ASEAN Shared – the EU twin from Asia: New memories, old wounds

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By Rattana Lao- Bangkok.

Imagining peace is a noble concept but what does it take to achieve it?

Where does peace begin?

In modern-day Southeast Asia, this can trace back to the 8th of August, 1967 where five foreign ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand joined hands to create the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or what became known as ASEAN.

Diverse in nature and disperse in geography, ASEAN has achieved much within the course of fifty years. The Association has grown in size of its membership and expanded to reach ambitious mandates. In 2015, ASEAN Economic Community was created to promote free movement ofĀ people, goods, and ideas.

Economic integration was just the beginning.

Coated with a long and wordy text and signed on 17th November 2011, the Declaration on ASEAN Unity in Cultural Diversity strived toward achieving ā€œpeople-centered and socially responsible integrationā€ a socio-cultural integration in short.

Inspired by the European Union, creating one market was not enough for ASEAN. The Association is driven to ā€œforging a common identityā€. It is hoped that through such effort, peace, mutual understanding, and harmony will be fostered in Southeast Asia.

A common identity for more than 600 million people? A little lofty. Perhaps.

To achieve this aspiration, the Shared History Project in Southeast Asia was launched by UNESCO-Bangkok Office with funding from the Republic of Korea in 2013 to create a new history curricular to be taught and learned across ASEAN by 2018.

The project brought together historians, educators and researchers across the region to search for common grounds of what aspect of history to teach and how to teach it.

It is all for a higher purpose and a better future.

As the late Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, persuasively said: ā€œit is a better history education that will produce and provide a strong foundation for understanding where we have come from and to guide us into the future where we are going, as individuals, as local communities, as nation-states, as a greater sub-regional groupingā€.

Ideally speaking, a Shared History should be welcomed with an open arm. A project so inspiring that it aims to mitigate nationalism and bridge differences across the nations.

In an interview with Dr. William Brehm of Waseda University, he offered insight into this new architecture to build peace in ASEAN. There are many challenges to translate a Shared ASEAN.

Firstly, who will write these new memories? How can a consensus be built amongst people with diverse cultural heritage, background, and social memories?

If history is written by the winners – who are the winners in ASEAN?

In ASEAN, disputes, and conflicts amongst nations are not memories of things past, rather they are confounding issues aggravating daily hatred across countries within the region. Border dispute amongst nations is the case in point. As professor Anis H. Bajrektarevic already warned in his luminary policy paper ā€˜No Asian center…’Ā any absolute or relative shift in the economic and demographic strength of one subject of international relations will inevitably put additional stress on the existing power equilibriums and constellations that support this balance in the particular theater of implicit or explicit structure.ā€ Therefore, funded by the Thailand Research Fund,

Ā Akkaraphong Khamkhun of Thammasat University counted as many as 20 ongoing territorial disputes in ASEAN. These conflicts are between Malaysia and Brunei, Laos and Cambodia, Indonesia and the Phillippines.

This is not to mention the infamous Preah Vihear dispute that cuts deep wounds between Thailand and Cambodia.

While the wounds are still fresh, how would these stories be told? Whose stories, precisely?

Secondly, how can a Shared ASEAN formed when countries are deeply founded with nationalistic sentiment, where overt nationalism is propagated in and outside of classrooms, where the sense of hatred to ā€œthe otherā€ is instilled for students.

The villain of one country is the hero of the other. Myanmar – Thai historical textbooks are the prime examples on this. Thai kings are always the heroes for Thailand, while Myanmar kings are presented often and always as the villains.

Vice versa.

This is what a well-known Thai historian Thongchai Winichakul called ā€œnegative identification.ā€

For centuries, each country in ASEAN, is guilty of inflicting negative identification for others to elevate a sense of pride for themselves. It is easier to teach who is ā€œusā€ when you know who is ā€œthemā€.

ASEAN is not alone in striving to form a new memory of themselves. In the case of Africa, Dr. Brehm argued that the Shared History project took as long as 35 years to be successful.

ā€œDated back to UNESCO’s 1964 General History of Africa project. That project created a set of eight volumes articulating a shared history of Africa. Huge disagreements among the various national historians prolonged the project; it took 35 years before all eight volumes were published.ā€ Ā 

If a country is an imagined community, said Bennedict Anderson in his polemic book the Imagined Community, by schools, common language and mass media, is it possible, Dr. Brehm asked, for the UNESCO and ASEAN enthusiastic idealists to dream of a new common identity for 600 million people who speak more than hundreds of languages and dialects?

Is it possible that a common understanding can be reached and harmony can be fostered through a new kind of textbook, new knowledge, and new understanding to promote something as elusive as a regional identity?

Dr. Brehm is a little skeptical: ā€œSo long as education is organized by nation-states, history and historical memory will always promote nationalism and national identity. Everything else will be secondary or retrofitted for the main purpose.ā€

Difficult but does that mean impossible?

Surely a Shared textbook is useful and much-needed intervention to cement a mutual understanding amongst ASEAN students. For political, historical and educational reasons,Ā however, this project requires careful consideration, time and resources to ensure that a new generation of ASEAN will be peace-loving rather than nationalistic hawkish. Having a multilateral organization like UNESCO to promote history lesson offers a humble step toward regional peace.

Where does peace begin?

It begins with mutual understanding.Ā More importantly, it has to begin now.

———-   Photograph by Rattana Lao.

Tunisia: creating new perspectives.

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By H.E. Mr. Elyes Ghariani, Ambassador of Tunisia to the Kingdom of theĀ  Netherlands.

Since 2011, Tunisia is going through a radically transformative moment of its History. The Jasmine revolution has resulted in huge changes and led to the irreversible move towards the implementation of a fully-fledged secular democratic system in the country.

Over the last years, Tunisia has faced a multitude of political challenges and disparities but hopefully, succeeded in overcoming these difficulties thanks to the positive commitment of all the constituency of the Tunisian Society in engaging in franc talks and dialogue and finding compromise and common ground agreement for the best interest of our nation.

Pursuant to this process of dialogue and compromise, we succeeded, in January 2014, in adopting a new constitution followed by both legislative and presidential elections.

Nevertheless, and beyond the achievements reached in the fields of democracy, Human Rights and freedom of expression, Tunisia is nowadays facing greater challenges in terms of economic growth and social development: a challenge that all constituents of the Tunisian society are willing to meet to make of Tunisia a real success story.

Subsequently and in order to allow our economy to recover its vigor and accelerate the pace of reforms, the successive Governments achieved commendable progress on this path with the adoption of new bills for restructuring the banking system, for encouraging transparent and competitive functioning of market practices, for the impulse of investments and for setting a transparent, reliable and modern tax and customs structure.Ā 

Moreover, more bills related to the economic activity are currently under consideration by the Assembly of the Representatives of the People.

Further to the advantages afforded by the investment code and the subsequent decisions in favor of national and international investors, Prime Minister Youssef Chahed announced on Wednesday, January 17th, 2018, the launch of a government program to better the investment climate in Tunisia. The program is based on two main pillars: The revision of the system of authorizations required (from the beginning of February 2018, a definitive list of authorizations required for the creation of a project will be ready) and of administrative procedures capable of reducing bureaucracy.

These measures will also affect logistics and more specifically all the commercial ports. Further, it will allow better handling and customs clearance times by simplifying several procedures which recall and bolsters the objective of the National Export Council which consists in doubling the Tunisian exports by 2020.

It is worth reminding in this respect the solid baselines and comparative advantages that are worth taking into consideration when intending to invest and work with Tunisia. In fact, Tunisia enjoys a unique geostrategic position making it a natural gateway to Europe, the MENA region,Ā and sub-Saharan African countries. Tunisia is also dotted with numerous factors of success which characterize its hopeful future and make room for optimism, especially its relatively sound economic foundation, its ethnic and cultural harmony and unity in addition to the level of the national elite and the abundance of skilled human resources.

Undeniably, being among the most competitive economies in Africa and the Arab world, the Tunisian economy offers businesses an environment of high quality. The education level of the active population, the sound macroeconomic management and the quality of public institutions are particularly favorable to business competitiveness.

To state a few, Tunisia is ranked 1stĀ in North Africa in terms of:

  • Talent CompetitivenessĀ “Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2017, INSEAD”
  • Entrepreneurship EcosystemĀ | “Global Entrepreneurship Index 2017, GEDI”
  • The “Bloomberg Innovation Index 2018 ā€˜ā€™ names also Tunisia as the most innovative country in Africa.
  • Besides, Tunisia is worldly competitive in some specific sectors. In fact, Tunisia ranks:
  • 1stĀ worldwide exporter ofĀ dates
  • 2ndĀ African producer ofĀ car components
  • 2ndĀ exporter ofĀ organic produceĀ in Africa
  • 3rdĀ worldwide producer ofĀ olive oilĀ for the 2015-2016 harvest season

Since 2011, we have opened on new horizons and we are proceeding with strong resolve and steadfastness on this irreversible path relying in the first place on ourĀ own capacities and fully committed to achieve the process that we subscribed to, with the support of the international community.

This support was indeed witnessed during the International Conference on Investment, Tunisia 2020, organized in Tunis in November 2016, when 40 official delegations and 1500 economic partners from 70 countries attended to show support to Tunisia.

As a follow-up to the Tunisia 2020, the ā€œTunisia Investment Forum 2017ā€ gathered, in November 09th 2017, about 1,500 international investors, entrepreneurs and project promoters in order to stress out the fact that Tunisia is and will remain an attractive economic destination with high competitiveness capabilities.

Still, The Netherlands and our allies and neighbors of the European Union are called upon to play a major role in gathering support, a role they have always fulfilled with a strong will, and which we hope will pick up momentum and play out in the indicated direction.

We are confident that, in light of the political support shown repeatedly by Dutch high officials to my country, the business community in this vibrant and dynamic economy would have their say in further strengthening the partnership and cooperation ties existing between the two countries on the basis of a win-win principle.

Safe drinking water for all Europeans

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Brussels, February 1, 2018

The revised EU legislation proposed today by the European Commission will improve the quality and accessibility of drinking water and the public with better information. The right of access to essential quality services, including water, is one of the principles of theĀ European pillar of social rightsĀ endorsed by Heads of State and Government unanimously during the Gothenburg Summit. The legislative proposal adopted today is designed to ensure that law is a response to the European citizens, “Right2Water“, where 1.6 million signatures collected to support improved access to safe drinking water for all Europeans. Moreover, this proposal seeks to strengthen the position of consumers by requiring water companies to provide consumers with clearer information about water consumption, the cost structure and the price per liter in order to allow comparison with the prices of bottled water. This will help to achieve two environmental goals, namely reducing unnecessary use of plastic and reduce the EU’s carbon footprint and to achieving the goals of sustainable development. European Commission’s First Vice-President FransĀ TimmermansĀ said:Ā “The citizens have their voices heard through the European Citizens’ Initiative, which calls for action for guaranteed access to safe drinking water. Therefore, today we propose to modernize EU legislation, improve the drinking water quality and to facilitate access for citizens where it is most effective.” Vice President JyrkiĀ Katainen,Ā responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, added to this:Ā “With this proposal, we facilitate the transition to a circular economy, and we help the countries to manage water efficiently, this implies a reduction of energy and water wastage. With improved transparency will strengthen the position of consumers and are more likely to make more sustainable choices, for example, to use tap water.” Most people in the EU have a very good access to high-quality drinking water. The Commission wants to ensure that in the long-term quality is maintained because new and emerging substances are added to the list of criteria for determining flood (such as Legionella and chlorate). These additions are based on the latest scientific findings and the recommendations of the World Health Organization. Under the new rules, Member States shouldĀ improve access for all people, especially vulnerable and marginalized groupsĀ facing difficult access to drinking water. In practice this means the establishment of drinking water in public spaces, organizing campaigns to inform the public about the quality of their water and to encourage governments and public buildings to provide access to drinking water. Lower consumption of bottled water also contributes to theĀ households in Europe save more than EUR 600 million per year.Ā When the citizens have greater confidence in tap water, it can also contribute to the reduction of waste from plastic water bottles, and so on marine litter. Plastic bottles are among the most common plastic disposable articles on European beaches.Ā   

2017, a special year for India – Netherlands relations

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By H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamony, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamony, Ambassador of India.

The year 2017 marked 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and the Netherlands. The Netherlands was one of the first countries to recognize independent India in 1947. Since then the Netherlands has been a fellow traveler encouraging us along the path of development.

2017 was a special year for India – Netherlands relations also because Foreign Minister Bert Koenders visited India in May and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Netherlands in June 2017. Investments from the Netherlands into India went up around US$ 2 billion in just six months of last year. Investments since 2015 has been US$ 8 billion.

The Netherlands is the fourth largest investor in India. At the same time, our economic relations are a two-way street. Just as around 200 Dutch companies operate in India, Netherlands is also home to around 200 Indian companies. There is steady increase in the number of Indian business and citizens relocating to this country even as Dutch business and industry show greater interest in India.

Last year, Tata Steel, the largest Indian company in the Netherlands, announced its merger with Germany’s Thyssen Group. The Headquarters ofĀ the merged company will remain in 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.

India has shown the world that democracy and rapid economic growth can go hand in hand. According to the World Bank and the IMF, India is the fastest growing large economy in the world, growing at a rate of 7.4 to 7.8% this year and expected to continue to grow at this rate for the rest of this decade. Despite its size, scale and diversity, India has attained an average of 6.6% growth for nearly three decades under a democratic system, with full protection for human rights. India is today the third largest economy in the world in purchasing power parity terms with GDP of US$ 7.2 trillion.

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 hasĀ 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.

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 on January 23, 2018.

Ambassador Rajamony and the Minister of the Interior and the Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands Ms Kajsa Ollongren.

On January 26 2018, the Embassy of India successfully hosted India’s 69th Republic Day celebrations at De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam amidst a wonderful exhibition ā€œWe have a dream – Gandhi, King and Mandela.ā€ It was the first time India’s Republic Day reception was being held in Amsterdam. The historic venue of De Nieuwe Kerk, on the Dam Square where Dutch Royal investiture ceremonies and the Royal weddings are held was specially chosen for the purpose. Guests had the opportunity to view first hand a bicycle and Charkha (spinning wheel) used by Mahatma Gandhi, handwritten corrections of a speech by Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela’s Robben Island Bible which were on display as part of the exhibition. We were also honoured to have as guests of honour at the reception Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior and the Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands Ms Kajsa Ollongren, Mayor Jan van Zanen of Utrecht and former Ministers Bert Koenders and Edith Schippers.

India’s Republic Day marks that day in 1950 when the people of IndiaĀ 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. Through strenuous efforts over the last seven decades, India has firmly established within our country, the Rule of Law, a Parliament that reflects the enormous diversity and variety of opinion in our country, a fiercely independent judiciary, a free press and a vibrant civil society.

As India grows and integrates more and more with the world, we see the people of Netherlands as our close friends and partners.

————

Join International Yoga Day celebrations at Museumplein, Amsterdam on June 17, 2018

The International Yoga Day will be celebrated on the Museumplein of Amsterdam from 12 noon on June 17 with a mass yoga demonstration and a wellness fair involving food, music and dance. I invite the Diplomat magazine and all its readers, especially my friends and colleagues from the diplomatic community to join with their families and make the event a big success.

The United Arab Emirates modernizes its intelligence services

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By Corneliu Pivariu The developments in the Middle East at the beginning of the third millenium and especially after the so-called Arab spring brought to the attention of the countries of the Middle East and predominantly the Gulf ones the necessity of modernizing the intelligence services for meeting the current conditions of political, economic, social and technological developments. The civil war in Syria and the involvement of a large spectrum of interests in this country underlined once more the necessity of improving the intelligence services of the Middle East and of the Gulf area countries that wanted to play a more significant role in this conflict. The specificity of the area determined the great powers outside the region to turn to the Arab allies there in order to expand the cooperation with the counterpart intelligence services for accomplishing certain missions the latter have right from the outset a better approach (from commanding the language, familiarity with the customs, coping with local conditions, connections,…). Moreover, the Arab leaders understood better that information is a power multiplier and assessed it more thoroughly, closer to its real value, without betting exclusively on the economic and financial strength the Gulf states enjoy. One of the Gulf countries which started to carry out intense actions to this purpose and turned to the services rendered by professionals who were once part of the Western intelligence services is the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Employing private contractors for training national intelligence structures is a relatively new phenomenon yet all those working in the field agree with or there are no certain reservations from both the country these experts are coming from and from the receiving country. If by the end of November 2017 the UAE media published articles stressing that the country achieved the utmost that has been done globally in the field of civil constructions and mentioned the possibility of starting the design works for building a city on Planet Mars, the situation of the intelligence services is quite different. The UAE’s intelligence component has two well divided parts. One of them, which may be called the traditional side, works within the police and the army, with components able to collect information in the fields of security, criminality and drug trafficking in each of the emirates. Besides the two parts, the two main Emirates, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have each its own structures for investigating, arresting and prosecuting the suspects. A particular mention should be made of the Abu Dhabi police that benefits of state-of-the-art equipment and technologies and cooperates with numerous specialized national and international organizations. In December 2013, the National College of Defense was set up under the command of Major General Rashad Al Sa’ad. John R. Ballard, a former officer of the US Marines Corps, was appointed dean of the College. The second component of the UAE intelligence services, of strategic intelligence, the IT and other electronic fields included operates undercover. By the end of February, 2017, the UAE signed a contract worth 189 million dollar with Haris Corporation for a management system of the operational capabilities of the UAE’s Armed Forces. At about 60 km from Abu Dhabi confines, close to Port Zayed, a modern compound for training intelligence officers, where training starts from basic notions, surveillance techniques to special operations, according to CIA model has been built. The central figure seems to be the former American intelligence officer Larry Sanchez – an intimate of the ruling family of the UAE and chairman of the intelligence consultancy CAGN Global Ltd having its headquarters in Baltimore. Other private companies are ALUAALLC – headed by a former intelligence officer of the Royal Air Force and DarkMatter that works for the UAE government on intelligence Cyber security. In 2010, Eric Prince – known mainly as owner of the famous Blackwater, set up in Abu Dhaby Reflex Response (R2) company with 51% Emirati participation specialized in intelligence, security, counter-terrorism and revolts quelling operations. Considering today’s developments in the Gulf and in the Gulf Cooperation Council, the UAE seeks to acquire an important role in intelligence as well, and does not spare the funds for this purpose. ——— About the author:
Corneliu Pivariu-, Ingepo Consulting. Photographer Ionus Paraschiv
Corneliu Pivariu, former first deputy for military intelligence (two stars general) in the Romanian MoD, retired 2003. Member of IISS – London, alumni of Harvard – Kennedy School Executive Education and others international organizations. Founder of INGEPO Consulting, and bimonthly Bulletin, Geostrategic Pulseā€. Main areas of expertise – geopolitics, intelligence and security. ———

From the Past to the Future – Poland on 100 Anniversary of Regaining its Independence

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By H.E. Mr. Marcin Czepelak, Ambassador of Poland in The Netherlands.

There is a painting hanging on the wall in the reception lounge of the Polish Embassy in the Hague. The painting (author unknown) is dated at 1597 and shows the Binnenhof and Lange Viverberg from de Plaats in the Hague. Among others, we can see a figure of Paweł Działyński, most likely first Polish envoy to the Union of Utrecht, which will later turn into the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Poland and the Netherlands had a very good relation then. Initially, they were based on trade since Poland was a ā€œgarner of Europeā€, later deepened with a similar attitude towards governance system, shared humanistic values and cultural and social development.

It is worth mentioning that at this time Polish kings were elected by the nobles and they had to follow laws and parliamentary statutes. It was also the age of peace between different religions. At the time when Europe was torn apart by religious wars, Poland was also regarded as a safe haven for all persecuted for religious grounds (in 1573 Sejm adopted a law that guaranteed freedom of confession). Moreover, the privilege ā€œneminem captivabimus nisi iure victumā€ forbid to jail anyone without a court’s order.

All the above explains why Poland was known as a ā€œRepublic of Noblesā€ and was considered as an example state by the most brilliant minds of Europe like Erasmus of Rotterdam, who wrote that ā€œIn Polonia lex est rexā€.
“Pools gezandschap op de Plaats in Den Haag” – fot. Historisch Museum Den Haag.

Sadly, the ā€œgolden ageā€ (parallel to the famous Dutch one) did not last forever. XVII and XVIII century brought wars, chaos, economic and political collapse with the partitions carried out by our neighboring powers: Austria, Prussia,Ā and Russia reigned by the absolutistic monarchs. Shortly before Polish Sejm adopted – as the last act of political independence – the Constitution of 3 May 1791 that was the second document of that kind in the world (after the USA) and first in Europe.

It took us 123 years, three uprisings (1830-1831, 1846, 1863) and the Great War (1914-1918) to regain our independence in 1918. Still, it was a great challenge to unite a country that had been divided into three different states. Although it is hard to imagine, in Poland three civil codes were in force: German and Austrian civil codes and – last but not least – also the code civile (called in Poland ā€˜the Code of Napoleon’). As a lawyer, I particularly admire the commitment to unify the Polish legal system. But there was much more to be done. Accordingly, there were three different political system institutions, three different monetary systems, and two different railway track sizes. Yet, the II Republic was reborn as a modern state, strong socially, economically and politically.

Unfortunately, history again turned against us with the imminent II World War. On 1 September 1939 Poland was invaded by the Nazi Germany and on 17 September 1939 by the Soviet Russia. Despite the initial defeat, Polish soldiers continued their fight against Hitler’s armies on all fronts. In this context, I would like to recall the struggle of Polish soldiers during the II World War who fought for ā€œyour and our freedomā€ in the Netherlands. It is important for us to remember that the city of Breda and large parts of The Netherlands were liberated by Polish troops under the command of General Maczek.

The defeat of Nazi Germany did not mean the return of freedom to Poland since after 1945 Poland fell under the rule of Stalin’s Russia. The red terror crushed the remaining resistance and established the communist regime in Poland. Despite all odds, new generations carried on the struggle of their fathers for freedom that lead to the creation of Solidarity movement and peaceful, democratic transformation in 1989. New governments commenced political and economic reforms which reintroduced market economy and democratic principles to Poland. The end of this process was joining of Poland to NATO in 1999 and EU in 2004. We, Polish, are very proud about that.

As it was 100 years ago, we are now looking with hope into future. As it was in 1918, also nowadays we are facing numerous challenges in Europe and around the globe, of political, economic and security nature. The historical comparisons are of course not always valid. The end of First World War in 1918 brought Poland independence, sovereignty and a perspective of hope and optimism so brutally crushed twenty years later by two totalitarian regimes: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

In the XXI Century, we are far from such a gloomy scenario. The world has changed and the situation is different. Nevertheless, the challenges of an uncertain future for our societies cannot be easily resolved. The overall aim of Europe, free and at peace is still to be achieved. . and remaining threats to international peace and security have to be addressed. Yet another ā€œfrozen conflictā€ is ongoing at Poland’s eastern neighbor. ā€œBrexitā€ seems to have seriously shaken the foundations of the EU. And the discussion on how to preserve the transatlantic links between the US and Europe is getting the biggest attention since the end of the Cold War. In a nutshell, we see history in the making.

Looking back at Poland’s last 100 years I must say without a doubt that the last years have been its best. Polish ā€œRound Table talksā€ and first free elections on 4 June 1989 elections triggered the domino effect of democratic transformation in Central and Eastern Europe and fall of the Berlin Wall, that ended the Cold War. Almost three decades of political and economic developments in Poland resulted in a well-functioning state of 2018 based upon principles of democracy, free market economy, human rights and rule of law. We play an active role in shaping the future of the European Union and NATO. We take seriously the security on a global scale in the United Nations Security Council context.

Poland has proven that it is not a security consumer any longer but a contributor to peace regionally and globally. Cumulated experiences of the past along with dynamism and the potential of the Polish national spirit have finally had a unique opportunity to flourish, providing creative solutions in politics, economy, science, technology,Ā and sport.

I am honored to be a part of this process as the Polish Ambassador to the Netherlands, a post which I took up just a couple of months ago in September 2017. The Hague as such puts emphasis on elements that are very dear to the Polish hearts, be it dialogue, cooperation, free trade, international law and justice or last but not least security. These values are also my commitment for day to day work.

The Slovak Republic 25 years After

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By H.E. Roman Buzek, Ambassador of Slovakia in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

On the 1st of January 2018, it has been already 25 years since the amicable, well-negotiated and smooth dissolution of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic brought into existence two successor democratic states: the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Many doubted whether the separation of two countries was going to be successful. Many feared the separation would bring yet another bloody conflict in the heart of Europe. But these fears proved groundless as the split was truly peaceful and friendly.

Just like two siblings who grew up together under one roof and then decided to set up their own houses, two countries remain remarkably close in spite of their independent domiciles. Since 1993 Slovakia and the Czech Republic represent an unparalleled example of good neighborly relations and friendship based on the same values and principles.

Spis Castle, Slovakia.

The Slovak Republic at age of 25 is aĀ stable and prosperous country. Still young, but ambitious, it is aĀ reliable and trustworthy member of the international community who takes its share of responsibility for maintaining international peace and prosperity, be it as aĀ growing donor of international assistance or as an active participant in various peacekeeping operations. Holding its first ever Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2016, Slovakia proved its established position in the international community. Miroslav LajÄĆ”k, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, is currently presiding over the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. From July 2018, once again Slovakia will chair the Visegrad 4 Group. Furthermore, Slovakia is now preparing for its presidency of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2019.

National Theatre

Throughout the years the Kingdom of the Netherlands has been one of the partners that provided Slovakia with instrumental support and assistance in various fields of socio-economic development and in joining both the European Union and NATO 14 years ago. The current relationship between the two countries is based on the same European values and perspectives for the common future in the European Union.

The Netherlands has been and still is one of the most prominent foreign investors in Slovakia. The cooperation develops very well in all fields. The state visit of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix to Slovakia in 2007 reciprocated by the visit of President of the Slovak Republic Ivan GaÅ”parovič to the Netherlands in 2012 proved the excellent relations between the two countries as well as the potential for their further development. The two countries currentlyĀ enjoy vibrant and growing cooperation in all fields: politics, trade and business; education and research; and culture.

During its 25 years of independence, Slovakia has undergone series of challenging economic reforms to become a successful and prosperous country joining the single European currency in 2009. The automotive industry is the backbone of the country“s economy with over 1 million cars produced last year. Land Rover / Jaguar is expected to start its production in Nitra later this year joining already existing production facilities of Volkswagen in Bratislava, Peugeot/Citroen in Trnava and Kia in Žilina.

Another perspective branch with huge development potential is mountain tourism which might be particularly interesting for foreign tourists – both in summer and winter time. Slovakia located in the very heart of Europe offers lots of other recreational possibilities, including welldeveloped spa network providing relief with various illnesses; many opportunities for relaxing, enjoying the nature or historical architecture and last but not least tasting traditional Slovak cuisine and various local wine and beer production.

Young and modern, Slovakia at its age of 25 is full of confidence and visions for the years to come.

Priorities and challenges of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council

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Main priorities and challenges of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

By H.E. Ā Rumen Alexandrov, Ambassador of Bulgaria in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.Ā 

Taking over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU is both a privilege challenge and responsibility for us. Bulgaria joined the EU 11 years ago and today it has the chance to shape the EU’s policies in key areas.

For us, the Presidency is also a chance to show our partners a different side of Bulgaria:Ā 

  • A country in which the cohesion funds are bringing about visible change and contributing to the year-on-year economic growth of 4%.
  • A country which is protecting the EU’s external border as responsibly as any Schengen area member, without in fact being part of Schengen.
  • A country whose currency is governed under the same rules as the euro, whose macroeconomic indicators are impeccable even though it is not part of the Eurozone.
  • A country where different religions and ethnicities live together in peace. In the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, a church, a mosque and a synagogue lie less than 500 meters apart.

I hope that over the next six months many people across Europe will get to know more of these multiple faces of Bulgaria – the good student, the strong economic performer, the model for ethnic tolerance.

We approach the EU Presidency with full awareness that our citizens expect from us effective solutions to concrete problems. After the crises that Europe has faced in recent years it is time to be pragmatic and result-oriented in order to regain the confidence of our citizens. The time until the end of the current term of the European Parliament and the European Commission is running short and we need to move fast. That is why the program of our Presidency is ambitious while remaining realistic.

H.E. Ā Rumen Alexandrov, Ambassador of Bulgaria.

What are our strategic goals? We will work for a stable and secure Europe of solidarity.

  • Stable Europe because our citizens expect that the European Union takes care of their prosperity and well-being.
  • Secure Europe because the migration crisis and the terrorist attacks in the recent years showed how vulnerable we are.
  • Solidarity because the main challenges we face can only be resolved by common actions.

To achieve our goals, we work in four main strands:

1. Economic growth, social cohesion, and youth.

In order to boost economic growth, the Bulgarian Presidency will work towards strengthening the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). We will promote open and inclusive discussion on the EMU architecture. In the area of the Banking Union, we will focus our efforts on riskĀ reduction measures.

We are putting great emphasis on stable EU finances and we will contribute to the discussions on the new Multiannual Financial Framework of the EU (MFF). Bulgaria will endeavor for an honest and open political debate on the future of the Cohesion Policy and maintain its important role in the budget of the European Union post-2020. The Cohesion policy has a clear added value as it fosters growth and jobs and has a direct benefit to the citizens.

Next, we believe that young people are key to the development of the European economy and society, therefore, the level of European investment in education and research is to be increased. We will put an emphasis on the mid-term review of the Erasmus + programme as well as on finalizing the legislative work on the European Solidarity Corps.

2. Security and stability for a stronger and United Europe

For the security of the Union as a whole, it is crucial to complete the reform of the Common European Asylum System, based on the principles of responsibility and genuine solidarity. The Bulgarian Presidency will work for more coordinated European measures in the field of Return policy.

Another important task for our presidency is to improve the interoperability of the EU information systems and databases.

In Justice area, we will focus our efforts on the institutionalization of the European Public Prosecutorā€˜s Office as well as on the Cross-border access to electronic evidence.

Within the priority for a stronger and more secure European Union, we will work towards regional cooperation, energy connectivity, protection of critical energy infrastructure and ensuring the security of gas supply through diversification of sources and routes within the framework of a stable Energy Union.

3. European perspective of the Western Balkans

There is a window of opportunity for concrete progress on the EU path of the Western Balkans’ countries in 2018 and we hope that the countries from the region will take advantage of it. As Presidency of the Council, we will fully respect the principles of individual and merit-based assessment, and the fulfillment of the established criteria.

We hope that during the Bulgarian Presidency new negotiation chapters with Serbia and Montenegro could be opened, progress could be made in view of opening negotiations with FYROM and Albania, and the European perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo could be further consolidated.

The EU will continue to encourage the implementation of ambitious reforms which are indispensable for the European integration of the countries in the region. We see huge potential in bringing the region closer to the Union by building missing energy, digital and transport infrastructure. A key initiative which we already started to promote is the gradual decrease in roaming prices.

On 17 May 2018, Bulgaria will host an EU-Western Balkans Summit, which is to send a positive message to all the 6 countries in the region on their European integration.

4. Digital Economy and skills of the future

The Digital Single Market is a source of growth and competitiveness and greater share of online service users and the rapid penetration of information and communication technologies across all sectors of the economy is needed.

Our efforts are aimed at providing clear, transparent and balanced transport legislation, that takes into account the national specificities of the EU Member State’s transport sector, with focus on advancing the legislative proposals from the so-called ā€œRoad Packageā€.

We share the need for Fair and efficient taxation of corporate profits and preventing tax evasion.

As regards the social dimension of the European Union the focus of the Presidency will be on 4 major topics: ā€œThe Future of Workā€ in the digital and shared economy; European Social Fund (ESF) support in the post 2020 programming period; the concept of early childhood development; and people with disabilities as members of society with equal rights.

By way of concluding just let me mention that the motto of the Bulgarian Presidency is “United we stand strongā€œ.

The motto reflects our historical experience – the same words are inscribed at the entrance of our National Assembly and are at the core of our democracy. Our national history has taught us that the more united, the stronger we are.

We believe that this experience of ours is relevant for the EU in this particular moment of time. ā€œUnityā€ and ā€œintegrityā€ are essential to respond to the common challenges and deliver for our citizens.

Etapas del desarrollo, crisis vitales y familias migrantes 3/4

With the release of the bestseller Traslados, Silvia Korenblum, psychologist and diplomatic spouse, describe and explore the transitory migration of diplomatic life and its impact on the family. Diplomat Magazine decided to publish this powerful companion book designed for diplomats and their families, in its original language. Por Silvia Korenblum. Las etapas del desarrollo con sus crisis vitales son esperables para todos los individuos. Surgen desde la naturaleza misma de la biología y de la sociedad y atraviesan la estructura familiar. Adultez. Emancipación de los hijos. Nido vacío La adolescencia de los hijos coincide con la edad madura o adultez de los padres (abuelos). Crisis por los dos lados. Para dar curso a los cambios durante las transiciones en el ciclo vital de la familia, los adultos tienen que confrontar las antiguas experiencias que tuvieron, como hijos, con sus padres, y las que tienen actualmente con sus hijos en su calidad de padres. En el desarrollo normal de una familia, el crecimiento incluye la pérdida de viejas pautas de relación y la adquisición de nuevos aprendizajes. La etapa de la adultez es un momento de transición, de replanteo de la vida y de duelo por varias pérdidas. Los hijos ya son mÔs independientes. Comienza la etapa universitaria, y con ella las separaciones, que se dan, por lo general, por causas prÔcticas (la universidad se empieza y termina en un país y puede ser que no coincida con la nueva residencia de los padres). En este caso la separación no es producto de una consecuencia gradual madurativa. Los hijos se quedan solos, a veces, demasiado pronto y los padres experimentan un síndrome de nido vacío precoz, antes de que estén listos, ellos y sus hijos, a que los pichones salgan a volar.

Este ā€œnido vacĆ­oā€ se ve forzado por la situación, ya que si los hijos tienen que quedarse estudiando en otro paĆ­s se separan de los padres antes de que unos u otros, o ambos, estĆ©n listos. AquĆ­ se da una situación complicada ya que en general, cuando se trata de un funcionario hombre, la mujer se siente tironeada entre el hijo o los hijos que quedan solos y su pareja y su carrera. Hasta no entender para quĆ© se sigue acompaƱando a su pareja, si los hijos estĆ”n tan lejos y la necesitan.

Catalina G. atraviesa una depresión enorme al tener que dejar a una hija que estaba en la universidad en su paĆ­s de origen y partir junto a su marido y a su hija menor a otro paĆ­s. Si bien sabĆ­a que su hija habĆ­a quedado bien cuidada en casa de una hermana suya, no podĆ­a dejar de sentir la fractura de su familia, cayendo en una grave depresión y viajando todo el tiempo de un paĆ­s al otro sin estar en ningĆŗn lado, viviendo literalmente en trĆ”nsito. AquĆ­, comienza un tiempo complicado para el matrimonio que se encuentra solo por segunda vez. Se puede observar un dilema en la pareja: en este momento el funcionario , ha progresado en estatus y posición y se vuelve mĆ”s atractivo para las mujeres jóvenes, mientras que las mujeres de la misma edad, cuya autoestima depende mĆ”s de la apariencia fĆ­sica, se pueden encontrar menos atractivas que los hombres, aquellos a los que sienten que han seguido por el mundo, les han criado los hijos, y que se han olvidado de ellas. Empieza una etapa de balance y replanteo, sobre todo para las mujeres, que sienten que han dejado su vida en manos de otro. La mujer se encuentra con el marido, solos. Han pasado aƱos, muchas experiencias. Se hace una revisión del pasado. Se analiza cómo ha transcurrido la propia vida y cómo se quiere continuar. Si bien la ausencia de los hijos afecta al padre y a la madre, es en la mujer en quien repercutirĆ” de manera estrepitosa. En el caso en el que es la mujer la que acompaƱa al marido funcionario, Ć©sta madre en trĆ”nsito, por lo general, no ha podido desarrollar su profesión y sólo se ha dedicado a los hijos y al marido. El trabajo de las adaptaciones familiares ha caĆ­do casi completamente en sus manos, y eso la ha mantenido ocupada, casi olvidada de sĆ­ misma. Las mudanzas no le han permitido continuar con su profesión. Toda una vida se ha ido construyendo en torno a sus hijos, atenta a sus etapas evolutivas, a sus horarios, estados emocionales, a sus Ć©xitos y fracasos. La salida dependerĆ” de la pareja y de cómo estructure esta nueva realidad. El Ć©xito o el fracaso de esta fase se verĆ” muy influido por lo que haya ocurrido en las precedentes, de cómo sea el nivel de diferenciación en esa familia, y de cómo se hayan atravesado los distintos estadios evolutivos, que en las familias migrantes son muy recortables. Cuando uno se despide de un lugar se despide de una etapa de la vida. Para la familia en trĆ”nsito, las fases de crecimiento estĆ”n muy marcadas, ya que se llega a un paĆ­s con determinadas caracterĆ­sticas en lo evolutivo, y se parte a otro en otra etapa de la evolución. Entonces, cada etapa de la vida se encuentra claramente asociada a un lugar diferente, a una geografĆ­a, hasta a un olor diferente. Las despedidas y los duelos evolutivos se encuentran muy mezclados. Dejar un paĆ­s implica dejar a unos hijos que llegaron siendo bebĆ©s y se van siendo niƱos, o llegaron niƱos y se van adolescentes. Las transiciones, entonces, se ven forzosamente marcadas por las geografĆ­as. Las familias que nacen y se desarrollan siempre en el mismo lugar no perciben con tanta claridad el paso del tiempo, de una etapa a la otra en el ciclo vital. En las familias en trĆ”nsito esto se evidencia en una cantidad de ā€œdetallesā€ que se ponen de relieve y demanifiesto al hacer la mudanza. Todos sabemos que, cuando se hace una mudanza, se hace una limpieza profunda, que implica una revisión de nuestras cosas, de lo que sirve o no, de lo que irĆ” a la nueva casa. De alguna manera uno siente que empieza una limpieza de su propia vida, dejando cosas, que cree que ya no va a necesitar, con la ilusión de ā€œempezar de nuevoā€. Los objetos guardan gran parte de nuestra historia. Cuando uno se deshace de una cuna es evidente que ya no habrĆ” mĆ”s bebĆ©s en una casa. Lo mismo sucede con los libritos, o el triciclo. Estos objetos nos recuerdan lugares, personas, momentos, Ć­ntimamente ligados a los ciclos vitales, a sus crisis y variaciones. Marcelo , de 40 aƱos, entre su tercer y cuarto destino se deshizo de un montón de cartas que guardaba celosamente desde su adolescencia; en ese momento sintió que ya nunca mĆ”s las necesitarĆ­a. Luego, en el nuevo destino, se dio cuenta con tristeza que se habĆ­a desprendido de un testimonio muy querido de su pasado. Al realizar una mudanza cada 2, 3 ó 4 aƱos, estas etapas se delimitan con mucha claridad. Cada pocos aƱos se realiza una ā€œlimpieza profundaā€ se revisan hasta el Ćŗltimo de los cajones y con ello hasta el Ćŗltimo recuerdo, con la certeza absoluta de que hay algo que ya no se repetirĆ” mas. Ya no se estarĆ” allĆ­, ya no estarĆ” el vecino e inevitablemente, esta marca del paso del tiempo se manifiesta con tal concretud, como si se pudiera tocar el pasar de los aƱos en cada centĆ­metro crecido. Crisis vitales intergeneracionales Otra variable a tener en cuenta dentro del ciclo vital, es la interge- neracional, la relación en que se encuentren los progenitores con sus familias de origen. La familia en trĆ”nsito estĆ” lejos, y llega un momento en el que un padre de uno u otro cónyuge, enferma y/o muere. Sabemos que dentro de la adultez esto sucede. Nuestros padres se ponen viejos. Y ello no se ve gradualmente: se va viendo como de a golpes. Forma parte de nuestro ser adulto. Aunque visitaba a sus padres una vez al aƱo, a Adriana C. siempre la perseguĆ­a la incertidumbre de cómo los iba a encontrar. Si bien hablaba por telĆ©fono con ellos semanalmente, tuvo una impresión muy fuerte: ā€œUn dĆ­a nos bajamos del avión y eran unos viejitosā€.

La autora Silvia Korenblum, nació en Buenos Aires y es Licenciada en Psicología, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Tiene un Post grado en terapias de familias y parejas, ademÔs de un Magister en psiconeuroendocrinologia. 

Es Especialista en problemas de desarraigo y adaptación, ha ejercido su prĆ”ctica clĆ­nica en diversas instituciones clĆ­nicas y hospitalarias.Ā Ha trabajado dictando seminarios y coordinando talleres de orientación a padres de niƱos y adolescentes atravesados por la problemĆ”tica de la migración, en diferentes paĆ­ses. Es Autora de numerosas ponencias y artĆ­culos sobre su especialidad y del libro Familias en Transito, Lumen humanitas 2003. Casada desde hace 25 aƱos con un diplomĆ”tico. Actualmente vive en Bruselas, ejerciendo su practica clinica, terapia y coaching on line. ——- Fotografia por Pablo Grinspun.

Our Culture…our Brand?

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By MaraĀ Lemanis.Ā  It happens automatically.Ā As soon as we start interacting with the world, we’re inducted into the Hall of Names and branded. We become Brands. Some will make a heated response: ā€œExcuse me! I am not a Brand—I haveĀ a Brand. Maybe you don’t know the difference!ā€ Do those rejoinders point out a subtle difference? What is the difference? Because if we have a Brand that we pitch and associate with our Self, aren’t we pitching Ourselves? As we hype our Self on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., in order to get attention for what we have and do–for what we ARE–suddenly that BrandĀ hasĀ US. But this is the point where it becomes necessary to consider how specious, how phony that claim really is. Because whatever brand we put out about ourselves, it can never encompass us, never describe what we really are. Besides showing off the products we’re selling, or the talents we’re highlighting, does the brand signal our reactions? Can it provide a clue, for instance, about the kind of personal visions we prize, how kind and selfless we are; or if we lust after strange, exotic fruit, crave kinky moments, delirious activities; and whether we hoard money orĀ spend wantonly? Even if we identify with our product, is the product our identity—our culture?…Does my brand turn me into a commodity? Is the culture that surrounds me a reflection of what I commodify? Each time we sell something of ourselves, maybe we skim a little something off our psyche, letting it evaporate like water as we boil it down, reducing the prime part of our vitality. If this be our life’s goal, our manifest destiny, it means we are selling ourselves both on the outside but also from inside ourselves as a particular, singular Brand. At the same time those clients who ā€œlikeā€ us are also marketing themselves to us. And however great a range of ā€œlikesā€ and clients we muster for our product, we narrow the focus of who we are. This is inevitable because we tether ourselves to the acceptability, the like-ability of our brand. It becomes addictive.—And just as an addict has many more layers of Life and Being that he can’t use because he’s tied to his addiction, so we too start to atrophy away from the many turns and tacks that animate our Being. Then we no longer live at the center of our being; we stop being whole and integrated. We become the by-product of our brand and our surrounding culture is flattened by our self-diminishment.

Yet we’re not one-dimensional!

Before we burn our souls with branding irons that show who owns us; before our minds stamp in a catchphrase like one that’s gleamed at us for nearly 70 years–ā€œA Diamond is Foreverā€; before we think ourselves pink as Owens-Corning’s fiberglass and swell with the epic assurance of Reebok affirming ā€œI Am What I Am,ā€ we can still pull away from the names, logos, slogans that zap our brains and egos. We can tune to the frequencies in the variety of thought, sense, action we have stored up in our gut and mind. We can free our cells and neuronsĀ to boost our native vigor. Then like the people in Plato’s Cave–who suddenly see the light, or those whose souls have withered into a single dogma and suddenly see a wealth of views, a wide spectrum of possibilities–we break away from the bonds that brand. –And are reborn into prisms that burnish our potential and our culture, giving zest and wonder to our world.