Ambassador Quintana’s meeting at Europol

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Ambassador Quintana’s meeting at Europol
The Ambassador of Colombia to the Netherlands, H.E. Mr Juan José Quintana, and the Director of EUROPOL, Rob Wainwright, met in The Hague early January. Ambassador Quintana arrived at Europol accompanied by the Liaison Officers of the National Police of Colombia, Major Jesús Eduardo Cruz Silva, Captain Adrián Emid Vega Hernández and Superintendent Margarita Tibaduiza Gómez. During the meeting, they talked about the operational and strategic agreement between Colombia and EUROPOL that entered into force in February 2014. As a result, several liaison officers of the Colombian National Police have been able to be part of this organisation, and the cooperation with the Member States of the European Union has grown significantly. Colombia is a strategic allied of EUROPOL in Latin America fighting against organised crime, especially with terrorism. Furthermore, the exchange of experiences and good practices, Colombia is actively supporting EUROPOL in the investigations of crime areas such as cybercrime and drug trafficking. Moreover, the strategic information received from Colombia has contributed to improving the understanding of the drug trafficking phenomenon in the region. The implementation of the SIENA platform for Ameripol and Clacip through the Colombian National Police has allowed the safe exchange of information between the Member States and Latin America. Likewise, the consolidation of the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce – JCAT was stressed as a permanent project for the coordination of operational and strategic activities against cybercrime through the Member States. Colombia is part of this tool supported by EUROPOL. The Ambassador emphasised the importance of ensuring the continuity of the Colombian representation in EUROPOL. The Director of EUROPOL expressed his sincere appreciation for the work that the Colombian Liaison Office has been doing and for the existing cooperation. Similarly, the Director assured EUROPOL will continue supporting with the commitment of strengthening the partnership between both entities.

Overseas Brands Keen to Target Thai Tea and Coffee Niche Markets

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Overseas Brands Keen to Target Thai Tea and Coffee Niche Markets
By Geoff de Freitas. While western-style coffee shops and tea brands pretty much dominate Thailand, there are still a number of niche opportunities to be had at the more bespoke end of the market, at least according to exhibitors at the recent Bangkok Coffee & Tea Culture expo. In particular, there is a growing appetite for organic / healthy brews, as well as novelty flavours and the kind of unusual combinations likely to appeal to a younger market demographic. One company already happily carving out its own niche at the higher end of the market is Italasia, a Bangkok-based importer of Italian goods, including a variety of food and drink products, as well as a range of catering / hospitality equipment. It was primarily attending the expo to promote the Illy range of coffees and espresso machines in its capacity as the exclusive Thai distributor for the Trieste-based company’s products. At present, Illy’s range of coffees and its espresso machines are already a feature of many of Thailand’s more upmarket hotels and restaurants. Outlining Italasia’s strategy and positioning for the brand, Siriwan Prayoonpong, the company’s Senior Barista Trainer, said: “The majority of the young people in Thailand don’t really know how a perfect espresso should taste or how it should be produced. Most of them just like their coffee chilled, maybe with ice or added flavourings. “We see our role as showing them how coffee should be made. We specialise in premium coffees, rather than the novelty coffees on offer in many of the chains.” Hedging its bets somewhat, though, the company has now introduced the Illycrema – a blend of espresso coffee and micro-ice shards. Rebutting the suggestion that the company is diluting its brand, Prayoonpong said: “The Illycrema is a natural product, free from hydrogenated fats, dyes or preservatives. It’s our way of appealing to Thai customers who like great coffee, but who also like a little ice with their drink.” Taking a rather different approach was Doi Chaang Coffee, the Bangkok-headquartered producer and distributor of high-quality Arabica coffee from Thailand’s northern Chiang Rai region. In addition to its production / distribution activities, the company also operates 50 franchised coffees shops across the country. Explaining the company’s straightforward approach to the sector, Operations Manager, Nont Sumate said: “All of the Doi Chaang Coffee shops only offer black coffee. It’s not blended and we don’t do anything too fancy. We just super-serve people who want black coffee served in a traditional style.” With coffee-drinking such an engrained tradition in Thailand, it’s not necessarily easy for overseas businesses – even those based elsewhere in Asia – to make in-roads into the domestic market. This, however, has not deterred Icha Ca Tea & Coffee, a well-established Taiwanese brand, from giving it a good go. Although the company has been producing traditional teas and coffees for more than 60 years, it didn’t open its first branded tea shop until 2012. With this outlet – based in the northwest Taiwanese city of Taoyuan – offering coffee and milk teas at affordable prices, the company has had to learn to keep abreast of the changing tastes of many of its younger customers. Reflecting on the lessons it has learnt, particularly with regard to tea preferences, Lia Abao, the company’s Market Development Manager, said: “Teenagers still like to drink tea, but now they want it blended with fruit or milk. We see our role as giving them exactly what they want. So now we offer a variety of youth-oriented teas, as well as our more traditional range of products. Among the teas Icha Ca was particularly keen to promote this year were its jasmine green, floral Oolong, Taiwan red Oolong and honey black ranges. The company was also looking to go into partnership with any keen, young individuals seeking to launch their own coffee / tea shops. Targeting younger consumers was also high on the agenda for Dong Feng Black Tea, another Taiwan-based tea producer. With this in mind, it has recently completed a youth-friendly revamp of all of its packaging, with its new look also emphasising its organic / environmentally-friendly credentials. Explaining the thinking behind this new look, Amy Li, the company’s Chief Executive, said: “We wanted the packaging to reflect the quality of our tea. It is, after all, that quality that has made our teas among the most popular in Taiwan. We also thought it was important, though, to emphasise our commitment to producing specialty teas in as healthy and organic a fashion as we possibly can.” As well as several Taiwanese tea makers, the event also attracted a number of Malaysian manufactures of premium coffee blends, including Penang-based Grand Berryl. The 13-year-old business primarily produces white coffee under the Warehouse Coffee brand and is currently trialing the Thailand market prior to actively expanding into the country. In addition to its regular coffee blend, it also has high hopes that its white coffee / durian [a large spiky fruit native to Southeast Asia] blend may prove a hit with Thai consumers. Outlining the company’s Thai strategy, Managing Director Anthony Khow said: “We hope our white coffee / durian blend will appeal to the country’s teenagers, as well as to anyone who enjoys a combination of coffee and fruit. We also hope to sign deals with hotels, supermarkets and other outlets. We are happy to work on an own-label basis, as well as to supply both small and large quantities.” The overseas contingent was rounded off by exhibitors from two other Asian countries – South Korea’s Cafe Murisys and Japan’s Maruzen Foods. In the case of the latter, the business is a joint venture between Shizuoka-based Maruzen Tea Japan and Singha Park Chiang Rai, a domestic tea plantation. Keen to explain the joint venture’s USP, Sales Executive Tannapat Jiratthanachot said: “We are now the only tea-processing facility in Thailand still using the traditional steaming process that complies with both the HACCP Halal and ISO2200 standards. Overall, we aim to produce high-quality green tea by combining fine ingredients from Thailand with Japanese tea-processing technology. “Although we have built our reputation on traditional green teas, we are now also developing a range of products targeted at younger tea drinkers. In Thailand, young people like to drink ice tea, while older people want hot tea. With our expanded product range, we are hoping to cater to both demographics.” For its part, Café Murisys is happy to focus solely on the cooler end of the market as part of its mission to bring cold-brew bottled coffee to Thailand. While traditional iced coffees are made by adding ice to pre-boiled coffee, the company’s cold brew variant sees the coffee brewed at room temperature or below over a 12-14 hour period. Clearly evangelical about his company’s product, Chief Executive Jack Kang said: “Our cold-brew coffee contains a comparatively low level of caffeine and is UV sterilised to ensure all food-safety standards are met. It’s something quite new here, but – as it’s both healthy and delicious – we are confident that it will be quirky accepted.”
offee & Tea Culture 2017 was held from 5-8 September 2017 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center. ————————– Author: Geoff de Freitas, Special Correspondent, Bangkok Content provided by Picture: HKTDC Research

The International Day against the use of Child Soldiers

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The International Day against the use of Child Soldiers

Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mrs Fatou Bensouda, on the International Day against the use of Child Soldiers.

“On the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, we are once again reminded that, sadly, millions of children around the world continue to suffer in war and conflict. Large numbers of children are killed, maimed, orphaned or subjected to unspeakable abuses. Often, the entire fabric of their societies – their homes, schools, healthcare systems or religious institutions – is disrupted with serious consequences for their future.

A childhood that is free from violence is not a privilege; it is the natural state of things. It is a right that must be protected.

Empathy alone with the suffering of boys and girls in times of conflict is not enough. We must act.

The law can be a cornerstone of protection, responsive to the plight faced by children in war. Both domestically and at the international level, the vector of the law must be effectively employed to confront the cycle of impunity for crimes against and affecting children, including in time of conflict.

My Office at the International Criminal Court will continue to play its part to hold accountable those who commit atrocities against children, including their recruitment and use in hostilities. Our prosecution of the case against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo from the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in a final conviction, is just one such contribution. Our commitment to children through the Rome Statute legal framework is also exhibited in our ongoing work in other cases currently before the Court.

We have elevated the investigation and prosecution of atrocity crimes against and affecting children to one of the key strategic goals of the Office of the Prosecutor. My Office has also adopted a comprehensive Policy on Children to give practical guidance and clarity on how to address these crimes.

It is my hope that such efforts send a clear message: crimes against children in conflict, including forcing them to bear arms, to kill and get killed, are unacceptable. They are grave crimes, for which there must be accountability.

As we mark this day, let us reiterate our resolve to protect children in armed conflict. At the local, regional and international levels, we must coordinate our efforts to maximise impact.

A crime against a child is an offence against all of humanity; it is an affront to our basic tenets of human decency. Only with collective and unified action can we truly make a difference.

My Office stands ready to work with all relevant actors to confront the challenge of the suffering of children during war and conflict. Our children are our future. If we fail them, we have failed humanity itself. “

Israeli Ambassador Jeremy Isacharoff in Hamburg 

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Israeli Ambassador Jeremy Isacharoff in Hamburg 
In the picture the First Mayor of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Mr. Olaf Scholz,  welcomed the Ambassador of the State of Israel, H.E. Mr. Jeremy Issacharoff. Wednesday, 17 January 2017: It is customary that ambassadors to Germany with normal residency in Berlin pay courtesy visits to the heads of state and government of the Bundesländer to intensify the economic and cultural ties among the various German states. In the latter capacity, the First Mayor of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Mr. Olaf Scholz (Social Democrat) welcomed the Ambassador of the State of Israel, H.E. Mr. Jeremy Issacharoff, in office since the end of August 2017. Ambassador Issacharoff was welcomed at the emblematic Hamburg City Hall for talks on the business ties between the city-state and Israel. Previous to their meeting, both gentlemen encountered Hamburger pupils due to embark on a school trip to Israel.

Fatou Bensouda, Preliminary Examinations in the Philippines and in Venezuela

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Fatou Bensouda, Preliminary Examinations in the Philippines and in Venezuela

Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mrs Fatou Bensouda, on opening Preliminary Examinations into the situations in the Philippines and in Venezuela

Since 2016, I have closely followed the situations in the Republic of the Philippines (“the Philippines”) and in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (“Venezuela”). Both countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute.

Following a careful, independent and impartial review of a number of communications and reports documenting alleged crimes potentially falling within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”), I have decided to open a preliminary examination into each situation.

The preliminary examination of the situation in the Philippines will analyse crimes allegedly committed in this State Party since at least 1 July 2016, in the context of the “war on drugs” campaign launched by the Government of the Philippines. Specifically, it has been alleged that since 1 July 2016, thousands of persons have been killed for reasons related to their alleged involvement in illegal drug use or dealing. While some of such killings have reportedly occurred in the context of clashes between or within gangs, it is alleged that many of the reported incidents involved extra-judicial killings in the course of police anti-drug operations.

 

The preliminary examination of the situation in Venezuela will analyse crimes allegedly committed in this State Party since at least April 2017, in the context of demonstrations and related political unrest. In particular, it has been alleged that State security forces frequently used excessive force to disperse and put down demonstrations, and arrested and detained thousands of actual or perceived members of the opposition, a number of whom would have been allegedly subjected to serious abuse and ill-treatment in detention. It has also been reported that some groups of protestors resorted to violent means, resulting in some members of security forces being injured or killed.

Under the Rome Statute, national jurisdictions have the primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute those responsible for international crimes. I emphasise that a preliminary examination is not an investigation but a process of examining the information available in order to reach a fully informed determination on whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation pursuant to the criteria established by the Rome Statute. Specifically, under article 53(1) of the Rome Statute, I, as Prosecutor, must consider issues of jurisdiction, admissibility and the interests of justice in making this determination.

In conformity with the complementarity principle, which is a cornerstone of the Rome Statute legal system, and within the framework of each preliminary examination, my Office will be engaging with the national authorities concerned with a view to discussing and assessing any relevant investigation and prosecution at the national level.

In the independent and impartial exercise of its mandate, my Office will also give consideration to all submissions and views conveyed to it during the course of each preliminary examination, strictly guided by the requirements of the Rome Statute.

There are no statutory timelines on the length of a preliminary examination. Depending on the facts and circumstances of each situation, I will decide whether to initiate an investigation, subject to judicial review as appropriate; continue to collect information to establish a sufficient factual and legal basis to render a determination; or decline to initiate an investigation if there is no reasonable basis to proceed.

I reiterate that my Office undertakes this work with full independence and impartiality in accordance with its mandate and the applicable legal instruments of the Court. As we do, we hope to count on the full engagement of the relevant national authorities in the Philippines and Venezuela.

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The ICC would have jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes if committed on the respective territories of the Philippines and Venezuela or by their respective nationals since the date when the Statute entered into force in each State, namely since 1 November 2011 in the case of Philippines, and since 1 July 2002, in Venezuela.

—————————– Fatou Bensouda. Photography by ​Photoline.

Pakistan Meet and Greet 2018, Emerging Pakistan

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Pakistan Meet and Greet 2018, Emerging Pakistan

His Excellency Mr.  Shujjat Ali Rathore, Ambassador of Pakistan in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

By Roy Lie Atjam.

Pakistan Ambassador H.E. Shujjat Ali Rathore, along with Diplomat Magazine and Diplomatic Card, organized a superb Meet and Greet on Friday, 2 February at Hotel Carlton Ambassador, in The Hague.

It was an excellent opportunity for heads of missions, the business and governmental community to meet with the new Ambassador and his spouse.

For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157665502202028
H.E. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Abohaimed, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Shujjat Ali Rathore, and Uzma, Mr. Zahid Ali Abbasi, Commercial Counselor of Pakistan. Also in the picture Mr. Kevin Eric, from the Commercial Section of the Pakistani Embassy.

Among the attendees was a high number of diplomats and ambassadors of all the continents, to mention a few: The Nuncio, Ecuador, Mexico, Morocco, Cameroon, Bangladesh, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, USA, Australia, Armenia, Cuba, Kosovo, Algeria, Argentina and many others.

H.E. Mr. Philippe Couvreur, Registrar of the International Court of Justice and Jhr Mr. Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland, Judge in the Court of Appeal.

Ambassador Shujjat Ali Rathore’s welcome speech “Emerging Pakistan” was followed by an authentic Pakistan dinner composed of chicken tikka, palak gos, chicken biryani, chana and zarda.

Welcoming the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Magzhan Ilyassov,

By all means, there was a very joyous atmosphere, the video screened was fantastic and there was ample opportunity to renew old contacts and to make new acquaintances. Everyone had a good time.

Ms. Ángela Peña , the Minister Counselor of Argentina Mr. Pablo Piñeiro Aramburo, Mr. Jorge Antonio Delgado Sumano, Second Secretary, Embassy of Mexico and Ms. Pilar Vita Iglesia, from Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

A resume of Ambassador Shujjat Ali Rathore welcome address follows.

I am grateful to all of you for gracing this occasion with your presence.

I am especially thankful to my Commercial Wing, Diplomat Magazine and other stakeholders who participated in arranging this graceful event.

Ambassador Rathore and Ehsan Turabaz, Honorary Consul of Afghanistan.
Welcoming Ms Binta Mansaray, Registrar of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone. With Ambassador Rathore his spouse Uzma Rathore and Roy Lie A Tjam from Diplomat Magazine.

Excellencies and Friends!

Pakistan is blessed with diverse geographic strengths including 14 of the world’s highest peaks, one of the largest deserts, vast fertile plains, largest man-made irrigation system in the world, good quality infrastructure including deep-sea ports, motorways, robust housing sector; in industry and agriculture, it produces high quality products in textiles, leather, sports goods, and one of the top producers of important crops like wheat, cotton, rice sugarcane, exotic fruits like mangoes, citrus and much more. Its arts and culture is historically rich. Pakistan takes pride in leading the world in certain sports fields. Its people are creative, hardworking and one of the most philanthropic nations in the world.

The Chief of Mission of the Palestinian Delegation, Ms. Rawan Sulaiman together with Anton Lutter.
Pakistan has made significant economic progress in the recent past and it has become one of the emerging markets in Asia.
Pakistan is trying successfully to turn its economy into a dynamic, vibrant, and integrated emerging market that is able to create sustainable jobs and prosperity for all.
H.E. Mr. Brett Mason, Ambassador of Australia with Ambassador Rathore and Uzma.

Dear Friends,

Today we have made special arrangements to make you taste Pakistan rice and food.

We are the 4th largest producer of rice in the world. It is one of our major exports. We grow different varieties of rice but as you know, the most popular rice variety from Pakistan is its aromatic Super Basmati Rice. I can add many adjectives here, but I would rather want you to taste our rice and find out yourself.

Ambassador Shujjat Ali Rathore and Mr. Zahid Ali Abbasi, Commercial Counselor of Pakistan.
 
H.E. Abdelouahab Bellouki, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco and H.E. Ms. Dziunik Aghajanian, Ambassador of Armenia.

Excellencies and Friends,

Pakistan has numerous attractive investment opportunities in the power, oil& gas, IT, infrastructure, consumer goods, Financial services and capital market sectors.

Many Dutch companies including Shell, Veon, Akzo Nobel, Nutricia and recently Friesland Campina have made considerable investments in Pakistan. This reflects the confidence of the Dutch investors in Pakistan’s economy. We urge all of you to explore the opportunities of doing business with the emerging Pakistan.

Our doors at the Embassy are always open to facilitate your contacts.

 Thank you once again for gracing this event and lets enjoy the delicious Pakistan’s food.

Swiss Balzaretti could revive EU-Swiss accession talks

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Swiss Balzaretti could revive EU-Swiss accession talks

Ambassador Roberto Balzaretti – Picture by The European Union.

By Henri Estramant.

The Helvetian Federal Council has appointed Ambassador Dr Roberto Balzaretti as the new director of Switzerland’s Directorate for European Affairs (DEA).

With a PhD in constitutional law, and fluent in English, German, French and Italian; Balzaretti worked for years in the Directorate of International Law and acted as a legal adviser of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. He also previously served as Swiss Permanent Delegate to the EU. Now he holds the title of State Secretary in his new role.

A quarter of a century after first serving in Brussels, Balzaretti returns at a time when his task is far more complicated; to put Switzerland’s accession to the EU back on the table, and eventually find an agreement that could end with a referendum on Switzerland’s relationship with the bloc.

In light of the UK’s decision to leave the bloc, the EU has toughened its stance toward Switzerland and is less likely to give to the country the special treatment that Bern longs for without accession to the 28 members strong bloc.

The EU and Switzerland have been in talks for years about streamlining relations via a so-called institutional framework agreement.

Relations between the two entities are governed by a set of treaties, but the relationship is in crisis after the EU decided to grant the Swiss stock market equivalence for only one year in a move aimed at putting pressure on Bern to clinch an overall deal on its relations with the bloc.

For further information:

Swiss Directorate of European Affairs – State Secretary, Ambassador Roberto Balzaretti: https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/fdfa/organisation-fdfa/directorates-divisions/dea.html

Pakistani supper for NATO Deputy SG Gottemoeller

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Pakistani supper for NATO Deputy SG Gottemoeller
Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi, NATO’s Rose Goettemoeller, General Zubair Hayat – Picture by Mission of Pakistan to NATO, the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg. Tuesday, 16 January 2018: H.E. Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi, Head of Mission of Pakistan to NATO, the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg, hosted a dinner at Pakistan’s residence in Brussels-Tervueren for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) of the Pakistan Army, General Zubair Mahmood Hayat during his visit to Brussels. In attendance was NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ms. Rose Gottemoeller as well as other senior officials from NATO. For further information: 

Handover of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2018

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Handover of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2018

By Roy Lie Atjam.

In an official ceremony, the ASEAN committee The Hague(ACTH) has handed over the chairmanship for 2018 to H.E. Mr. Jaya Ratnam, Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore.

To mark the occasion, the Ambassador of Indonesia H.E. I Gusti Wesaka Puja hosted a dinner reception to celebrate the handover of the ASEAN chairmanship. The celebration took place at the Nusantara Hall, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia on 16 January 2018.

H.E. I Gusti Wesaka Puja, expressed his gratitude for the cooperation, solidarity, and support within the ACTH. He went on to welcome the guests. Several none ASEAN Ambassadors attended the ceremony.

Furthermore, there were presentations by the Ambassador of the Philippines Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda and by the Ambassador Jaya Ratman of Singapore. In part, this is what Ambassador Ratnam said.

“I would like to thank Pak Puja and the Indonesian Embassy in the Hague for inviting us and hosting this reception. I wish to also thank Ambassador Jamie Victor Ledda for his presentation on ASEAN’s accomplishments under the Philippine Chairmanship.

Last year was a milestone for ASEAN as we celebrated our 50th anniversary. We have come a long way from when we were founded as a 5-member bloc in 1967. We have since matured into a Community focused on regional peace, economic integration and constructive engagement with our external partners.

The Philippines’ able leadership as ASEAN Chair in 2017 helped to enhance cooperation between ASEAN Member States and solidify ASEAN’s collective voice on the world stage. As the Chair of ASEAN in 2018, Singapore looks forward to building upon the good work done by the Philippines as well as previous Chairs.

ASEAN is a region brimming with potential. More than 60% of ASEAN’s estimated population of 630 million are under the age of 35. The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Free Trade Area also offers great opportunities for our businesses to expand and creates more choices for our consumers.

As ASEAN Chair, Singapore will push to strengthen and deepen ASEAN integration to take advantage of this immense potential, through the themes of ‘resilience’ and ‘innovation’ Building ASEAN’s resilience will help develop a safer and more secure region.

We will champion projects that help us deal with emerging collective security challenges such cybersecurity, transnational crime, and terrorism. This will ensure stability and peace which are cornerstones for the progress and prosperity of the region.

As ASEAN Chair, Singapore will also focus on developing our relations with external partners, including the EU, particularly as we take over the coordinator/ship of ASEAN-EU dialogue relations in mid-2018.

The EU is an important partner; it is the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment in ASEAN with a total of 20.1 billion euros in 2015. It was also the ASEAN’s second largest trading partner in 2015. Nevertheless, there is potential for growth.

More can be done to facilitate trade and business. Out of 300 European companies surveyed in the EU-ASEAN Business Survey 2017, 75% expected an increase of profits for 2017 in ASEAN and 94% are planning to expand or maintain their current levels of operations and headcount in the region.

There is also great potential to grow relations between ASEAN and individuals EU Member States such as the Netherlands. ASEAN can learn much from the Netherlands in specialized areas such as water and waste management, climate change, trade and urban development. As ASEAN Chair and incoming ASEAN-EU country coordinator, we are excited to take advantage of the multitude of available opportunities to deepen cooperation in existing fields and to find new areas to collaborate.

We look forward to working with all our partners to ensure a successful year for ASEAN.

A Reception to mark India’s Republic Day 2018

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A Reception to mark India’s Republic Day 2018

By Roy Lie Atjam.

A reception to mark India’s Republic Day was hosted by H.E. Venu Rajamoni at the historic Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam on January 26, 2018. The Republic Day celebrations started on the morning of 26 January at the residence of Ambassador Venu Rajamoni with a flag hoisting ceremony, speeches and songs.

Republic Day or National Day is the day the people of India gave themselves the Constitution of India on January 26, 1950. In India Republic Day is celebrated with a dazzling parade at Rajpath in the capital New Delhi,i in the presence of foreign dignitaries. This year around the leaders of 10 ASEAN countries are the Chief Guests in the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.

At the celebrations in Amsterdam, guest of honour was Ms Kajsa Ollongren, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior. Also Mr Jan van Zanen, Mayor of Utrecht, Ms Edith Schippers, Former Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports. As well as Ambassadors of various countries. The many guests were invited to attend the ongoing Exhibition ‘We have a Dream, Gandhi, King, Mandela’

A dance performance Ode to Mother India by Ms Kalpana Raghuraman, Anuradha Pancham and Indu Panday, was part of the magnificent program.

The guest of honour Minister Kajsa Ollongren, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, congratulated India and stressed to excellent friendly relationship between the Netherlands and India. Here is an extract of her speech:

Last year, we celebrated 70 years of bilateral relations. A significant milestone. And we’re delighted that our friendship with the Indian people and the Indian government has grown stronger. We share many of the same values, especially when it comes to rule of law, free democratic elections, peace and security. And we’re committed to the same national and international goals.

So I’m convinced that Dutch-Indian relations will soar to even greater heights in the future. Our countries also face similar challenges, relating to security, climate change, economic growth and sustainable development. And the only way of overcoming them is by working together. By sharing knowledge and experience.

In his welcome address H.E. Venu Rajamoni, Ambassador of India, made the following remarks:

Goedenavond dames en heren, excellenties; hartelijk welkom bij de viering; van de Dag van de Republiek

Permit me to extend a warm welcome to this reception in honour of India’s 69th Republic Day. I am grateful to all of you for having gathered here and I specially thank our Guest of Honour Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and the Hon’ble Mayor of Utrecht for their presence. Please give them a big round of applause.

The Indian Embassy is thankful to the National Foundation de Nieuwe Kerk for having provided this prestigious venue where the coronation of King Willem-Alexander as well as his marriage with Queen Maxima took place.

It is particularly appropriate that the celebration of India’s 69th Republic Day takes place amidst this wonderful exhibition “We have a dream – Gandhi, King and Mandela.” The Republic Day marks that day in 1950 when the people of India adopted, enacted and gave to ourselves the Constitution of India. And, the Indian Constitution fully enshrines the ideals that Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela stood for, struggled for and for whose achievement they dedicated their lives.

The Preamble to the Indian Constitution says ‘We’ the people of India have solemnly resolved to secure to all its citizens: Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and of opportunity; and to promote amongst them all Fraternity, assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.

India is today the third largest economy in the world in purchasing power parity terms with GDP of US$ 7.2 trillion. It is the fifth largest in nominal terms with a GDP of US$ 2.7 trillion. India is also a young nation with over 60% of our population under the age of 35.

Since 2014, India has seen a strong and stable government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiate a number of radical measures to reform the economy, accelerate growth and empower women and children. The Government has adopted a Goods and Services Tax which has unified our 1.3 billion people into one market for the first time. Improving the ease of doing business is one of the top priorities of the Government.

Last year, Tata Steel, the largest Indian company in the Netherlands, announced its merger with Germany’s Thyssen Group. The Headquarters of the merged company will remain the Netherlands. TCS, India’s biggest IT firm completed 25 years of operations in the Netherlands. One of our major producers and exporters of Basmati rice, LT Foods opened an ultra modern rice milling plant in Rotterdam. Similarly, Synthite, the world’s largest supplier of spice oils and oleoresins opened operations in the Food Valley, Wageningen.

Friends, 2018 promises to be an equally good year for India – Netherlands relations. Prime Minister Modi met Queen Maxima on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos early this week. Discussions are underway to prepare for visits to India by Prime Minister Mark Rutte and by Queen Maxima in her capacity as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate on Financial Inclusion.

Further, we hope to celebrate for the first time the International Yoga Day on the Museumplein of Amsterdam with mass yoga demonstrations and a wellness fair involving food, music and dance on June 17. I thank the City of Amsterdam for supporting this initiative and invite all of you to join us in making this event a huge success.

My focus on the positive does not mean I ignore the troubles that confront the world. We live in difficult times. Political, social, economic and environmental challenges confront all parts of the globe. Terrorism has left none of us untouched. The theme of the World Economic Forum this year is “Creating a shared future in a fractured world.”

In an address to the diplomatic community last week, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander called for united action by the international community to make the world a safer and better place in 2018. I conclude echoing his words and quoting few lines from India’s national poet, Rabindranath Tagore, whose poetry won him a Nobel Prize in 1913, making him the first Asian to win the prize.

I quote “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragments By narrow domestic walls. End quote.

The poet wrote these lines as a prayer for India. Today, it is a prayer for the whole world. Let us work together to ensure that the world awakes into a heaven of freedom. As the ancients of India have taught – Loka samasta sukhino bhavantu – May the whole world enjoy peace and happiness. Thank you.

The spectacular evening concluded with a  Dinner and viewing of the Exhibition ‘We have a Dream, Gandhi, King, Mandela’

Indeed, Incredible India!

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