Commonwealth Summit 2018 – Picture by commonwealth.org 19-20 April 2018, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 (CHOGM) was hosted by the 88th British Prime Minister Theresa May in her capacity as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office in rotating fashion after the Maltese Premier Joseph Muscat passed the torch to her. The Commonwealth of Nations is an intergovernmental organisation of 53 member states that are mostly former territories of the British Empire. It represents about 2.4. billion people scattered about the world. This two-day summit involved 46 heads of Commonwealth governments and foreign ministers from the remaining seven countries. All in all, the leaders agreed on a communiqué entitled “Towards a common future” wherein they obliged themselves to pursue policies to protect the oceans from pollution and climate change, combat cyber online crime and threats, prevent violent extremism and human trafficking, pledged to halve malaria in Commonwealth countries by 2023 and endeavour that all boys and girls should receive at least 12 years of education by 2030. Britain encouraged more active trade amongst the countries with in order to expand intra-Commonwealth trade to $2 trillion by 2030. A pivotal result of the consultations was the decision that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ought to be succeeded by her eldest son and heir apparent, HRH The Prince of Wales, as Head of the Commonwealth after the former’s demise. The ceremonial role, currently held by Queen Elizabeth II, is largely a symbolic one and carries no maximum fixed term but it is not deemed to be hereditary. Normally the Head of the Commonwealth pays regular visits to the member states to foster links amongst them personally. A decision on all successive heads has yet to be made by the Commonwealth leaders. Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Secretary-General and the Secretariat, its central organisation, help to plan many Commonwealth activities. Incumbent and VI Secretary-General is HE The Rt Hon Baroness Patricia Scotland of Asthal. For further information: http://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/commonwealth-heads-government-meeting-communiqué-“towards-common-future* https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/commonwealth-heads-of-government-meeting-2018  

NATO Secretary General Mr. Jens Stoltenberg. By Guido Lanfranchi. On Thursday April 19^th, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg delivered a speech at Leiden University’s Schouwburgstraat Campus in The Hague. He exposed NATO’s history, relevance, and adaptability, before answering a number of questions from the audience. During his recent visit to The Hague, NATO Secretary General Mr. Jens Stoltenberg carved out some time on his agenda to talk with Leiden University’s students. When he arrived at the arranged location, Schouwburgstraat Campus of Leiden University in The Hague, the auditorium was packed with students and high-level guests. Among them, Mr. Carel Stolker, Rector Magnificus of Leiden University, H.E. Mrs. Mirsada Čolaković, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to The Netherlands, and Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, former NATO Secretary General and moderator of the event.

Mr. de Hoop Scheffer, who occupied Stoltenberg’s current position from 2004 to 2009, introduced the event and its main theme: “Adapting NATO to a changing world.” At the beginning of his speech, Mr. Stoltenberg expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the event, and briefly entertained the audience with some stories concerning his career. In particular, he surprised the audience when he confessed one of his biggest goals in life: to become a professor, just as Mr. de Hoop Scheffer did. Then, the Secretary General started to delve into the event’s topic. Mr. Stoltenberg started off praising NATO’s success not only in winning the Cold War without bloodlessly, but also in being able to adapt to an ever changing international environment. In outlining NATO’s history since its foundation in 1949, NATO’s current boss highlighted three turning points in which NATO adaptability was put into test. The first watershed was the end of the Cold War in 1989, when NATO lost its primary enemy, the Soviet Union, and reconfigured itself by expanding its reach beyond its own territory. Then, in 2011 the 9/11 attacks came, and NATO triggered for the first and only time in its history the well-known Article 5, prompting the collective defense response in Afghanistan.

The third turning point was 2014, Mr. Stoltenberg’s first year as NATO’s Secretary General. In the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the rise of ISIS in the Middle East, NATO underwent another big shift in nature, trying to address traditional collective defense issues in Europe and adding an effort to stabilize its neighborhoods. While approaching the end of his speech, Mr. Stoltenberg explicitly highlighted NATO’s defensive nature, which translates into NATO’s policy of “being strong, but without provoking” the counterpart. And, according to the Secretary General, being strong also means being flexible: in an increasingly dangerous world, NATO needs to be able to adapt in order to grant security to the citizens of all its allies.

After a warm round of applause for Mr. Stoltenberg, Mr. de Hoop Scheffer took the floor to moderate a Q&A session. Many students and attendees from the audience were able to ask their questions to Mr. Stoltenberg. The topics included: the dispute between Turkey and Greece, NATO’s nuclear deterrence, EU defense, political developments in the US, the relation between Finland and NATO, the 2% military spending requirement, the situation in the Artcic, and the Skripal case. The Secretary General steadily answered all the questions, until the Q&A session reached its conclusion. After the event, Mr. Stoltenberg remained in Schouwburgstraat Campus’ reception hall, talking with the students and taking pictures with them.

When he left the building, many students and other participants remained at length in the campus discussing several of the themes that were touched during the event. Definitely, Leiden University gave an incredible experience to its students today. Who knows whether some of them might in the future be in a position similar to Mr. Stoltenberg’s?. ————— Photography by NATO

H.E. Ms. Jana Reinišová, Ambassador  of Czech Republic. By Roy Lie Atjam. The Embassy of the Czech Republic in The Hague hosted a reception on the occasion of the launching of the exhibition. “Establishment of Czechoslovakia 1918” In her welcome remarks H.E. Ms. Ambassador Jana Reinišová of the Czech Republic gave details of how the establishment came about in 1918.

She relates: “The Czech Embassy in close cooperation with the Czech Centre and the Czech Tourism in The Hague, is organizing many events that highlight the anniversary, including the ‘exhibition “Establishment of Czechoslovakia 1918”.

In 2018, the citizens of the Czech and Slovak Republics will mark a date that invites them to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of their common independent state – the Czechoslovak Republic.  

Today’s exhibition offers a thematic overview of events in Czechoslovakia in the global context of 20th century history. The exhibition also introduces the milestones of this chaotic and insecure period through the stories of political protagonists. Masaryk and Beneš together with Štefánik were a key figure during the foundation of the new Republic. Finally, the exhibition also includes the peaks of Czechoslovak science and culture.It all began in 1918, when both nations’ shared desire for a sovereign state became a reality. 

Newly elected Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, a philosopher, educator and a genuine state-maker, deserves the greatest credit for the creation of a common state and is worthy of the title president – liberator – and called the “father of the nation”. Masaryk said: “Without Beneš, the Republic would not exist.” Edvard Beneš organized the Czechoslovak resistance abroad by Masaryk’s side and contributed significantly to the establishment of an independent Czechoslovakia. Masaryk trusted him and appreciated him. Milan Rastislav Štefánik was a Slovak Doctor of Philosophy, an astronomer, a photographer, an Air Force pilot, a general in the French Army, a diplomat, and a politician. He played a key role in forming the Czecho-Slovak resistance movement abroad during WWI. He also played an essential role in organizing the Czechoslovak Legions and in diplomatic negotiations with the French Government.

Let me to mention our postwar Foreign Policy. The main architect of Czechoslovak foreign policy was Edvard Beneš, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs for 17 years. He built Czechoslovak foreign policy on three pillars: the Czechoslovak-French alliance, the Little Entente (i.e. the alliance of Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Romania, which he initiated and maintained for years), and the League of Nations, where he played a significant role.

History of Czechoslovak foreign policy and diplomacy began to be formed even before the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia. The establishment of diplomatic relations was gradual – the first legations were opened in 1918 in Paris, Rome and London and during the following years a network of Czechoslovak legations abroad was created. In the second wave the legation was established in 1919 in The Hague (at the same year in Belgrade, Brussels, Washington, Warsaw, Bern and Bucharest). Another important milestone that is a reliable source of pride for Czechs and Slovaks is the so-called Prague Spring of 1968 when, seeking liberation and escape from dictatorship, the movement was forcibly ended by the invasion and occupation of the Warsaw Pact troops. 

And last, but not least, it is 1993, when Czechoslovakia was, in a cultured and peaceful way, divided into two new, completely sovereign states within an integrating Europe. It was a peaceful divorce appreciated by the entire civilized world.” The history continues, but the Czechs and Slovaks are still close. In the best sense of the word, they can be proud of their time side by side and boldly commemorate the stormy, joyful and event. A reception concluded the event.  

The President of the International Criminal Court, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, has concluded an official visit to Nigeria, where he met with the senior leadership of the country to discuss ways to strengthen the international criminal justice system aimed at suppressing impunity for the gravest crimes.

During his stay in Abuja from 10 to 13 April, President Eboe-Osuji met with H.E. Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice-President and acting President of Nigeria as well as H.E. Senator Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, H.E. Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives and H.E. Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy President of the Senate, together with some of their colleagues in the senior leadership in the National Assembly. He also held meetings with H.E. Geoffrey Onyema, Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, and Mr. Dayo Apata, Solicitor-General of the Federation.

 The ICC President expressed gratitude for Nigeria’s strong commitment to the Court, which was reaffirmed by the senior authorities during the meetings held.

President Eboe-Osuji underlined that the active support of States is crucial in re-energising the mission of the ICC, of which Nigeria is a founding and important member. He recalled that victims are at the heart of the Court’s mandate, which aims to provide justice to those who have suffered the worst atrocities, as well as protect populations from future crimes.

 President Eboe-Osuji further emphasised that the Court is keen to work together with states in Africa to bolster the fight against impunity for the gravest international crimes, and he hoped to count on Nigeria’s support in taking that process forward.

Mr. Peter Lewis during his solemn undertaking ceremony as ICC Registrar © ICC-CPI On 17 April 2018, Mr. Peter Lewis was sworn in as Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC) during a public ceremony held at the seat of the Court in The Hague, The Netherlands. ICC President Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji presided over the session and the President of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), Mr O-Gon Kwon, served as witness to the solemn undertaking. During the ceremony, ICC President Eboe-Osuji welcomed the new Registrar, saying: “Mr Lewis joins the Court to complete a change in leadership in the Presidency and the Registry. This change marks a shift of focus for the Court, a focus on the need to revitalise reflection on the ICC’s value to humanity. I call upon all to join this reflection.” President Eboe-Osuji added: “I must also take this opportunity to pay tribute, and express our gratitude, to all the Staff of the Court. Often, their work is largely unseen and unsung in the roles they play. But, much like the bones beneath the skin and the muscle, the structure cannot stand, let alone move well or move at all, without them.” ASP President Kwon stated: “[Running the Registry] is an arduous and demanding undertaking that requires a capable, qualified mind, able to handle complexity with objectivity and sensitivity. Mr Peter Lewis has a proven track record of fulfilling the main responsibilities and requirements expected of the principal administrative officer of the Registry – the largest organ of this Court, with over 600 staff members.” Mr Lewis then signed his oath before ASP President Kwon, and made his first speech as ICC Registrar. “I take the duties and responsibilities of the Registrar of the Court very seriously, and it is my deep sense of commitment to this institution that will guide my work during my term. I do not underestimate the challenges ahead, but I am sure that with the support of all of you, and the hard work of the staff of the Registry we will continue to ensure the full realisation of the Court’s mandate”, he declared. ICC Registrar Peter Lewis (United Kingdom) was elected for a period of five years by the judges of the Court, on 28 March 2018. As Registrar, he will exercise his functions as the principal administrative officer of the Court under the authority of the President, and head one of the four organs of the Court, the Registry. The Registry is responsible for the non-judicial aspects of the administration of the Court, and as such supports the Court so it can conduct fair and effective public proceedings. The Registry is responsible for general court management, security, public information, court records, translation and interpretation, counsel support, support for victims to participate in proceedings and apply for reparations.