucuma tartelette), ‘Delicia de Quinoa’ (Quinoa crème with lucuma mouse, honey with coffee and a tuille), ‘Alfajores’(Alfajores filled with dulce de leche) for dessert. The Lucuma liqueur that accompanied dessert made us experience first-hand why the ancient Incas loved the special fruit Lucuma so much.
Peruvian Flavours diner was a pleasure to enjoy with all the senses. We were touched by genuine hospitality and got to explore a world of new flavours, fragrances and textures with the Peruvian gastronomy.
Peruvian Flavours’ Menu
Appetizers
Cebiche tradicional. – causa rellena atún y palta. – papa a la huancaina
Ambassador Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa – Picture by Emirates News Agency.Monday, 28 May 2018, Muharraq, Kingdom of Bahrain: The Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development of the UAE in collaboration with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities in the Kingdom of Bahrain, co-organised a community evening entitled “The Emirati Malid”, a cultural event that celebrates religious occasions, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
These events were held in the presence of HE Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Culture and Antiquities Authority, Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to Bahrain, and a number of high-level officials representing both nations.
Al Kaabi pointed out that the participation of the UAE sends a message of appreciation and celebration to the city of Muharraq after being named the Islamic Cultural Capital 2018, demonstrates the city’s cultural diversity, its history, and the originality of its heritage as one of the most important human and cultural sites in the Gulf region.
Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa uttered from her side “the event of the Emirati Malid coincides with the integrated programme developed by the Bahrain Culture and Antiquities Authority to celebrate the city of Muharraq, the capital of Islamic culture in 2018. The Authority has offered a variety of events over the years through cultural initiatives, annual festivals, and special events. This event is an opportunity to acquaint the Bahraini people to a glimpse of the rich Emirati heritage and history, which will strengthen the cultural relations between Bahrain and the UAE, as well as enhance knowledge exchange between the two nations.”
For further information:
President of the Bahrain Culture and Antiquities Authority (HE Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa):
In the capital city Yaoundé, a large civil and military parade was presided over by H.E. President Paul Biya.
Here in The Hague, Her Excellency Mrs. Odette Melono, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon, hosted a celebratory reception at the Marriott Hotel on 25th May 2018. The Ambassador and her team warmly welcome the guests.
A lineup of Ambassadors and diplomats, amid Egypt, Denmark, Nigeria, Indonesia, Algeria, Malaysia, Russia, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, El Salvador, the Holy Sea, and many others, members of the international tribunals, Dutch business personalities, NGO’s; Dutch Government officials and others. They all came by to felicitate Ambassador Melono on her country’s National Day.
In the capital city Yaoundé, a large civil and military parade was presided over by H.E. President Paul Biya.
Here in The Hague, Her Excellency Mrs. Odette Melono, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon, hosted a celebratory reception at the Marriott Hotel on 25th May 2018. The Ambassador and her team warmly welcome the guests.
A lineup of Ambassadors and diplomats, amid Egypt, Denmark, Nigeria, Indonesia, Algeria, Malaysia, Russia, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, El Salvador, the Holy Sea, and many others, members of the international tribunals, Dutch business personalities, NGO’s; Dutch Government officials and others. They all came by to felicitate Ambassador Melono on her country’s National Day.
For starters Chef Lourdes served a ‘Causa’ of potato-tuna with avocado, a ‘Papas a la Huancaina’ (potato with typical Peruvian spicy cheese sauce) and a Cod ‘Ceviche’ from heaven, with crusty sweet potato and corn duo.
By the time we’ve put our forks down our resolute and unanimous verdict was: ‘That’s it, I’m going to Peru!’. Effective culinary diplomacy at his best; and Chef Lourdes was just getting started. No wonder that the first edition of Peruvian Flavours marked the start of the Promenade Food Festivals. And some of the Peruvian dishes have even been included in the regular Menu of Crowne Plaza restaurant ever since.
Main course meant being lavishly spoiled with an exquisite ‘Chupe de Camarones’(Shrimp soup with corn, pumpkin, potato, rice, beans and huacatay), ‘Arroz con Pato’ (Sticky rice with duck and coriander), ‘Seco de Cordero’ (Lamb stew), ‘Escabeche de Pescado’ (Fried fish with marinated onions), ‘Quinoa Atamalada’(Spicy quinoa with feta cheese), white rice and white beans with bacon and piment.
And to make sure we remained in heaven we had ‘Tartelette de Lucuma’ (Lucuma tartelette), ‘Delicia de Quinoa’ (Quinoa crème with lucuma mouse, honey with coffee and a tuille), ‘Alfajores’(Alfajores filled with dulce de leche) for dessert. The Lucuma liqueur that accompanied dessert made us experience first-hand why the ancient Incas loved the special fruit Lucuma so much.
Peruvian Flavours diner was a pleasure to enjoy with all the senses. We were touched by genuine hospitality and got to explore a world of new flavours, fragrances and textures with the Peruvian gastronomy.
For starters Chef Lourdes served a ‘Causa’ of potato-tuna with avocado, a ‘Papas a la Huancaina’ (potato with typical Peruvian spicy cheese sauce) and a Cod ‘Ceviche’ from heaven, with crusty sweet potato and corn duo.
By the time we’ve put our forks down our resolute and unanimous verdict was: ‘That’s it, I’m going to Peru!’. Effective culinary diplomacy at his best; and Chef Lourdes was just getting started. No wonder that the first edition of Peruvian Flavours marked the start of the Promenade Food Festivals. And some of the Peruvian dishes have even been included in the regular Menu of Crowne Plaza restaurant ever since.
Main course meant being lavishly spoiled with an exquisite ‘Chupe de Camarones’(Shrimp soup with corn, pumpkin, potato, rice, beans and huacatay), ‘Arroz con Pato’ (Sticky rice with duck and coriander), ‘Seco de Cordero’ (Lamb stew), ‘Escabeche de Pescado’ (Fried fish with marinated onions), ‘Quinoa Atamalada’(Spicy quinoa with feta cheese), white rice and white beans with bacon and piment.
And to make sure we remained in heaven we had ‘Tartelette de Lucuma’ (Lucuma tartelette), ‘Delicia de Quinoa’ (Quinoa crème with lucuma mouse, honey with coffee and a tuille), ‘Alfajores’(Alfajores filled with dulce de leche) for dessert. The Lucuma liqueur that accompanied dessert made us experience first-hand why the ancient Incas loved the special fruit Lucuma so much.
Peruvian Flavours diner was a pleasure to enjoy with all the senses. We were touched by genuine hospitality and got to explore a world of new flavours, fragrances and textures with the Peruvian gastronomy.
