IHE Delft hosted a half-day workshop on Wednesday 7th March for Ambassadors and Embassy officials on the subject of water diplomacy and water cooperation. The topic is of great importance and relevance, as demonstrated by the active participation by representatives from over 50 countries. Following an introduction to the Institute by the Rector, Mr. Eddy Moors, an overview of key elements and issues in water diplomacy and water cooperation, was presented by speakers Zaki Shubber and Aaron Wolf. The underlying theme was that research has indicated that overall countries do cooperate over shared water resources. The audience was reminded of the large number of treaties and conventions which already exist to jointly manage water, although a significant number of basins do not have a legal framework in place. Two positive examples of shared waters that were mentioned are the Rhine basin, where all parties have been working together to improve water quality and the Geneva Aquifer, which is jointly managed by Switzerland and France. The point was also made several times that water cooperation is essential at all levels, from the local to the international, and that there is a connection between these levels in the case of transboundary water bodies. Joyeeta Gupta discussed broader dimensions of water diplomacy and the global nature of larger issues related to water, including water crossing borders beyond what is visible. The range of water discussed extended from green water to atmospheric water and referred to virtual water. The critical impact of climate change on water issues was also highlighted in light of the very close relationship between water and climate change as well as development. A discussion session followed, during which the panel of speakers gave their views on different current issues and possible future developments in water diplomacy as well as on the importance of resolving water issues for the continued stability of the world.

  For further information  http://thecommonwealth.org/media/press-release/commonwealth-day-message-her-majesty-queen-head-commonwealth-0 https://www.royal.uk/message-queen-head-commonwealth-ahead-commonwealth-day-2018 —————————— Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth – Picture by Joel Rousel, Ministry of Defence UK, licensed under the Open Government Licence.

On the  picture Mr. Beau – Special Roast, H.E. Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Ambassador of Rwanda / The Hague, Mr. Lennart Clerkx – This Side Up Coffees, Mr. Hendrik – Special Roast Barrista – Special Roast, Mr. Erik – Rose & Vanilla.

After the big successes at the Amsterdam Coffee Festival in 2015 and 2016, this year on 9, 10 and 11 March, the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in the Netherlands and This Side Up joined forces with Special Roast (coffee roaster and retailer) and Bakery Rose & Vanilla for a new approach to promote Rwandan Coffee.

The participation was supported by Rwanda National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB).

‘Rwanda is a​ ​unique coffee origin because of its location and its people. ​I​t​s​ climate gives rise to excellent coffees that are sweet, often tea-like and rich in acidity, and ​the country’s quick rise to the highest specialty ranks inspires producers worldwide.’ ‘At the Amsterdam Coffee Festival 2018 Rwanda showcased the truly transparent coffee value chain, from award-winning farmer cooperatives in Rwanda to specialty coffee roasters abroad’, said H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga.

Rwanda coffee is imported by several Dutch companies, including This Side Up, which is a platform that allows coffee roasters in Europe to trade transparently with coffee farmers in Rwanda.

The Embassy of Rwanda in collaboration with NAEB and This Side Up invited several producers from Rwanda to come to the festival or to send the best coffee varieties to be roasted for the Amsterdam Coffee Festival.

‘Throughout the day we held walk-cuppings and visitors to the booth were inspired with everything they wanted to know about these coffees’, Lennart Clerkx of This Side Up said. ‘New this edition were the pastries made from Rwandan Coffee, freshly baked by bakery Rose&Vanilla’.

Being present at the Amsterdam Coffee Festival was an opportunity to provide information to potential investors and coffee retailers how to deal with Rwanda. This Side Up has years of experience in direct marketing in Rwanda and was there – with the Embassy of Rwanda – to answer any question about starting and maintaining direct trade relationships with Rwandan producers.    

President of the International Criminal Court, Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, Issues End of Mandate Report Today, 9 March 2018, the President of the International Criminal Court, Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, published an end of mandate report, summarizing the main initiatives she promoted on a priority basis during her three-year term at the helm of the institution. The report describes actions undertaken to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Court and to enhance external support. “As my time at the Court is coming to an end, I considered it appropriate to report on actions that were undertaken to pursue the objectives I declared as my priorities to my fellow judges before my election three years ago and which I have reconfirmed since to the international community on multiple occasions.”, President Fernández said. “I hope this report will help external observers and those working at the Court to understand the efforts made during the past three years to enhance the performance of the Court, and contribute to the development of further initiatives by its future leadership. I remain convinced that, while safeguarding its judicial independence, the Court must constantly strive to enhance the speed and quality of the justice that it delivers in order to increase its own credibility and foster external support.” The largest part of the report discusses initiatives undertaken to enhance efficiency and effectiveness within the judiciary of the Court, particularly through the collective review of proceedings by the judges and the resulting measures to expedite the judicial process. The second part of the report addresses Court-wide efforts to enhance efficiency through increased coordination among the organs, and the development of performance indicators for the Court. Finally, the report describes outward attempts to promote understanding for the Court and the Trust Fund for Victims and enhance cooperation and support by the international community, including through increased engagement with other courts and the broader legal community. The report concludes with short-term recommendations on the continuation of various ongoing initiatives, including on the harmonization of proceedings on victims’ participation and reparation, the development of an ICC Case Law Database, and efforts to increase gender parity at the Court. Judge Fernández’s mandate as President and judge of the Court ends on Saturday 10 March 2018; a new President as well as two vice-presidents will be elected by the judges of the Court the following day in accordance with Article 38(1) of the Rome Statute.

Caroline Klaver-Bouman, during her speech in Wassenaar. By Guido Lanfranchi. On Tuesday March 6th, VVD Wassenaar and Diplomat Magazine co-organized a forum for the expat community of Wassenaar. How would the municipality of their dreams look like? Tuesday March 6th, Wassenaar. The environment around the beautiful Auberge De Kieviet was particularly lively. A number of people entered the hotel’s reception room. Some of them came from The Netherlands; many others, although residents in Wassenaar, came from all corners of the world. Among them, several Ambassadors, diplomats, and expat workers residing in the pretty municipality neighboring The Hague.

H.E. Ms. Sahar Ghanem, Ambassador of Yemen,  H.E. Ms. VestineNahimana, Ambassador of Burundi, and the Charge d’affaires of Venezuela, Mr. Alvaro Sanchez Cordero attended the event, together with diplomats from the Embassies of the United States, Venezuela, and India. At the entrance, the guests were welcomed by VVD members Gerbrand Nijman and Caroline Klaver-Bouman, together with a special guest: a cardboard Mark Rutte! In a crowded reception room, Mr. Nijman took the floor to kick-start the discussion, praising the collaboration between VVD and Diplomat Magazine in organizing the event. After a brief explanation of the expats’ right to vote, Mr. Nijman left the floor to Ms. Klaver-Bouman, VVD’s first candidate in Wassenaar.

As the leading candidate of the team, Ms. Klaver-Bouman briefly introduced the audience to VVD’s basic tenet, freedom of choice for the citizens, under the shelter of a light, effective state. Moving on local issues, Ms. Klaver-Bouman outlined the three main points of VVD’s project for Wassenaar: this beautiful village’s political independence; the improvement of local municipal services; and a precise solution, “the N44 tunnel”, against the chief disturbing problem, traffic.

Later on, Laurens van Doeveren, Ms. Klaver-Bouman’s “running mate” in VVD’s list, took the floor. His experiences in the Dutch Parliament and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he explained, drew him closer to the international community in The Netherlands, making him more aware of expats’ problems.

Finally, the Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy in The Hague, Mr. Nicholas Heath, engaged the audience, presenting himself as a “professional expat.” Having himself been an expat several times, he explained how feeling at home in a new place is a slow and gradual process, that starts as an obligation, but ends up being a joy. As a part of this process, he stressed the relevance of expats’ political engagement, encouraging all those present to participate in the local elections. After this introduction, Mr. Nijman and Ms. Klaver-Bouman opened the floor for a lively, interactive discussion with the audience. The participants took the floor, outlining the problems that expats might face upon their arrival in Wassenaar: they stressed especially issues related with language and cultural differences, with a specific focus on difficult situations for families with children. But the discussion was not focused on problems only.

The attendees and the organizers engaged in an effort to come up with new ideas, proposals, and solutions. Among them, the organization of more events for expats, the availability of communications in English, and the improvement of the expats’ welcome in Wassenaar. On this last point, the suggestions were copious, ranging from the creation of a voluntary welcome committee, to the establishment of a contact point for expats in the town hall. During the night, VVD and Dimplomat Magazine also seized the opportunity to launch their new initiative, the Expat and Diplomatic Advisory Council. This Council is a permanent body aimed at collecting expats’ issues, in order to address them in an effective way. As Mr. Nijman suggested in his concluding remarks, while many political actors talk about improving the situation of expats in Wassenaar, only few of them actually do something in this regard. As demonstrated over the night, VVD Wassenaar wants to be among those acting, and acting for the better. On this final note, Mr. Nijman invited the participants to enjoy drinks and conversations in the Auberge De Kieviet’s reception room. The attendees gladly took up the suggestion, remaining at length to exchange more ideas and insights. While the participants were gradually leaving the reception room, VVD members were already thinking about the expats’ suggestions, trying to devise new solutions to make Wassenaar the municipality of their dreams.  

The Ambassador of Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Shujjat Ali Rathore, with chefs Iftikhar Ahmad Chugthai, Muhammad Nazeer, Sido de Brabander and par of the  public attending the Pakistani Food Festival. By Guido Lanfranchi. On February 23rd, 2018, the Hotel Crowne Plaza Den Haag hosted the Pakistani Food Festival, organized by the Embassy of Pakistan in The Netherlands, in collaboration with Diplomat Magazine. While a cold wind was blowing outside, the guests gathered in the main hall of Crowne Plaza Hotel; among them, a number of workers of international organizations, diplomats and Ambassadors. The Ambassador of Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Shujjat Ali Rathore, together with his spouse, welcomed the guests one by one at the entrance, while the staff of Crowne Plaza offered fresh drinks to the presents.

Once a crowd had gathered in the hall, Mr. Patrick Aarsman, General Manager of Crowne Plaza, welcomed all the guest. He thanked the Embassy of Pakistan and Diplomat Magazine for the organization, and he gave the floor to H.E. Shujjat Ali Rathore. The Ambassador thanked all the presents, and expressed his joy for having the possibility to “share our spicy Pakistani food with our friends in The Netherlands.” He then introduced the three protagonists of the night: the chefs. Iftikhar Ahmad Chugthai, a chef with 25 years of experience in five-star hotels, and Muhammad Nazeer, a chef trained by the Pakistani Navy and with 40 years of experience, came from Pakistan in order to serve their delicious food to the guests. They were helped in this endeavor by Sido de Brabander, professional chef at Crowne Plaza. After the introduction ceremony, the Ambassador invited the guests to take their places at the tables of Crowne Plaza’s restaurant. Soon after that, the staff of the restaurant was already providing the participants with the starters, consisting of a plate filled with Kebab, Daal (lentil) soup, Pakora with mint sauce, and a Aalo Channa (salad with chickpeas). After the guests finished their starters, the chefs proudly unveiled the buffet with the main courses. Among them, chicken tandoori and chicken biryani, a lamb stew (Mutton Qorma), and Lahori fried fish. As side dishes, many different options were present in the buffet: a mix of vegetables, a cucumber salad, the Pakistani Saag tin and Daal mash, and naan bread. When the guests had enjoyed the main courses, theicing on the cake arrived at the tables: the desserts. The restaurant’s staff served a big dish composed by Kheer (a rice pudding), Jaleebi (a fried biscuit with syrup), and a mix of various Pakistani sweets.The guests kept on having lively conversations at their tables, while enjoying the delicious dessert. When the dinner was over, the guests started to move across tables, engaging in new conversations with other people. In the meanwhile, more guests arrived, joining the participants in both the food taste and the conversations. In this comfortable environment, the event continued for some time, until the guests started leaving the Crowne Plaza, satisfied by an incredibly enjoyable night.

H.E. Ambassador Shujjat Ali Rathore,  Mr. Waseem Shahzad, First Secretary of the Embassy, and Mr. Syed Mahmood Hassan, Commercial Counsellor together with students from Leiden University. By Guido Lanfranchi.  On February 6^th, 2018, the Embassy of Pakistan in The Hague has received a visit by a group of students from Leiden University. H.E. Ambassador Shujjat Ali Rathore engaged in a long and lively conversation with the students. On Tuesday morning, the Embassy of Pakistan received a delegation of students from Leiden University. Around 11h00 the students gathered at the Embassy’s entrance in Amaliastraat, The Hague. Kindly received by the staff of the Embassy, the students were accompanied in the reception room, where they were soon joined by the Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Shujjat Ali Rathore, together with Mr. Waseem Shahzad, First Secretary of the Embassy, and Mr. Syed Mahmood Hassan, Commercial Counsellor. The Ambassador paved the way for a quick round of introductions. The students, coming from several different countries such as India, Italy, Portugal, and Hungary, quickly introduced themselves. Given their academic focus on the field of International Relations, most of their questions focused on issues related to Pakistan’s role in the international political scenario.

The students started the Q&A with the Ambassador by asking questions about the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an incredibly relevant geopolitical topic in South Asia. Given his previous experience as Deputy Head of Mission at the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing, the Ambassador was definitely the right person to answer the students’ questions on this issue. He delved into the “win-win bilateral relationship between Pakistan and China,” mentioning several examples of joint Chinese-Pakistani projects in the framework of CPEC, among which the port of Gwadar. Then, the Ambassador also addressed the topic of Pakistan’s economic development. He highlighted the government’s effort in reducing inequality across regions, explaining to the students the local political environment surrounding the CPEC endeavor. The conversation also focused on Pakistan’s relation with its “big brother to the East,” India, and the dispute on the Kashmir region. Finally, the inevitable question on the relation between Pakistan and the US, and the debated issue of the control of the border with Afghanistan. On this topic, the Ambassador highlighted the hard work done by the Pakistani government, and wished a positive outcome for the recent small quarrels with the United States. Despite everything – the Ambassador said – the US remains a “very important partner for Pakistan.” These intense and interesting talks were accompanied by drinks and snacks, among which the traditional Pakistani samosa, kindly offered by the staff of the Pakistani Embassy. When the Ambassador finally had to leave the meeting, the staff invited the students to enjoy some more drinks. The students thus remained a bit longer in the Embassy talking with the staff, before gradually leaving the building extremely satisfied by the meeting.