15-21 July 2018, Paris, Maison Cartier: Emeralds, spinels, mandarin garnets, turquoises and diamonds stand out in sparkling contrasts and signature pairings that invite you to discover the quintessence of colour in Cartier’s newest collection, Coloratura, on display at 13, rue de la Paix in Paris (by appointment only).
By Roy Lie Atjam.
Only hours before his departure, I had the honour to meet with Mr. Alvaro Sanchez, Chargé d’ Affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Venezuela in the Netherlands.
After serving his country for one year and a half as Chargé d’ Affaires, Alvaro Sanchez has left the Netherlands for a new important assignment on the Caribbean island of Barbados, often referred to as the little Britain of the Caribbean.
Alvaro Sanchez, new Chargé d’affaires du Venezuela in Barbados.
During his stint in the Netherlands Sanchez contributed towards exposing Venezuela culturally through several concerts by El Sistema at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
He also contributed to the screening of Venezuelan films at the Rotterdam Film Festival last year.
Mr. Sanchez with his team of Venezuelan diplomats in Barbados.
It didn’t take the Chargé d’ Affaires long to settle down in his new abode in the “Bajan” capital Bridgetown. He met with Heads of Mission and other representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, government ministers, among them, Minister of Youth and Community Empowerment Adrian Forde, Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod, Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, Colin Jordan.
All had gathered on Thursday 5 July 2018 for his welcome reception and the Venezuelan National Day.
Mr. Alvaro Sanchez is confident that a recent meeting between the newly elected Barbadian Prime Minister the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley and Venezuela’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Caribbean Affairs, Raul Licausi will mark a new beginning in the two countries’ relations.
Embassy of Venezuela in Barbados.
Next year, Venezuela and Barbados will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and according to the new Chargé d’ Affaires, this will be a great opportunity to work comprehensively towards more cooperation and integration.
We wish Alvaro the best of luck in his new assignment.
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For additional information, please open the links below:
On the picture, Dr. Dilruba Nasrin, from Bangladesh.By Roy Lie Atjam.
Wassenaar, 27th June 2018 Dr. Dilruba Nasrin spouse of Bangladesh Ambassador in the Netherlands, hosted a festive gathering for her fellow members of the Ambassadors’ Spouse Association (ASA) at Bangladesh House.
For additional exceptional Hester Dijkstra’s pictures, please open the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157698444641834Mrs. Uma Rathore, from Pakistan, Mrs Najat Bellouki. from Morocco, Mrs. Linda Zin from Malaysia.
The main focus of the gathering was a saree and fashion pageant as well as a presentation of various elements of the rich Bangladeshi culture, including the authentic Bengali cuisine.
Dr Dilruba Nasrin is a prominent exponent when it comes to the wearing of saree. The (very) young models and actors put on a stunning performance.
Young models and actors from Bangladesh together with Dr. Nasrin.
Furthermore, ASA avail itself of the opportunity to take leave of the members Mrs. Patricia van Oordt (Spain) and Mrs. Reem Mufleh (Jordan).
At the same time it warmly welcomed a new member, Mr. Thongvut Pintaruchi, spouse of the Ambassador of Thailand. Moreover, Dr Dilruba Nasrin held a touching expose on the Rohingya issue.
Mrs. Ntokozo Koloane, from South Africa welcome Mr. Thongvut Pintaruchi, spouse of the Ambassador of Thailand.
It has been a pleasurable Bangladeshi afternoon.
Mechanism Registrar Olufemi Elias on official visit to Bosnia and HerzegovinaThe Hague, 10 July 2018– The Registrar of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), Mr. Olufemi Elias, will be on an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), from 10 to 12 July 2018.
On 11 July, Registrar Elias will attend the commemoration ceremony of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide at the Potočari memorial centre, where he will deliver remarks and pay his respects to the victims.
As part of the visit, Registrar Elias will meet with officials at the Court of BiH (Court) in Sarajevo, including the President of the Court, Judge Ranko Debevec, and the Registrar of the Court, Ms. Emira Hodžić, to discuss a range of issues, including the Mechanism’s provision of assistance to national authorities dealing with war crimes cases.
Registrar Elias will also meet with the Head of the Sarajevo Mayor’s Council for the Information Centre on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (Centre), Mr. Ivo Komšić, to discuss ongoing cooperation between the Centre and the Mechanism. The Centre, which recently opened with the support of the Mechanism, promotes the legacy of the ICTY by providing digital access to public records and archival material of the ICTY.
During his visit in Sarajevo, the Registrar will hold a briefing for the diplomatic community based in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as meet with the representatives of civil society.
This is Mr Elias’ first of a series of planned visits to the former Yugoslavia since his appointment as Registrar of the Mechanism in January 2017.
US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland and President Donald Tusk – Picture by European Union.
Monday, 9 July 2018, Brussels: US Ambassador Gordon Sondland arrived in Brussels on 8 July 2018, and presented his credentials at the European Commission and to the President of the European Council Donald Tusk on 9 July 2018.
Ambassador Sondland is the Founder and CEO of Provenance Hotels, a national owner and operator of full-service boutique “lifestyle” hotels. Provenance and its affiliates (founded in 1985), currently own and/or operate 19 hotels in seven states and have another six hotels currently under development.
Sondland, a first-generation American whose parents fled from Germany after the rise of the National Socialist Party, is a long-time member of the Republican establishment.
For further information:
Representation of the USA to the EU / H.E. Ambassador Gordon Sondland: http://www.useu.be
H.E. Jean Pierre Karabaranga and his spouse Mrs. Vibviane Uwicyeza Mironko.Kwibohora24: 24th anniversary of liberation of Rwanda celebrated in the Netherlands
The 24th anniversary of liberation was held under the theme “Together we prosper”. On Wednesday 4 July the Embassy of the Republic Rwanda in the Netherlands hosted the Kwibohora24 celebration with a reception and lunch at the Hilton Hotel in The Hague, in order to pay tribute to Rwandan men and women who in different ways contributed to Rwanda’s liberation. The fallen heroes paid the ultimate price during the liberation struggle.
For additional Naldo Peverelli’s pictures, please open the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157697220207991Ambassador Karabaranga, Ntokozo Koloane, Vibviane Uwicyeza Mironko and the Ambassador of South Africa, H.E. Bruce Koloane.
The Embassy of Rwanda in The Hague initiated this reception to celebrate 24 years freedom, peace, security and unity that have been the backbone of Rwanda’s political and social economic transformation.
Rwanda has made tremendous strides in all aspects and Rwanda has been repeatedly ranked the safest, peaceful, cleanest and one of the most economically progressive country not just in Africa but also in the world.
H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga, his spouse Mrs. Vibviane Uwicyeza Mironko and the Embassy team welcomed more than 200 guests including the diplomatic community, representatives of international organizations, Rwandan nationals living in the Netherlands, Friends of Rwanda and others.
The program started with the national anthem of Rwanda, followed by the national anthem of the Netherlands followed by a word of welcome by Mr. Emmanuel Safari, Chairman of the Diaspora Committee in the Netherlands. H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga gave a remarkable keynote speech to the crowded venue in The Hague.
After the speech, the audience enjoyed traditional Rwandan dance called Intore and the celebration was concluded with a lunch, where also Rwandan coffee with a Rwandan Coffee Brownie was served. All guests received a goody bag with Umushanana Coffee from Rwanda, sponsored by Starbucks Netherlands.
In his speech H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga said that The 4th of July is for Rwandans a time for reflection. “A time to look back, to see where we are coming from, assess what we have achieved as a nation and re-assess our targets to ensure that they remain relevant to the nation’s needs within the regional framework and international responsibilities. Kwibohora is an opportunity to share Rwanda’s liberation story, the journey of unity and reconciliation since 1994 and the country’s on-going renewal and vision for a brighter future.”
Swiss, Liechtenstein’s, Luxembourgian and Austrian foreign ministers – Picture by Gouvernement grand-ducal.
Tuesday, 3 July 2018, Schengen, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg: German-speaking ministers of foreign affairs gathered in Schengen to discuss a common strategy for the challenges of protectionism, migration, terrorism, climate change and free trade.
Only the German counterpart Heiko Maas was missing because of an internal accord in Germany to reduce the number of arriving refugees to the country.
For further information:
ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN – July 05, 2018: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (2nd L) and HE Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan (R) attend the opening ceremony of Astana International Financial Centre. Seen with HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs (L). (Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court – Abu Dhabi).
Thursday, 5 July 2018, Astana, Kazakhstan: The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) was officially inaugurated in the presence of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and guest of honour, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Accompanying the latter was HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs upon his arrival at the Centre.
The Astana International Financial Center is the brainchild of Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan’s long-serving president. He’s been at the country’s helm since independence. To everyone with money at work there, his government’s reformist ideas are welcome and forward-thinking.
The AIFC is like a country within a country, modelled on Singapore and Dubai centres that have English as the main language, U.K. securities and corporate law, visa and tax waivers (though not tax-free) for global financial players to set up shop, and maybe an experiment with blockchain and cryptocurrencies while they are at it.
To observers, the AIFC is also Chinese big thinking, whereas you build something out of nothing and eventually create demand. Albeit Astana’s population is around one million. Shanghai has 24 million alone and is located in the second-largest economy in the world.
In a speech delivered before senior international financial officials and guests, President Nazarbayev said that AIFC will serve Central Asian countries by supporting the development of the private banking sector, and opening investment opportunities. It will also facilitate the development of Green Finance, and support environmental-friendly investments.
He also pointed out that the official launch coincides with the 20th anniversary of the founding of the capital Astana, and is part of the country’s continuous quest for modernisation and development.
AIFC – positioned as a financial hub for Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Middle East, Western China, Mongolia and Europe – is located at Expo 2017, and is equipped with modern infrastructure and advanced technologies. Another key strategic objective of the Centre will be to provide financial solutions as per Islamic laws.
The VIP Emirati delegation accompanying the guest of honour included: Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry, Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi Al Dhaheri, Minister of Justice, Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of Executive Affairs Authority, and Dr. Mohammed Ahmed bin Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Ambassador to Kazakhstan.
For further information:
• AIFC: https://aifc.kz/en
• President of Kazakhstan: http://www.akorda.kz/k
In July 2018, the Kingdom of Sweden holds on rotation the Presidency of the Security Council for the second time.
Sweden’s first term took place from January through July 2017, when Spain’s seat’s period expired.
The Security Council is the UN’s most powerful body, and may impose sanctions and authorise military interventions. Respect for international law, human rights, gender equality and a humanitarian perspective are fundamental in the Swedish agenda.
US Ambassador Ronald Gidwitz presented his credentials to His Majesty King Philippus of the Belgians – Picture by Belgian Monarchy.
Wednesday, 4 July 2018, Brussels Royal Palace, Kingdom of Belgium: Timely on the 242nd Independence Day of the United States of America, Ambassador Ronald (Ron) Gidwitz presented his credentials exclusively on that day to the Belgians’ monarch, King Philippus.
Ambassador Gidwitz is henceforth the 35th Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Belgium. He hails from the State of Illinois, holds a bachelor degree in Economics from Brown University, and is married to Christina Kemper Gidwitz. Previously he was a businessman and politician in Chicago.
For further information: https://be.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/
H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga, his spouse Mrs. Vibviane Uwicyeza Mironko and the Embassy team welcomed more than 200 guests including the diplomatic community, representatives of international organizations, Rwandan nationals living in the Netherlands, Friends of Rwanda and others.
The program started with the national anthem of Rwanda, followed by the national anthem of the Netherlands followed by a word of welcome by Mr. Emmanuel Safari, Chairman of the Diaspora Committee in the Netherlands. H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga gave a remarkable keynote speech to the crowded venue in The Hague.
After the speech, the audience enjoyed traditional Rwandan dance called Intore and the celebration was concluded with a lunch, where also Rwandan coffee with a Rwandan Coffee Brownie was served. All guests received a goody bag with Umushanana Coffee from Rwanda, sponsored by Starbucks Netherlands.
In his speech H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga said that The 4th of July is for Rwandans a time for reflection. “A time to look back, to see where we are coming from, assess what we have achieved as a nation and re-assess our targets to ensure that they remain relevant to the nation’s needs within the regional framework and international responsibilities. Kwibohora is an opportunity to share Rwanda’s liberation story, the journey of unity and reconciliation since 1994 and the country’s on-going renewal and vision for a brighter future.” 
H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga, his spouse Mrs. Vibviane Uwicyeza Mironko and the Embassy team welcomed more than 200 guests including the diplomatic community, representatives of international organizations, Rwandan nationals living in the Netherlands, Friends of Rwanda and others.
The program started with the national anthem of Rwanda, followed by the national anthem of the Netherlands followed by a word of welcome by Mr. Emmanuel Safari, Chairman of the Diaspora Committee in the Netherlands. H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga gave a remarkable keynote speech to the crowded venue in The Hague.
After the speech, the audience enjoyed traditional Rwandan dance called Intore and the celebration was concluded with a lunch, where also Rwandan coffee with a Rwandan Coffee Brownie was served. All guests received a goody bag with Umushanana Coffee from Rwanda, sponsored by Starbucks Netherlands.
In his speech H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga said that The 4th of July is for Rwandans a time for reflection. “A time to look back, to see where we are coming from, assess what we have achieved as a nation and re-assess our targets to ensure that they remain relevant to the nation’s needs within the regional framework and international responsibilities. Kwibohora is an opportunity to share Rwanda’s liberation story, the journey of unity and reconciliation since 1994 and the country’s on-going renewal and vision for a brighter future.” 
