On the picture the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Qatar, Dr. Bahia Tahzib-Lie.
By Hannah A. Soliman.
The Model United Nations Committee of the American School of Doha sponsored an inspiring group of students from Afghanistan representing the HELA, Hope for Education & Leadership in Afghanistan, Initiative on January 22nd, 2018, two days before they attended the THIMUN Qatar 2018 Conference (The Hague International Model United Nations).
Attendees included the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Qatar, Dr. Bahia Tahzib-Lie, Al-Jazeera’s renowned reporter, Shereena Qazi, and HELA members from Afghanistan attended the event, followed by representatives of the American School of Doha’s student-led government, executive student officials of THIMUN Qatar 2018, the Director of the American School of Doha, Dr. Thomas L. Hawkins, and online news representatives of ASD Times including editors in chief, reporters and photographers.
The night began with a percussion performance by the American School of Doha’s High School Percussion Band, followed by some words of gratitude and appreciation by Dr. Thomas L. Hawkins, as well as from Neil Udassi and Nada Christy Haddad, MUN Student Executives from ASD, the two who hosted the program that night.
Her Excellency, Ambassador Tahzib-Lie, emphasized her amazement of the multitude American School of Doha’s community and global service initiatives, which follow in line with the United Nation’s Developmental Goals. She connects her prior remarks to Human Right’s Day of The Netherlands, which is celebrated annually on December 10th, and their promotion of awareness of women’s education and increasing global literacy. She concluded with a final statement which reiterated the aims and visions of HELA as well as her own, “All great achievements start with education, but also with leadership”.
The climax of the night was when the founders of HELA took the stage.
SulaimanSulaimankhil and RahmatullahHamdad began by expressing their gratitude for this opportunity. According to Sulaimankhil and Hamdad, Afghanistan’s war, that’s been active for 40 years and ongoing, it has been the primary inhibitor of education, especially for girls.
It wasn’t until United Nations leader, Peter Dalglish, introduced MUN to Afghanistan. HELA began with five students and their mentors attending THIMUN Qatar 2015 and blossomed into an NGO that has currently involved 1,000 Afghani youth in 6 self-lead conferences. Simultaneously, HELA founded a women’s empowerment project with an emphasis in business, marketing, finance and economics, and 14 months later these women have initiated their own projects completely self-lead.
It was a “day full of emotions” for special guest, Al Jazeera reporter, Shereena Qazi because she herself is of Afghani heritage. She discussed her journey of journalism, and the event that changed her career and her life: the story of 6-year-old Murtaza Ahmadi. She used this Afghani boy’s story as a way of exploring her abilities of story-telling because how deeply it touched her heart, and her story went viral globally. Her change in how she approached journalism is how she began to embrace change for the better.
Inspired by the THIMUN Qatar closing ceremonies, HELA surprised the crowd by presenting the following with certificates as tokens of appreciation: Dr. Thomas Hawkins, Mrs. Kari Detwiler Beck, Yahaira Piñeda, Neil Udassi and Nada Christy Haddad.
Neil Udassi and Nada Christy Haddad also presented tokens of appreciation in the form of small gifts to the following: Lisa Martin, HELA Students, and the rest of the special guest speakers of the night.
HELA night concluded with a High School Choir performance of “Here I Stand”, an unpublished composition donated on behalf of these performers for the night of compiled statements quoted by Malala.
For the past year journalist and storyteller Christian Hauska worked on a photo documentary about ambassadors’ place of work.
By Christian Hauska.
Embassies and consulates are mysterious. You cannot just walk in. They are usually surrounded by fences, heavy locks, cameras and guards. In order to give off the aura of representation, embassies are often found in splendid buildings, in front of which the country’s flag blows in the wind.
Entering the building feels like walking off a gangway after a long flight just as if stepping foot into another country for the first time. Furniture, smell, paintings, strange sounding voices confront you all at once. It seems as though you have traveled a long journey within just a short moment.
Each of these desks is different.
Each of these desks marks the end of a small journey.
The center of these buildings is not the staircase, not the secretary’s office, not even a conference room. It is the ambassador’s or consul’s office, more precisely it is the ambassadors‘ desk. A desk which is covered with screens, keyboards, newspapers, writing utensils, and documents of all sorts.
Made of wood, metal, glass or plastic, it is usually surrounded by country specific interiors. Sometimes, the desks are properly tidied up with books in place running parallel to the grain of the wood while others are left behind in a state of chaos due to hectic circumstances.
Albania’s desk.
Albania
A desk, embedded in a room filled with Albanian art. The center of an embassy in which six diplomats regulate the interests of 1,500 Albanians in the Netherlands. The natural light entering through the skylight illuminates the ambassador‘s desk.
The white candle does not need to be lit. For almost 20 years, the desk has been the property of the Albanian foreign representation. In 1998, for the opening of the embassy building, the piece of furniture was purchased.
Its location allows a clear view of the room. Each Albanian accessory can enjoy its adequate free space.
Canada’s desk.
Canada
A desk that was being used and left just for this photo in the middle of some thought. The glass surface is covered with documents, a newspaper, and a Dutch language textbook.
The warm wood paneling stands in stark contrast to the bright furniture and an elephant that has just managed to get into the picture.
Estonia’s desk.
Estonia
The ambassador‘s desk was purchased when the Embassy moved in 2006. On its way to the Netherlands, the desk did not have to cross the Baltic states. Rather it had to cross the Alps coming from Italy.
Distinctive lines and the deep brown varnish harmonize with the rest of the furnishings and exude a sense of calmness.
This seems to have even soothed the table flag, in contrast to its siblings in front of the building.
Malta’s desk.
Malta
Peace reigns over this desk inspired by the well known building visible through the window. If this order is threatened, the tipp-ex is ready to eliminate disruptive factors.
The Maltese Embassy is located in a former cinema. A glance outside reminds us of a film backdrop.
Panama’s desk.
Panama
Acquired in 2013 in the Netherlands, this desk is the Ambassador‘s daily object of work. Made of oak wood, framed by a national flag, a PC, and a telephone, this desk probably knows nothing of its uncertain future.
The current ambassador would like to change the desk for a more modern piece of furniture after four years of state service.
Slovenia’s desk.
Slovenia
The Ambassador‘s desk conveys a secret referring to its origin. Although it is suspected that the piece of furniture was transported many kilometers by truck from Slovenia to The Hague, one is not certain.
It is estimated to be about 17 years old. Angular shapes alternate with slight curves. Dark brown lines in the wood create a border for the collection of working materials.
Sweden’s desk.
Sweden
Like a blanket, paper, cups and writing utensils lie on this desk or better said desks. Even the burning lamp does not make the Swedish design objects more visible. The tables imported from Sweden by means of a truck in 2004 are made of multiplex plywood.
Like the islands Utö and Ornö, the two desks stand side by side connected by work.
Switzerland’s desk.
Switzerland
Although the Netherlands and Switzerland are not separated by a sea, this desk has traveled by ship to The Hague. It has called this historic building on the Lange Vorhout its home for two years now.
Desk and interior form a strong contrast. In the glow of the desk lamp, there is a writing instrument, just put down and left amid the fragrance of yellow roses.
Thailand’s desk.
Thailand
The Thai Ambassador‘s desk can be found in a house that is more than 120 years old. It was used as the residence up until 30 years ago. The desk, about 10 years old, has not crossed an ocean, at least not since it was manufactured. It was produced in the Netherlands and is made of plywood. The Ambassador is busy working at that desk nine to five and beyond. Behind the desk are photos of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit who reigned the Kingdom of Thailand at the time when this photo was taken.
By Mrs Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, G.C.S.K., C.S.K., PhD, DSc, VI President of the Republic of Mauritius.
Mauritius is celebrating 50 years of its independence from the British in 2018. Prior to its independence in 1968, after almost 150 years of British rule – and a little less than 100 years of French rule, leading academics had predicted a future full of gloom and doom for Mauritius.
The country with a per capita income of just over 200 US, had in fact, all the characteristics of a typical colonial economy: monocrop, rapid population growth, adverse terms of trade, and vulnerable to ethnic tensions.
Rather than a “Miracle”, the economic development of Mauritius is primarily, the result of strategic thinking and planning, elaboration of effective policies, human and institutional capacity building, a governance structure that inspires all segments of the population whilst providing a safety net for the poor and vulnerable members of society through free healthcare and free education for all.
The country also focused on cooperation between the government, employers, and employees and decided not to waste too much money on military spending, unlike other small countries.
With an educated population, Mauritians could engage in high level social cohesion, welfare, economic growth and help address inequality. With no natural resources, our people remains our only asset. Education for all has been crucial for social unity in a country where religious, ethnic, and political differences could have easily become a source of potential conflict.
Free education has proved to be the best sociopolitical enabler and the bedrock on which the country started its economic journey. In the early 1980’s, whilst unemployment was very high, those initially working in the sugarcane fields could, through basic schooling, work in the newly created Export Processing Zones where textile and light industries was being set up. This helped boost the economy and absorb unemployment.
In subsequent decades, the economy diversified further into the services industry. The University of Mauritius created as a developmental university in the 1960’s, started providing training for the emerging industries.
The economy opened further when ICT was increasingly being adopted. We have one of the highest penetrations for telephony and ICT in Africa. Connectivity and improved infrastructure also improved through public and private partnership and dialogue.
With a GDP growth of around 4 % and an unemployment rate of around 7 % and an ageing population, the Republic of Mauritius is rethinking her growth and future. We see our economy in three colours: white, green and blue.
We have explored the ‘white economy’ through the services industry, now adding almost 15 points to the economy. We are now poised to explore the green economy through our unique biodiversity, renewable energies etc.; the blue economy through our oceans. We want to go further and develop the knowledge economy that will straddle all three.
However, to succeed, we must rethink our human capital, invest in our institutions and infrastructures to respond more swiftly to the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
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http://president.govmu.org/English/Pages/default.aspx
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Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, VI President of Mauritius – Copyright photo: State House, Mauritius
By H.E. Mr. Michael Kretschmer, Prime Minister of the Free State of Saxony, Germany.
Germany is the economic powerhouse of Europe and one of its engines is Saxony. Situated between Berlin and Prague, Frankfurt and Cracow, the Free State of Saxony looks back upon more than ten centuries of a rich and diverse history. It is a history of pioneering spirits, daring entrepreneurship and great achievement. Once a country full of woods and wilderness, Saxony at the beginning of the 21st century is an innovation leader among European regions.
Having been elected to the office of Saxon Prime Minister in December last, it makes me proud to bear responsibility for a country whose track record spans more than a millennium. We are fond of our tradition of innovation, which brought the world inventions like the European porcelain and groundwood paper.
And we continue in that tradition. Our growth is driven by a constant stream of innovations, created in Saxony’s universities, advanced research institutions and smart companies. Saxony has established lines of research in advanced technologies ranging from energy technologies like fuel cells and biofuels, new materials like carbon concrete or high-performance ceramics, to smart textiles, cancer treatments or medical appliances. The Saxon government helps them on their way to the markets with grants and investor pitches.
With industries across the board going digital, Silicon Saxony, Europe’s biggest cluster in semiconductor R&D and manufacturing, is a vital asset. The Smart Systems Hub in Dresden, our capital city, undertakes a massive public-private R&D effort to merge hardware, software and connectivity solutions into Industry 4.0 applications for advanced manufacturing.
After more than a century of car manufacturing in Saxony, cars with internal combustion engine get company from e-cars.BMW started assembly of its pioneering i3 battery-electric vehicle at its Leipzig plant in 2013. Volkswagen assembles the e-Golf in Dresden and is currently upgrading its Zwickau plant for the exclusive assembly of electric vehicles, starting in 2020.
Technological progress needs inspiration – and our unique cultural landscape provides it. Gems like the Staatskapelleand the European Center of Contemporary Art in Dresden, the Gewandhaus orchestra and Wave Gothic Festival in Leipzig, or the industrial heritage and modern arts collection in Chemnitz cater to creative minds.
Successful growth is to a great extent depending on external demand. Nearly 40 percent of industry sales go to customers from abroad. Our number one trade partner is, unsurprisingly, China. But would you have guessed that trade with the Visegrád group of states, namely Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, totals as much as trade with France and the UK combined?
Having been part of the Eastern bloc during the Cold War, we share a common history and transformation experience. And we share a vision of our future, namely, becoming one of the most prosperous and innovative regions in the EU. Saxony fosters strong relations with its partners in Central and Eastern Europe, especially with our direct neighbors Poland and Czech Republic. We co-operate on a broad range of issues, from local government and law enforcement via cross-border road and rail infrastructure to environmental protection, R&D efforts or joint NGO activities.
Saxony actively manages relations with about 30 regions and countries of the world, among them the United States, China, Russia, Korea, India, AbuDhabi, Qatar, Austria, Belgium and Italy. The centerpiece of our foreign relations is economic co-operation. Take, for example, our aerospace industry. The Russian-Ukrainian joint venture VolgaDnepr operates itsheavy duty Antonov freighter planes from Europe’s most sophisticated airfreight hub at Leipzig.ST Aerospace from Singapore has a major stake in our leading aerospace enterprise, the Airbus subsidiary ElbeFlugzeugwerkeDresden. And the specialist in lightweight construction, Cotesa at Mittweida, has recently forged a co-operation with Boeing.
This said, it is clear that the Saxon government supports open markets, free trade and FDI just as much as we support innovation and technology. It’s just traditional – for more than a millennium now. And it’s an invitation to explore the boundless possibilities in Saxony.
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Michael Kretschmer – Picture by Pawel Sosnowski, Sächsische Staatskanzlei
By Corneliu Pivariu.
There are certain voices, strong enough from the standpoint of the international audience, saying that the current developments in the Middle East would represent opportunities for a positive evolution in a foreseeable future in this area. Is it really like that?
Most of the Arab states have, especially after 2011, weak political leadership, without vision and that ignore the experts’ warnings concerning the serious problems they are confronted with since almost half a century such as weak economic policy, population growth and the dictatorial ruling of the states. A report published in 2016 on the situation in the Arab countries contains many data revealing the difficult situation of the Arab countries:
The Arab world is the epicentre of global conflicts. Although it has only 5% of the global population, from 1947 to 2014 registered 17.6% of the world’s conflicts. Between 1989-2014 it registered 27.7% of the total dead people in wars and this percentage raised to 68.5% in 2014.
in 2014, 45% of the terrorist attacks took place in the Arab world;
in the same year, 2014, 57.5% of the total number of refugees and 47% of the internally displaced persons belonged to the Arab countries;
until 2020, the Arab world has to create 60 million jobs as it is an area where youth (15-24 years) unemployment represents almost 30% and growing; the unemployment rate among young Arab people is double compared to the countries with average economic development, and the percentage of young women in the working force is 24% as compared to 50% globally.
Wars and political crises as well as the drop in oil prices and consequently drop in revenues from marketing the oil affected most of the countries in the region such as Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Bahrein, Yemen etc. Military spending represented for the Arab countries on the average 6% of the GDP and some of the countries exceeded by far this level: between 2014-2016 Iraq spent from 8.5% to 11.6% of GDP, Oman between 11.8%-15.3% of the GDP and Saudi Arabia spending raised from 8.9% in 2014 to 12.7% in 2016.
The divisions between Sunni majority countries increased after the crisis between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and breaking off of relations with Qatar that was pushed to increase its relations with Iran, distanced Oman from GCC, allowed maintaining the inter-communities tensions in Bahrain and contributed to Kuwait’s increased exposure while the war in Yemen limited the role Saudi Arabia can play in the Arab world. We have to see the outcome of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s (MBS) tour to France and Great Britain (delayed from the end of February to the beginning of March) and then to the USA.
In Iraq, the state leadership does not succeed in being united for solving the serious domestic problems it is confronted with while the Iranian influence is constantly growing. In Syria, the civil war resulted in almost 500,000 dead and difficult to estimate destruction (some sources assess the reconstruction effort to $250 billion – taking into account the so far losses) while Assad seems to cling on to power keeping the country divided and on the brink of self-destruction, escalation signs are being registered (downing the Russian jet Su-25 on February the 3rd and the provocation of the Iranian drone that entered the Israeli territory followed by Israeli retaliation that resulted in downing an Israeli F-16) represent as many elements showing that Russia wants to maintain its image of “broker” making all games in Syria, keeping its good relations with Israel and not hurting its alliance with Iran (yet, not allowing the latter a wider expansion in Syria) and to keep Assad under control.
The general situation in the Arab world favors Iran in achieving its strategic objective of securing a direct terrestrial corridor to the Mediterranean Sea (a corridor it could not keep permanently in our opinion). Israel and then, Turkey are important players that may influence the evolution and solutions including the Kurdish and Palestinian issues.
The European Union, with its own problems, is a less important player in the Middle East while the USA will shape a clearer position in this area after solving the domestic problems the current administration is confronted with. China tries, too, to position itself as best as possible in this complex conjecture. The huge resources of the region will further contribute to maintaining a tense and conflict climate in the Middle East for the next decades.
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About the author: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 Pulse”. Main areas of expertise – geopolitics, intelligence and security.
By H.E. Mr. Roberto Balzaretti, Swiss State Secretary.
Switzerland shares borders with four EU member countries. My country has strong language, cultural and demographic affinitieswith the EU. And the European Union is Switzerland’s most important political and economic partner.
Almost 1.4 million citizens from an EU or an EFTA (European Free Trade Association) country live in Switzerland. That is about 17% of our estimated population of 8.4 million. In addition, about 320,000 people from neighbouring EU countries commute to Switzerland every day.
Our country is a linchpin of the North-South communication and transportation axis. As a matter of fact, with its infrastructure projects, Switzerland has historically facilitated and enhanced the transport connections between Northern and Southern Europe. The most recent example is the Gotthard railway tunnel through the Alps, which was opened for traffic in December last year. It is 57 km long, which makes it the longest tunnel in the world.
Our close relationship is also reflected by our trade and economic relations. Switzerland is the EU‘s third largest trading partner (after the US and China). The volume of trade in goods between Switzerland and the EU amounts to more than double of the EU’s total trade with Japan. 72% of Swiss imports stem from the EU and 55% of our exports go to the European Union.
Essentially, our vision regarding the EU is twofold. Firstly, we aim to keep our relations with the European Union stable and predictable. And secondly, we have a strong interest in a successful and thriving EU.
Our relations are based on a series of bilateral sectoral agreements which allow for a strong cooperation in different fields of interest. These agreements form the backbone of what we call “bilateral path”.
Bilateral agreements with the EU include in particular trade in goods, the free movement of persons, which enables workers and investors to come to Switzerland, as well as the access to public procurement markets.In addition, the air and land transport agreements between Switzerland and the EU provide excellent connections for the transport of both goods and people. Another important element is Switzerland’s association to the Schengen area. This allows for smooth cross-border travel and increased police cooperation.
Additional benefits of our close relations with the EU include cooperation in areas such as research, education, environment and culture.
This bilateral (or sectoral) approach enables Switzerland and the EU to shape tailor-made, beneficial policies in areas of mutual interest. Itis a real success story for both sides.
Switzerland is the country outside the EU which has concluded the largest amount of agreements with Brussels. Our bilateral path enjoys large support in Switzerland and was endorsed by the Swiss electorate on various occasions. The bilateral agreements with the EU have a tangible impact: they enable Switzerland to put to good use its economic strengths. They contribute to increasing the competitiveness of the Swiss economy and the attractiveness of our country as an investment destination.
Switzerland and the EU are striving to set out an institutional mechanism ensuring that the bilateral agreements on market access are applied even more consistently and efficiently in the future. It is indeed in both sides’ interests to find a way to allow for a rapid adjustment to developments in the EU law and the efficient settlement of disputes. This would provide for legal homogeneity and legal certainty. Negotiations on this institutional framework started in May 2014 and are well under way.
The regulation of the institutional issues would consolidate existing bilateral agreements in the area of reciprocal market access and build the basis for the further development of our economic relations. In this endeavour, the challenge lies in finding an appropriate balance between a mutual non-discriminatory market access and respect of sovereignty.
Another current challenge for Swiss European policy lies in the decision of the United Kingdom’s (UK) electorate to leave the EU. Relations between Switzerland and the UK are close, comprehensive and multifaceted. The UK is Switzerland’s fifth most important export market, whereas Switzerland is UK’s biggest export market with whom the EU has a free-trade agreement. Since relations between Switzerland and the UK are to a large extent based on the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU, there is a common interest to avoid gaps in market access, should such agreements no longer be applicable to the UK.
The Swiss government has set a strategy called “Mind the gap”, which aims at guaranteeing the existing rights and obligations between Switzerland and the UK for the period after the UK exit from the EU and to extend relations in areas of common interest. Therefore, Switzerland and the UK are exploring a new legal framework for the period after Brexit.
Stable, predictable and close relations with the EU remain a priority for Switzerland. The Swiss government is determined to ensure the continuation and consolidation of the bilateral path in the long term. Our relations with the EU are a long-term, solid venture. We will remain one of the EU’s closest and reliable partners. It is this mix of enhanced cooperation with the EU on the one hand, and independent national policies on the other that has allowed Switzerland to be one of the world’s most innovative and competitive countries.
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Picture by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
By H.E. Ms. Natalie Sabanadze, Ambassador of Georgia to the EU.
Dear reader of Diplomatic World, welcome to Georgia – a country where “a guest is a gift sent from God”.
In this globalised world, where distance is not an obstacle and attractive destinations compete for your attention, you may wonder why Georgia should be the place of your choice.
A small country sandwiched between Russia and Turkey was, for the most part of the 20th century, hidden away from the inquisitive gaze of a Western traveler as part of the Soviet Union. We have never chosen to be part of the Soviet empire and never consented to the disappearance of Georgia from the map of independent nations.
Exactly 100 years ago in 1918 Georgia established first social-democratic republic in the world and was governed by principles of democracy and equality, including equality between men and women and was dedicated to notions of progress and human emancipation.
The short-lived experiment in Georgia’s progressive social-democracy came to an end with the invasion of Bolshevik Russia but after the end of the Cold War, the country has been returning to its European roots. This year, we are celebrating the centenary of the First Republic and we are happy to note that the world is rediscovering Georgia as tourists abound and as the country is rapidly developing as an attractive destination for all tastes.
Georgia’s location on the geographic, cultural and civilizational crossroads between the east and west, as well as its long, complex and at times tragic history has shaped its culture, defined its character and turned it into the most interesting, distinct and magical places to explore.
The ancient culture mixed with the most vibrant artistic scene of today; the soaring heights of the Caucasus and valleys covered with vineyards; delicious tastes, a mix of the west and the orient to be savored as part of traditional feasting or in numerous outdoor cafes and restaurants; skiing and sun bathing, all awaits to be discovered and appreciated.
Georgians love guests. If you are lost all alone in a remote mountainous village, while tracking or hiking, you will never be left without food or shelter by locals.
The guest is from God, the saying goes and hospitality in Georgia is not just part of the industry, it is part of who we are. And so is wine. Georgia prides itself to be the birthplace of viticulture and a host of hundreds of unique, endogenous grape varieties. Archaeological findings prove that Georgians produced wine in clay vessel (kvevri) already for 8000 years.
UNESCO recognized the Georgian Traditional method of fermenting wine as a part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage, this technology is still alive and thriving, becoming at the forefront of the revival of traditional methods and natural wine production around the world.
From early December to mid April you can discover Georgia’s ski resorts: the best of which are Gudauri, Mestia, Tetnuldi, Bakuriani and Goderdzi. Gudauri offers opportunity for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy Heliski and night skiing. If you are into extreme sports – Mestia and Tetnuldi is where you belong to. Bakuriani is well known for its pure air quality and is the ideal place for family vacations. Last but not the least – the newest resort is Goderdzi, located not far from the seaside, it is in a unique climate zone that ensures snow for the longest period of time.
From early May to late September mountain villages of Georgia offer endless adventures from trekking, hiking, horse riding, mountain-biking, paragliding to rafting. Take a quick flight from Natakhtari to Svaneti and enjoy beautiful remote mountainous region that has preserved its original medieval appearance. Here you can visit Ushguli – UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the highest inhabited village in Europe with it breathtaking scenery and medieval castles and houses.
Tusheti and Khevsureti are perfect destinations for hiking and horse-trekking, where you can follow narrow mountain passes and enjoy amazing natural beauty of almost forgotten paradise. If you are a mountain-biker – head for Kazbegi. It is a perfect place to discover hot springs, waterfalls, and wonderful acidic lakes.
Having mountains and the Black sea together makes Georgia particularly attractive. In summer the Black sea coast is the favorite spot both for locals and tourists. The largest seaside town Batumi is a charming 19th century port with striking architectural diversity and a great offer of festivals and entertainment.
The largest and most interesting of cities, however, is the capital Tbilisi founded in 5th century. It is steeped in history, where the past and the present intersect on every corner and create a city of unique vibe and character. Here Art Nouveau facades and interiors, beautiful local wooden and wrought iron balconies from the medieval area and ultra modern building all create a very distinct architectural fabric of the city.
Old Tbilisi, sits under the imposing Narikala fortress, itself a great site to visit, and is bursting with life day and night with its numerous cafes, wine bars, restaurants and shops. Tbilisi has an increasingly diverse nightlife and is a popular destination for aficionados of electronic music.
Food and wine play a vital role in Georgia’s culture. If you really want to experience Georgia you have to try a Georgian “supra” and enjoy its elaborate culinary delights. Food is made out of fresh local produce and it will make your journey through Georgia particularly delicious.
Many visitors say that at least once in a life time, one should visit Georgia but I believe, if you go there once you are likely to return.
By H.E. Ms. Maya Dobreva, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Bulgaria took over the EU Presidency on 1 January 2018. Bulgaria may be a young EU member state (last year it celebrated its 10th anniversary of EU membership) but is one of the oldest states in Europe – more than 13 centuries old. Rich with its ancient history, strong with its traditions and historic experience Bulgaria is willing to reaffirm its position in the EU and to play a constructive role in the EU processes.
Bulgaria is situated in Southeast Europe, in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula. It is positioned on the crossroad between Europe and Asia and has been а meeting point for different cultures. The centuries-long tradition of co-existence and interaction between different ethnicities, religions and civilizations is a wealth that Bulgaria cherishes and is proud of.
Bulgaria is the cradle of the Cyrillic alphabet and has played a crucial role for spreading of the Slavonic literature and culture. The Cyrillic alphabet has become a symbol of Bulgarian national identity and has been a major factor for preserving this identity over the centuries. UponBulgaria’saccession to the European Unionthe Cyrillic alphabet became the third official alphabet in the EU. Even though Bulgaria is not yet member of the Eurozone, the Cyrillic letters can be seen on every euro banknote.
The long history of Bulgaria was marked by many difficult periods, long periods of foreign dominance, but every time the strength and perseverance of the Bulgarian people has made possible an accelerated rebuilding and development of the state. Bulgaria’s remarkable capacity of catching up was demonstrated in the beginning of 20th century when the country became one of the most developed industrialized countries in the Balkans after gaining independence from the Ottoman Empire.
After the collapse of the communist regime Bulgaria has embraced the democratic values. Following a period of painful reforms and transformation of its economy and state functioning, in 2007 Bulgaria joined the EU.Bulgarians continue to be very pro-European, convinced in the benefits of the European project, willing to work for its preservation and further development.
Although still lagging behind its partners in the EU in terms of GDP per capita, Bulgaria’s dynamic economy, offering excellent conditions for doing business sets conditions for gradually increasing the prosperity of its citizens.
Bulgaria’s strategic geographic location serves as a bridge between the EU and the rapidly growing markets of Russia, Turkey, Middle East and CIS countries, placing the country in the centre of transit between these regions. The country provides educated and skilled workforce – 25% of the population holds university degree and 46% speaks at least one foreign language. Bulgaria has highly developed ICT sector and communication infrastructure, 4G is operational for a few years, the internet is available everywhere and it is third in Europe and fifth in the world speed wise.
The major challenges Bulgaria will have to cope with while at the helm of the EU, are quite diverse – the future of Europe and Brexit, migration and security, financial and social development, digital progress.
For six months Bulgaria will be the main driving force for the tasks on the agenda of the Union, it will perform the functions of an honest mediator, a political leader, a representative and a coordinator. Our goal is to respond to the real needs of European citizens and turn challenges into opportunities.
Today, Europe needs more security, stability and solidarity. We will work for a Secure Europe, because the migration crisis and the terrorist acts over the past years have shown how vulnerable we are;
Stable Europe, because the citizens want to know that the European Union is taking care of their prosperity and well-being;
Solidary Europe, because all member states are faced with the main challenges and they can be overcome only with joint action, not at national or local level.
How are we going to achieve it? Throughconsensus, competitiveness and cohesion.
We are convinced that they are fundamental for the future of Europe, and for achieving them one needs courage, political vision and shared efforts. The key to attaining our common goals is unity. It is not by chance that we chose “United We Stand Strong” for our slogan. This is the motto of our National Assembly and of the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Bulgaria. This will be the slogan of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2018, which our country will follow in each action as rotational President. We will work for unity between the member states, as well as between the European institutions.
Tomorrow Europe will be what we make it today. Today is the time to build a stronger, more secure and more solidary European Union. The citizens of the European Union expect from us to find concrete solutions to concrete issues.
The future of Europe and of the young people – economic growth and social cohesion
Economic growth and social cohesion are key to the future of Europe. There is some good news for the Union in the forecasts – the European economy is speeding up, more jobs are being created, investment is growing, public finances are becoming stronger. Still, there are some challenges – high levels of debt, small increase in salaries. We shall overcome these challenges together. It is important that the member states’ economies continue to grow, it is important that all EU states participate in the debate on the reforms of the Eurozone as equals, regardless of whether they are members of the latter or not.
The future of the Union is to continue the efforts for social cohesion. The Cohesion Policy provides a real added value for EU citizens and is a proven example of a working instrument for reducing the differences between us, which guarantees the success of the European model. This is why our Presidency will work for an active and constructive debate on the Multiannual Financial Framework. We are aware that the world is changing, and overcoming the challenges requires resources. We are convinced that we have to look for a balance between the new funds and the already existing ones, between the financial instruments and the grant financing.
Security and stability in a strong and united Europe
Security and migration policies are some of the topics on which we need consensus and joint efforts. The Bulgarian Presidency will work towards long lasting and fair solutions in the area of asylum policy, for efficient policies for return and readmission, for a balanced approach between short and long-term measures aiming at the source of migration, not only at the consequences thereof. European citizens need security and stability and without these, European values are difficult to attain. This is why great emphasis in our efforts will be given to security, whereby we will focus on strengthening the border controls, on the exchange of information between the various bodies, and on prevention. It is important to work towards efficient, fast and fair justice.
European Perspective and Connectivity of the Western Balkans
When talking about united Europe, we should not forget that the Western Balkans need a clear European perspective and connectivity between them and with the member states. The ambition of the Bulgarian Presidency is to achieve a clear action plan with each of the countries, without creating unrealistic expectations, but with concrete steps. This is the way to have long lasting peace, security and prosperity in the region. The goal is to provide connectivity to the Western Balkan countries – transport, air, energy, educational and digital. Bulgaria invests consequent efforts in this direction, for example by promoting the digital policies of the EU among the countries in the Western Balkans through gradual reduction of roaming charges and by increasing the possibilities for broadband internet access.
Digital economy and skills for the future
Europe’s role in the rapidly developing world is directly linked to the competitiveness of the European economy. The single digital market, the access to innovation, the link between education and the requirements of the future labour market are at the basis of technological development. It is not by chance they are a major element of the programme of the Trio of the Presidencies – Estonia-Bulgaria-Austria and a priority of the Bulgarian Presidency. Electronic communication, providing transboundary services particularly to the SMEs, copy rights, e-privacy and cyber security are some of the items on the agenda that need to be decided upon. Linking the education of the young people with learning “the skills for the future” is the way to achieve a competitive, flexible and successful Europe.
The focus of all our action will be young people. We are responsible to them where we are leading our Union. They are our common investment in the future; they should be given the opportunities of education and development. Fostering early childhood development, modernization of the European educational systems and curricula, strengthening social inclusion through formal and informal learning – these are some of the tasks that should not be put off. Today, in the time of information and communication technologies, more than ever before it is a conditio sine qua non for these technologies to be widely introduced at all levels of the educational system.
Although Bulgaria is gaining popularity, the country remains an unknown place to be discovered. Apart from the numerous historic, cultural, architectural sites to be visited, Bulgaria presents a unique combination of varied natural beauties. The terrain is varied with large mountain massifs, fertile valleys, eternal meadows and a beautiful coastline along the Black Sea. Bulgaria boasts 200 healing mineral springs, making the country an ideal place for spa tourism.
Bulgaria will be in the spotlight in these six months and is eager to show the best of its capabilities, its potential, natural beauty, culture and historic heritage, as well its talents and creativity.
Betilde Muñoz–Pogossian: “Social Inclusion is the process to achieve Equity in the Americas” By Geovanny Vicente Romero.
Women’s empowerment, eradicating hunger and poverty, promoting the inclusion of people in situations of vulnerability, many of those often treated as second-class citizens, such as afrodescedants and indigenous people who do not have equal access to basic benefits and services, the LGTBI community, as well as protecting human rights in general. These issues are part of the life and works of Dr. Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian and are also her passion. In this interview conducted in Washington, D.C., Dr. Muñoz-Pogossian, Director of the Department of Social Inclusion of the Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity of the Organization of American States (OAS) told us about the progress made and the main challenges regarding the equity agenda in the Americas.
What is equity? What are the key issues in the equity agenda in the Americas?
All human beings, from the time we were kids, understand how situations of inequity feel; those situations in which due to gender, race, age, migration status, ethnicity, sexual orientation or identity, a person cannot enjoy their rights and cannot have access to all goods and services in a society. We are all equal before the law. That is a basic obligation of democratic governments. But equity is something else. Equity makes evident the differences amongst all individuals, of their life trajectories that often impede equal access to opportunities. It seeks to generate conditions to level the playing field so that all can effectively have access to education, health, housing, social protection, jobs, to the benefits of economic growth and development throughout their life cycle, and ultimately, to all their human rights. Because the Americas continues to be the most unequal region in the world, the General Secretariat of the OAS has decided to prioritize its efforts to promote more equity in the region, and to contribute to ensuring more rights for more people.
Apart from eradicating poverty and extreme poverty, the regional equity agenda must be focused on the social inclusion of populations in situations of vulnerability. The emphasis should be placed on promoting and ensuring the enjoyment of the rights of children and youth, afrodescedants and indigenous peoples, LGTBI people, people with disabilities, and to continue moving forward with the gender equity agenda. This is where we have had the most progress, but where there is still much to be done.
This work needs to focus, on one hand, on generating conditions of real democracy where these populations can, on a comparable basis as the rest of the members of society, enjoy their civil and political rights, namely, to elect and be elected, to have influence in decision-making processes, and to have incidence in the political agenda. On the other hand, the equity regional agenda must refine the series of public policies that have been implemented so far to ensure a more equal distribution of the benefits of economic growth and development. But we must also move one step further regarding economic and social rights.
More political will is needed to ensure the full socio-productive inclusion of these populations, and to ensure a life free of discrimination for all. This, in the end, has everything to do with their capacity to exercise their civil and political rights. Which person who has to provide for his or her basic needs regarding food, housing or health can effectively enter the political arena and compete for public office? The discussion regarding what to prioritize is a national one. The fact is, however, that the continued existence of socioeconomic inequities that are replicated in the power asymmetries in the political sphere have a negative impact for the stability of our democracies, and on the levels of citizens’ trust in political institutions. This is something that should concern us all.
Betilde Muñoz-PogossianWhich progress should we celebrate? Which challenges should we prioritize?
One of the most important achievements in the last few years has been to have moved the scale in favor of the gender equity agenda. Women’s right to vote is today the norm in all countries of the Americas, and legal frameworks guarantee their right to be elected. According to data from ECLAC, the average number of national female legislators went up from 9 to 25% between 1990 and 2015. Today practically all countries of the region have implemented quota or parity reforms, and some have even legislated in favor of targeted political financing for female candidacies. This has been manifested in greater representation of women in national legislatures, in ministerial cabinets, and although in 2018 we will only have one woman directing her country’s future in Trinidad and Tobago, we have had a number of women as heads of state in a few Latin American countries.
The challenge that we must prioritize is actually a historic debt that we have as a region. We have about 200 million afrodescedants and 50 million indigenous people in the region. These populations are generally in the most vulnerable situations: 90% of these populations in the countries of the region live in poverty or extreme poverty, and in many cases, do not enjoy universal access to health, education, housing, and potable water. This perpetuates a situation of political underrepresentation. At the same time, this translates into the formulation of public policies that do not consider the ethnic specificities of these populations, which again affects the representativeness of the decisions that emerge from the political system, and people’s trust in democracy.
What is the OAS doing to promote the equity agenda in the region?
At the OAS Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity, and its Department of Social Inclusion, we strive to give our support to Member states in their efforts to address inequality in all its forms using an integral, inclusive and sustainable approach. We base our work in the commitments established in the OAS Charter, the Social Charter of the Americas, the Interamerican Democratic Charter, the Protocol of San Salvador, and the numerous interamerican juridical instruments on human rights. The OAS work on the equity agenda is organized along three key strategic lines:
Supporting intersectoral dialogue processes at the highest level to capitalize national capacities, both human and institutional, as well as to promote the exchange of lessons and solutions that contribute to the full exercise of all human rights by the people of the Americas.
Promoting and strengthening efficient cooperation strategies and the generation of alliances amongst countries of the region to promote social inclusion and the exercise of economic, social, and cultural rights, to contribute to the eradication of poverty and extreme poverty in particular, and to revert situations of inequity, and discrimination.
Accompanying countries of the region to fulfill obligations contained in the interamerican normative frameworks regarding development, social inclusion and no discrimination of groups in vulnerable situations, to ensure the effective protection of their human rights.
We at the OAS understand equity as the goal, and social inclusion as the process to achieve it. Promoting more rights for more people is our strategy to tip the scales in favor of equity in the region.
At the end of the conversation with Dr. Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian, it is clear that, although there is much to do, there has been important progress made in our region to ensure more social and political equity. It is also clear that we have the tools to do it. Via legislation, administrative measures, and public policies with a rights-based perspective, we can reverse situations of inequity. The work is monumental, urgent, and difficult because we are dealing with people who are in highly vulnerable situations. The work, however, is worth it because it brings us closer to having better democracies and better societies.
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Note: Opinions are personal. They do not represent the views of the OAS).Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian is Venezuelan. She has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, FL and a Master’s degree in International Relations at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa, FL. Her more recent publications include the volume Equity and Social Inclusion: Overcoming Inequalities towards more Inclusive Societies (2016), and Women, Politics and Democracy in Latin America (2017) from the “Crossing Boundaries of Gender and Politics in the Global South” series, Palgrave McMillan (NY, NY). Following her tenure of more than a decade in the political-electoral secretariat of the OAS, in 2015 Dr. Muñoz-Pogossian assumed the leadership of the work on Social Inclusion at the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States. Twitter: @BeticaMunozPogo
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About the author:Geovanny Vicente-Romero.Geovanny Vicente Romero is the founder of the Dominican Republic Center of Public Policy, Leadership and Development (CPDL-RD). He is a political analyst, international consultant and lecturer based in Washington, D.C. He writes a column for El Diario La Prensa (N.Y.), La Opinion (L.A.) and El Nuevo Día. Reach him on Twitter @geovannyvicentr
Ms. Kathryne Bomberger, ICMP Director-General.
The Hague – The German Federal Foreign Office has provided ICMP with a grant of 1,178,445 Euros to continue its assistance in helping the Iraqi authorities address the vast and complicated issue of locating and identifying missing and disappeared persons from decades of conflict, human rights abuses and other causes. This grant builds upon earlier contributions made between 2010-2017 for Iraq and allows ICMP to expand its work through 2018.
Between 250,000 and one million people have gone missing in Iraq from decades of conflict and human rights abuse. Although the country has taken steps to address the issue through legislation and the establishment of institutions, including signing the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2010, these efforts have been severely constrained by continuing and chronic instability. The inability to deal adequately with the missing persons issue has undermined attempts to address the legacy of past and present violence. Failure by the authorities to deal with missing persons and mass graves in liberated areas is perpetuating and exacerbating grievances.
With this new funding, ICMP will continue its efforts to work with Iraq’s regional authorities to help them build sustainable institutions capable of locating and identifying missing persons regardless of the national, ethnic, or religious origin of the missing person, and to secure the rights of all surviving families of the missing to truth, justice and reparations. The grant will specifically include efforts to improve the technical capabilities of these institutions, including the provision of cutting-edge forensic and data systems capabilities.
“This important contribution will allow us to work across the country at both a national and provincial level to ensure that sustainable measures are put in place that allow for improved cooperation and which enhance Iraq’s technical capabilities,” ICMP Director-General Kathryne Bomberger said today. “ICMP is enormously grateful for the continued support from the German government. Our program is consistent with the objectives of Germany and other international partners in Iraq, and will have a direct and positive impact on securing the rights of families of the missing.”
The new program started in November 2017 and will continue until the end of December 2018.
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ICMP is a treaty-based international organization based in The Hague, the Netherlands. Its mandate is to secure the cooperation of governments and others in locating and identifying missing persons from conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, organized crime, irregular migration and other causes and to assist them in doing so. It is the only international organization tasked exclusively to work on the issue of missing persons.
