H.E. Mr. Shujjat Ali Rathore, Ambassador of Pakistan with chefs Iftikhar Ahmad Chugtai, Sido de Brabander and Muhammad Nazeer. By Roy Lie Atjam. 23 February, Hotel Crowne Plaza Den Haag – Promenade organized a Food Festivals in cooperation with the Embassy of Pakistan and Diplomat magazine, featuring in February was the unique flavours from Pakistan. The General manager of the Hotel Mr. Patrick Aarsman and Pakistan Ambassador H.E. Mr. Shujjat Ali Rathore, warmly welcome the guests. With the cutting of a white ribbon H.E. Ambassador Shujjat Ali Rathore, officially opened the Pakistan edition of the Food Festival. For additional Robert Huiberts’ pictures, please open the lnk below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157691028684512

A team of renowned Pakistani Chefs: Iftikhar Ahmad Chugtai and Muhammad Nazeer prepared authentic dishes. The Chef of Brasserie Brut, Sido de Brabander was also part of the deal. Pakistan is the second Embassy participating in the 2018 food festival, Cuba was the first. Among the dishes served were Pakora- and Dhal Soups, muton, gorma, fried lahorifish, chicken biryani and other items. Desert consisted of assorted Barfi and jalebi. A very colorful presentation. H.E. Ambassador Shujjat Ali Rathore, and his elegant spouse Uzma, entertained the over a dozen or so Ambassadors who responded to the invitation. What is more, friends of Pakistan and diplomats, all enjoy the Pakistani edition of Promenade Food Festival with its mouth-watering flavours.

A successful International flavour food festival, kudos to Patrick Aarsman and Hotel Crowne Plaza Den Haag – Promenade.

Heads of state of Burkina Faso, Mali, Belgium, Mauritania and Chad together with the King of the Belgians – Picture by Belgian Monarchy. Friday, 23 February 2018, Brussels: In the framework of the Sahel international donors conference, His Majesty King Philippus of the Belgians, hosted a luncheon for his fellow heads of states benefitting from the international aid. Namely the presidents of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, and Chad, General Idriss Déby. The conference was focused on finding common solutions for local development, fighting terrorism, illegal migration as well as strategies for sharing intelligence and defence units. All in all, this high-level meeting resulted in €414 million being pledged to support the 5,000-strong G5 Sahel Joint Force, that is, a military partnership amongst Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad designed to fight terrorism and organised crime in the region. The Sahel region, a semi-arid stretch of land that stretches from Senegal to Sudan and further east to Eritrea, has long been a base of Islamic extremist groups. In the last few years the region’s problems have been exacerbated by severe drought and the worsening military conflict in Libya. Many of the region’s residents have become part of the uncontrolled flow of migrants that have flooded into Europe via the Mediterranean since the summer of 2015. Belgium, France, and Germany have provided significant financial and security assistance to the Sahel region and the G5 Security forces. Paris has long taken a lead role, having deployed more than 4,000 crack troops and hi-tech military equipment to the region as part of its pan-regional Operation Barkhane anti-terror mission. The three EU stalwarts view the region as a potential threat to their own security and a source of radical terrorism. After its creation in 2014, with the support of the UN, the funding and operational capacity of the G5 Sahel Joint Force remains unclear as it remains heavily dependent on international support. For further information: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/defence-security/crisis-and-conflicts/g5-sahel-joint-force-and-the-sahel-alliance/

Armenian Foreign Minister, Edward Nalbandian and Federica Mogherini – Picture by European Union. Wednesday, 21 February 2018, Brussels: Three months after signing the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement at the  Eastern Partnership Summit, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Eduard Nalbandyan held a joint meeting to lay out the priorities for future cooperation between the European Union and Yerevan. The list of priorities for future bilateral cooperation includes strengthening i) the role of public institutions; ii) improving Armenia’s economic development and its market opportunities; iii) increasing of people’s mobility and people-to-people contacts; as well as iv) cooperation in environment and climate change policies. Moreover, the document lays the foundation for €160 million in financial aid that the EU plans to wire gradually to Yerevan, a substantial amount for a landlocked country with few natural resources, a high dependence on the import of food, oil, and natural gas, and remittances from Armenia’s vast diaspora in Russia, the US and Europe. Though Armenia is a full member of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union, which imposes certain trade limitations on third parties, the Kremlin has thus far stood idly by as more Western institutions look to court Yerevan. Armenia’s own interest in re-examining its relationship with Europe likely stems from the conflict in Ukraine. Russia’s support of pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region and its annexation of Crimea has likely sent a signal to other former Soviet republics who entertain the idea of leaving Russia’s orbit that the Kremlin is capable of sparking deadly wars against former close allies. For further information:  http://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/item/2018/02/21/fm_mogherini_meeting/

H.E. Mr. Hector Horacio Salvador, Ambassador of Argentina  and the Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr. Herman von Hebel. Argentina and ICC sign agreements on Interim Release and Release of Persons, reinforcing Argentina’s commitment to accountability and fair trial. Today, 28 February 2018, the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Hector Horacio Salvador, and the Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr. Herman von Hebel, in the presence of the ICC President, Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, signed cooperation agreements on interim release and release of ICC detained persons on the Argentine territory, pursuant to decisions of the Chambers of the Court. The interim release agreement establishes the procedure for the temporary release of a suspect or accused in the custody of the Court, following the decision of a Chamber of the Court, and based on the provisions of the Rome Statute. The agreement on the release of persons regulates the procedure for the transfer of a person released from the custody of the Court, for example in the case that the person was acquitted, and tasks the Court to make the arrangements for such release into the territory of the State. Further information on these cooperation agreements can be found on the booklet developed by the Court to promote their signature: https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/seminarBooks/Cooperation_Agreements_Eng.pdf Argentina is the second country accepting to provisionally receive ICC detained persons on its territory and the first country to sign the agreement on release of persons. With these signatures, Argentina becomes the first country to have signed four cooperation agreements with the Court, providing the ICC with successful tools for cooperation. “By signing these two agreements, Argentina reaffirms its strong support and turns to the forefront in terms of cooperation with the ICC; we are glad that it took place on a symbolic occasion such as the twentieth anniversary of the Rome Statute”, said Argentine Ambassador H.E. Horacio Salvador. “With the signature of these two new agreements, Argentina will become the first country to sign all four cooperation agreements with the Court. We consider these to be of fundamental importance for supporting the effective work of the Court with full respect for due process and fair trial rights. It is a great satisfaction for me that the signing of these four cooperation agreements took place during my presidency of the Court” said ICC President Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi. “The conclusion of these cooperation agreements is a concrete demonstration of Argentina’s commitment to the Court and its mandate, as well as a tangible way to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Rome Statute; we hope other States Parties will make similar pledges”, said ICC Registrar Herman von Hebel. In all of its activities, the ICC relies on the cooperation of States and International Organisations, including receiving detained persons after their interim or final release, enforcing sentences of imprisonment pronounced by the Court, or relocating witnesses. The Court may enter into arrangements or agreements to provide such cooperation. The International Criminal Court is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, namely the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Ambassador of Bangladesh. Eleven countries joined Bangladesh to observe Ekushe in the Netherlands As a part of different programs to observe the Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day, the Embassy of Bangladesh in The Hague arranged a day-long program today (24 February 2018). Despite sub-zero temperature, more than 300 guests gathered to commemorate the day. The highlight of this year’s event, likewise earlier years, as many as eleven other embassies-India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Russian Federation, Morocco, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran and countries joined Bangladesh to make this event truly multicultural and participatory. Our language martyrs, who sacrificed their lives, for making us speak in our mother tongue, have reasons to take solace to the fact that our immortal Ekushe is truly a global event where Bangladesh turned itself into a platform offering space for others for their united appeal to promote multilingualism and diversity. Apart from large number of expatriate Bangladesh community, students, Dutch nationals, members of media, diplomats etc attended the programme. To ensure participation of a good number of participants, the Embassy organized the event on a weekend day. The event begun with placing floral wreath at a temporary Shaheed Minar put up in hounour of language martyrs. Along with H. E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Ambassador of Bangladesh, Ambassadors of Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Russian Federation, Morocco, Vietnam, Malaysia, representatives of India, Nepal, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kenya also joined the procession and paid their respects. Later, leaders of Netherlands Awami-League, expatriate Bangladesh community and other guests also placed flowers at the Shaheed Minar. Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, in his speech, paid tributes to the language martyrs of 1952 and emphasized the significance of protection and preservation of more than 7000 Mother Languages of the world.

Ambassador Belal also mentioned that The Hague Municipal authority allocated a land for Shaheed Minar construction and foundation for that construction has already been laid at Zuiderpark in The Hague by Foreign Secretary H.E. Mr. Shahidul Haque on 19 February 2018. He expressed deep gratitude to The Hague Municipal authority, especially to the Deputy Mayor of The Hague Municipality, for extending necessary permission in this regard. Ambassador also briefly highlighted the background of immortal 21st February, UNESCO recognition as International Mother Language Day and how 21st February acted as a constant source of inspiration in our great liberation war which we fought under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Ambassador also highlighted ongoing development spree in the country and urged all to do their part to sustain and expedite this development.

Other Ambassadors were also invited to address their remarks about native culture, heritage and mother language. They appreciated the role of Embassy of Bangladesh in upholding the strength of multilingualism, peace and humanity. Dr. Dilruba Nasrin, wife of Ambassador Belal, moderated a segment where all attending Ambassadors and diplomats were made to speak in their mother tongue as well as in Bangla. Their chorus of love for mother tongue exuded a new kind of emotion in the audience as language and mother were found inexorably inseparable. Ambassador Russian Federation made a minute long speech in Bengali and later admitted the he has been training himself for this event for weeks. The culminating chorus of “Dhonnobad Bangladesh” was echoed much beyond the hall room as audience greeted them with thumping appreciation. Later, colourful and diverse cultural performances were presented by Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Russia and Netherlands. Children of Bangladesh played a short drama in Bangla which depicts the history of 21st February 1952 and how this day achieved recognition as International Mother Language Day. Bangladesh origin Dutch children sang the song of the immortal 21st February in Bangla and in Dutch language simultaneously. As a guest of honour, Ms. Kana Verheul, President of Stichting (Foundation) Shapla community, the organization for the adoptees from Bangladesh presented a heart touching presentation regarding journey in search of her root in Bangladesh. Ms. Kana was adopted as an infant by Dutch parents after our glorious liberation war of 1971. After enormous effort of 40 years she found her root in Bangladesh and met her biological sister confirmed by DNA tests. She emphasized on the rights of adopted children to know their origin as well as urged to the Governments of Netherlands and Bangladesh for supporting in such a noble initiative. The guests praised the initiative of the Embassy of Bangladesh for organizing the programme involving performers of other countries which truly added different dimensions in the programme. They mentioned that the Embassy of Bangladesh created a platform to showcase cultural integration and harmony. Overall, attending the expatriate Bangladesh community and guests expressed their satisfaction. Guests were served with traditional Bangladesh lunch and guests were seen to exchanging themselves for hours after the event.

28 February 2018, Curaçao –  The Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Willemstad, His Excellency Mr. Weixin Zhang, together with Vice-Consul, Dr. Li Sun, paid a courtesy visit to the Dean of the Consular Corps of Curaçao, Mr. Karel Frielink. During the meeting the development and future of both China and Curaçao were discussed. The courtesy call also provided the opportunity for both sides to share and exchange views on issues of mutual interest.