On the picture portrait and works of Jin Yong.Chinese martial arts, often named under the umbrella term of wushu or kung fu, involve exercising the mind as well as the body, a strenuous and continued effort devoted to one’s pursuit.Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Lam (centre), presents copies of the works of Jin Yong to Ms Benedicte Vaerman, Collection Expert China of KU Leuven Libraries Artes, and to Professor Dr Guido Van Huylenbroeck of the University of Gent.
This resonates with the Hong Kong spirit – strive for perfection, never give up, and at the same time, be skillful and flexible in facing challenges. Wuxia literature has a long history.
Xia were soldiers originally fighting for one of the contending Warring States, who later became knights-errant of the common people, fighting against injustice and corruption.
Athletes from the Hong Kong Wushu Union recreate a scene from one of Jin Yong’s martial arts novels.
The genre was revived in Hong Kong in the 1950s and flourished there, alongside the cinema it inspired. Louis Cha published his first martial arts novel, The Book and the Sword, in 1955 under the pen name Jin Yong.
It was a huge success and he went on to write a total of 14 novels and one short story which have deeply influenced the popular culture of Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan and Macao. The Hong Kong Heritage Museum honoured Dr Cha by opening a Jin Yong Gallery earlier this year (www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/en).
Dr Alfred Kellermann.EU Project “Further Strenghtening of the Bi-Cameral Parliamentary System and Communications between the Parliament and the Regional Assemblies in Uzbekistan”.By Dr Alfred Kellermann.
In October 2012 I was involved as Team Leader in Uzbekistan in an EU Project which had the objective “To support the current process of reforms and further democratisation in Uzbekistan by modernising the Uzbek Parliament and reinforcing its relationship with society.”
Objective 1 – Capacity building was to increase the effectiveness of the legislative process and to reinforce the parliamentary mechanisms for monitoring law implementation at different levels in line with EU and international best practices combined with national experience and parliamentary traditions .
Objective 2 – Networking to create an information / communication network that will ensure continuous and clear interaction between the Senate and the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, the Jokargy Kenes (Parliament of the Republic of Karakalpakstan) and local Kengashes of people deputies.
Objetive 3 – Public Awareness increasing at Uzbek society for the role and functioning of the Parliament, improving public and NGO Participation and involvement in discussing draft legislation at different stages.
The results of the three objectives were more or less realized in 2014.
Full integration of Uzbekistan into the International and EU legal order poses a number of tasks for the Chamber of Legislation and Senate in Uzbekistan. Some of these tasks have to be implemented in the near future.
The First contractual relationship of Uzbekistan with EU, the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed on 21 June 1996 in Florence, came into force on July first 1999. In accordance with Article 83 PCA, a Parliamentary Cooperation Committee for PCA and Association was established.
Since the entry info force of the Lisbon Treaty, many new developments took place which were of interest for this parliamentary project for example the new role of the national Parliaments (Art. 12 EU). Strengthening the capacities of the Chamber of Legislation and Senate of Uzbekistan to monitor the Approximation of the Uzbek legislation with International Conventions and EU acquit according to Article 42 PCA was one of the priorities.
Since January 2005 the Parliament consists of two chambers: the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (Lower House) and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis (Upper House).
The Senate is the highest legislative body of territorial representatives . It consists of 100 Senators and represents 12 viloyats (regions) of Uzbekistan, the city of Tashkent and the Republic of Karakalpakstan. The Legislative Chamber consists of 150 Deputies with a right of legislative initiative, elected from various electoral disctricts based on a Multi-party system.
The Republic of Karakalpakstan is an integral part of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with 1,5 million inhabitants and covers approximately one third of Uzbekistan’s territory. Jokargy Kenes is the unicameral Parliament of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and has 86 deputies.
Plans towards building a democratic state respectful for the rule of law, Human rights and participative civil society have been prepared during the period of the EU project. These developments together with an action plan for future reforms have been presented in a “Concept of further deepening for democratic reforms and establishing the civil society in the country”drafted in late 2010. In a Keynote Speech of the President on 14.9.2012 the level and quality of training of specialists was raised as a top priority of state policy.
Uzbekistan’s new President Shavkat Mirziyoyev elected on December 4, 2016 says he wants his country to finally move on from Soviet era policies and economics. This has as a consequence that in the near future the objectives and results of the EU project of 2012 will be enlarged and will continue to have its effects for new reforms!
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Dr Alfred Kellermann, Team Leader 2012 in Uzbekistan. The EU integration of Uzbekistan’s full project is available in the Chamber of Legislation and Senate of Uzbekistan. Dr Kellerman is a Professor in European Law. Institution Building Expert.
Naseeb Mfinanga, Donna Duggan and family.Maasai Wanderings and Nasikia Camps Tanzania announce Advisors and Executive nominees
Leading African tourism companies Maasai Wanderings and Nasikia Tented Camps (Tanzania) have released the companies’ first public statement following the tragic loss of Managing Director and Co-Founder Mr Naseeb Mfinanga.
Mr Mfinanga was one of 11 people who lost their lives on 15 November, 2017 when a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft operated by Coastal Aviation was involved in an accident which took place above the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania.
Mr Mfinanga’s brother Shatri Mfinanga and the company’s graphics specialist GiftLema also lost their lives in the incident.
Charles Mwanisawa.
An investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident is being conducted by Tanzania’s Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication. The operator Coastal Aviation has also commissioned independent air investigators.
Ms Duggan is also being advised by a leading law firm, Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc. (ENSafrica), via its offices in Dar es Salaam, on the process of the continued operations of Nasikia Camps and Maasai Wanderings as well as the accident investigations referred to above.
Donna Duggan and Naseeb Mfinanga
The following highly respected persons will also work closely with Ms Duggan during this period: • Mr Andrew Shapland of Tourism Corporation Africa Ltd and The Roving Ambassador GTC (Pty) Ltd, in the role of Business Development, reporting to Ms Duggan. • Mr Stefan le Roux, South African Attorney and Solicitor of The Supreme Court of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will act as legal advisor to ensure the best interests of Mr Mfinanga’s wife and family.
StefanLeRoux
• Mr Johann Lombard in the role of Sales and Camp Development. Mr Lombard has a deep understanding of the groups’ values, products, philosophy and vision as well as extensive expertise in guide skill development, camp construction, infrastructure and operations.
• Mr Charles Mwanisawa former General Manager of KasKaz Mara Camp, will head Operations to oversee standards of excellence in all camps and locations.
Formation of the ‘Naseeb Mfinanga Memorial Trust’
Co-Founder and joint Managing Director of Maasai Wanderings Limited and co-founder of Nasikia Camps (Nasikia Tanzania Ltd) Donna Duggan, has announced the formation of ‘The Naseeb Mfinanga Memorial Trust’ to be incorporated in the Republic of South Africa.
“Through the Naseeb Mfinanga Memorial Trust, we will honour my husband and continue the work which was so important to us both – helping those in need in our communities and across Tanzania, with particular emphasis on preservation, conservation, youth empowerment and education,” Ms Duggan said.
Andrew Shapland.
H.E. Mr. Od Och, Ambassador of Mongolia, spouse Mrs. Tsolmon Jadamba and Ms. Maralgua Od, Ambassador’s daughter with members of the Khan Bogd ensemble.By Sheila Turabaz.
Last November’s Diplomats Meet and Greet was centered around Mongolian culture in all its splendor.
Organized by the Embassy of Mongolia in Brussels, Diplomat Magazine and the Diplomatic Card at the Carlton Ambassador Hotel, guests experienced enchanting Mongolia through live music performances and fantastic food.
Guests were entertained with traditional Mongolian music, played by the Khan Bogd music ensemble, dressed in traditional Mongolian “deel” clothing . The traditional folk music of Mongolia has a rich background; tradition that goes back many centuries and is influenced by various tribes. Musical ensembles performed during ritual ceremonies and various celebrations, for example in the “ger” (Mongolian tent).
For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157690027974781The Khan Bogd music ensemble from Mongolia, performing during Diplomats Meet & Greet at Carlton Ambassador.
The “morin khuur” (horse-head fiddle) is considered to be most important traditional Mongolian instrument, also recognized by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
The ensemble’s repertoire consists of khöömij (throat singing) and magtaal (praise songs).
One of the chefs of Modern Nomads, a famous chain of restaurants in Mongolia.
As usual, and introduction to the national cuisine is an integral part of every Diplomats Meet and Greet.
The chefs of Modern Nomads — one of the biggest chain of restaurants in Mongolia — were invited to prepare their best authentic Mongolian dishes, such as the “khorkhog”, a Mongolian barbecue dish cooked inside of a container which contains hot stones and water and “khuushuur”, a fried meat pastry. Our taste buds were also pleasantly surprised with a cocktail of Mongolian “Chinggis Khan” vodka and seabuckthorn juice.
His Excellency Ambassador Od Och during his speech.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Mongolia. In his welcome speech, H.E. Ambassador Mr. Od Och expressed his gratitude for the development assistance provided by the Dutch government during Mongolia’s transitional period to an open market economy and for supporting the reintroduction of “Przewalski” horses — a rare and endangered wild horse — (which were in danger of total extinction) thanks to a re-introduction and breeding program for Przewalski horses in the Netherlands.
Furthermore, the Netherlands is the second largest investor in Mongolia and close ties exist between the two countries in the field of education and tourism, — especially in recent years — as tourism in Mongolia grows in popularity.
The Director of the Asia-Pacific Department at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Peter Potman.
Mr. Peter Potman, Director of the Asia-Pacific Department at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs also followed with a speech, in which he mentioned significant moments of “fruitful cooperation” in the 45 years of bilateral relations between Mongolia and the Netherlands. One of these moments was a visit by former Minister of Finance Gerrit Zalm to Mongolia.
The Netherlands played an important role supporting Mongolia to join the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in 2006. This turned out to be successful: the ERBD is currently considered to be the largest foreign investor in Mongolia, supporting, among other things, private sector companies and banks in the field of diversification, sustainable growth and infrastructure.
Ambassador Och welcome His Eminence the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Aldo Cavalli.
This Mongolian themed Diplomats Meet and Greet certainly succeeded in enticing guests to visit the country, with its (as described by the ambassador) “beautiful natural features, (…) wide variety of untouched landscapes and nomadic way of life and culture”. Sheila Turabaz. together with the Khan Bogd music ensemble.
Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the EU, Ms Shirley Lam, with the fastest team at the Oxfam Trailwalker.
As one of its initiatives to mark the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s 20th anniversary, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) brought 20 young people from Hong Kong to participate in the 100-kilometre Oxfam Trailwalker challenge in Belgium’s High Fens around Eupen on 26-27 August.
The challenge consists in teams of four walkers having to complete a 100km trek in no more than 30 hours. Although it is now a worldwide event that takes place in nine countries over four continents, the first Trailwalker was first held in Hong Kong in 1981 as a Gurkha training exercise, before it was taken over by Oxfam in 1997.
The Deputy Representative of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels), Miss Alice Choi (front row, second right); the Assistant Representative of the HKETO, Brussels, Mr Jeffrey Chim (front row, first right); the Chairman of the Belgium-Hong Kong Society, Mr Piet Steel (front row, first left); and founder of the International Polar Foundation, Mr Alain Hubert (back row, second left), participated in the Oxfam VIP walk in Belgium on August 26 and greeted the walkers of a Hong Kong team, the Fearless Dragon, at the Hong Kong Checkpoint.
In view of this special link, HKETO, Brussels was happy to sponsor the event. The 20 young people, all 20 years old, the same age as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, successfully completed the arduous trek, showing the true Hong Kong “can do” spirit. In addition to the five teams of young people, seven Hong Kong adult teams also “Walked the Hong Kong Spirit”, including “Fearless Dragon”, a team of walkers with disabilities.
There was also a shorter VIP walk. The Belgian team that raised the largest sum of money for charity was invited to take part in the Oxfam Trailwalker in Hong Kong on 17-19 November 2017.
During their week-long visit, the group of twenty-year-olds learnt more about Belgium and the EU through a series of briefings on topics ranging from youth policies to climate change. They were taken on guided tours to major sites, including World War I locations and the battlefield of Waterloo. The group also visited a project in Boom near Antwerp, where De Steenschuit offers traineeships to people who have been unemployed for at least one year.
The group of young people from Hong Kong visited the De Steenschuit project, which is building a replica of historic ship Belgica.
In 2013, it started the construction of a replica of the RV Belgica, a wooden three-mast ship in which famous Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache sailed to the South Pole on an international expedition of discovery in 1897. Once it is completed, the New Belgica will take part in tall ship events and take pride of place in Antwerp’s new Museum for Maritime Heritage, to be opened in the docks in 2023.
The project is supported among others by funds raised at the annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Antwerp, organised by Rotary Club Antwerp West and supported by HKETO, Brussels.
By Mayor Peter Feldmann, Lord Mayor of Frankfurt am Main.
Representations of foreign states reside in capital cities? Usually, but not always! Frankfurt is certainly not the seat of the provincial government, but nevertheless the majority of the 108 consulates in the State of Hessen are located in the economic and logistical centre of the state. The Hessian Consular Corps therefore enjoys a special privilege, as it is cared for equally by the Hessian state government as well as the municipal authorities of the City of Frankfurt am Main.
The Hessian State Chancellery and the Frankfurt Department of Communications and City Marketing are working closely together to this end. In this way, inaugural receptions are hosted for new consular officials in both Wiesbaden as well as in Frankfurt. Here it is the Lord Mayor’s honour to regularly welcome the new members of the Hessian Consular Corps for their inaugural visit in the historical Römer City Hall. The imperial hall offers a celebratory atmosphere with the paintings of 52 majesties of the Holy Roman Empire, the majority of which had been elected in Frankfurt.
But the role of the City of Frankfurt as a host does not stop there. The summer reception for the Hessian Consular Corps takes place regularly, which the City of Frankfurt traditionally hosts. The same applies for the “Autumn Seasonal Meeting of the Consular Corps”. Here the state government and the municipal authorities hand out the invites. As a result, the host role is based on reciprocity. When the consular authorities send out invites for the national holidays of their own countries or other important occasions, the hosts in Frankfurt gladly become guests themselves.
But also Heads of State and Government from other states come to Frankfurt regularly. In June 2015 H.M. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom honoured Frankfurt am Main during her state visit. Before the banquet in the historical imperial hall she showed great interest in the Paulskirche in Frankfurt, the meeting place of the first German parliament in 1848.
The Frankfurt International Book Trade-Fair is another occasion event where international heads of state and government officials can be expected to participate within the framework of the annual Guest of Honour-Country. As a result, Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, were welcomed in 2016 and most recently the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron in 2017.
The tasks of a good host are incumbent upon the offices in the Department of Communications and City Marketing, which is subordinate to the Lord Mayor. Here the Protocol Office organizes the municipal receptions and the International Affairs Office is available to the Hessian Consular Corps as a central contact for practical support. This includes e.g. finding the right nursery or school places, function rooms, support with traffic and property matters and also basic questions on diplomacy.
The staff at the Department of Communications and City Marketing gladly assists the members of the Consulate Corps from all continents with guidance and resources. Their interlocutors praise the open atmosphere in Frankfurt, where peaceful cohabitation works. No wonder, as in Frankfurt we have been understanding exchange as an opportunity for as long as we can remember. In our home also live people from 177 nations, who master approximately 200 languages. Without this openness, Frankfurt’s tradition that reaches back to the middle ages as an international exhibition and trade city would be unthinkable. As an advantage there is also the quality of life in a green city, surrounded by several low mountain ranges. In addition, there is the position as the junction of important road and rail links, as well as the international airport. All of the important international airlines serve the hub. This also sustainably influences the work of the consular agencies in our city.à
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On the picture Mr Feldmann with members of the consular Coprs. Copyright Stadt Frankfurt Felix Wachendoerfer.
By Jhr mr Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland.
This will be my last contribution to Diplomat Magazine. To say goodbye. During many years I wrote articles every month in my honorary function as ‘Special Advisor International Affairs of the City of The Hague’, or –as some Dutch newspapers (NRC Handelsblad, De Telegraaf, AD Haagsche Courant) called me several years ago and ever since (with a wink !)- ‘the city ambassador of The Hague’.
In the 80’s and especially the 90’s of the 20th century The Haghe was very succesful in gathering in international organisations (ICTY, OPCW, ICC etc.), other IGO’s and NGO’s. Tens of thousands of international workers from all over the world work and live here now. They are very important for The Hague’s image as ‘The International City of Peace and Justice’ as well as for its economy and employment. That is why in 2004 the Municipality of The Hague was extremely worried about the results of an enquiry from an international workers union amongst their members about what they thought about living and working in The Netherlands: a lot of international workers were at that time not happy here and wanted to leave our country, together with the organisations they worked for. If the expats really would leave on a large scale, it would be disastrous for our city. The Mayor and Aldermen of The Hague took many measures, together with the Government, to avoid that exodus.
A small measure of the Mayor and Aldermen was to ask six inhabitants – I was one of them- to become ‘City Consul of The Hague’ and to be their ‘eyes and ears’ in the international circuit in The Hague. So we did. The complaints were very divers: from police behavior to not understanding the public health system here to the general feeling that they were not welcome by the Dutch people and much more. We listened to the complaints of the expats and passed the information on to the Mayor (and former Cabinet Minister) Mr. Deetman personally, who then took measures. Several years later the new Mayor Mr. van Aartsen –also a former Cabinet Minister- decided to decrease the number of City Consuls to only me and to change my title into ‘Special Advisor International Affairs’.
What I mainly do in the international circuit of The Hague can perhaps be summerized as: (1) explain about and help with many different aspects of The Hague and The Netherlands, (2) connect people if useful for them and (3) –occasionally- listen to complaints and try to solve them. Furthermore I gave in the past fourteen years interviews to several newspapers, wrote articles in several international as well as Dutch magazines and held speeches for international as well as Dutch organisations about the history and future of, and importance for The Hague of the big international community here.
This year I will turn 70 and I will have to retire as Justice (Judge) in the (Dutch) Court of Appeal, my daily work. It’s time for other things than work. That is also the main reason that I will resign as Special Advisor International Affairs per February 1, 2018. Since that capacity was the reason why I wrote for Diplomat Magazine, I will stop with that also per the same day: February 1, 2018.
It was a privilige to serve during fourteen years The Hague as well as to serve and help hundreds of always very nice and friendly foreign diplomats, judges and other expats, coming from all over the world to live and work in my own beloved The Hague, ‘The International City of Peace and Justice’.
I thank all people involved, expats as well as Dutch, from the bottom of my heart. Goodbye !
a.beelaerts@planet.nlAlexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland
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Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland’s articles in ‘Diplomat Magazine’ 2013 – 2018
2013-10 The Hague welcomes six new ambassadors in September
2013-11 Congratulations !
2013-12 The Dutch learn about Diplomacy in The Hague
2014-01 From Queen to King in 2013
2014-02 A remarkable year in The Hague
2014-04 ‘It was truly gezellig !’
2014-05 Remembrance / Kwibuka
2014-06 Jolly June in The Hague
2014-07 Welcome to nine new ambassadors
2014-09 200 years ‘Prinsjesdag’
2014-10 Welcome !
2014-11 International Organizations in The Hague
2014-12 Welcome Ambassadors !
2015-01 Ambassadors in the Press
2015-02 Welcome new ambassadors !
2015-03 Elections in March
2015-04 4th Global Conference on CyberSpace in The Hague
2015-04 The Hague becomes an International Security Centre
2015-05 Remembrances in The Hague: Armenia, ANZAC and Rwanda
2015-06 The Hague for UNICEF
2015-07 The Haghe and Missing Persons
2015-09 The topic of Immigration and NIMP, The Netherland’s Institute for Multiparty Democracy
2015-11 The 3rd World Conference of Women’s Shelters in The Hague
2015-12 New World Campus: an innovative and sustainable new organisation
2016-01 The Dutch and the Dutch EU Presidency in 2016
2016-02 Terrorism in The Hague
2016-03 The Hague’s new word mark
2016-04 The Hague: more than just the international institutions
2016-05 European exhibition on peace ans security
2016-06 Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) centre of Excellence (CCOE) moved to The Hague
2016-07 The Hague Academy of International Law in the Peace Palace
2016-09 The Hague as Shelter City for Defenders of Human Rights
2016-10 EUROPOL: a fast growing international police organization in The Hague
2016-11 REDRESS: the most recent NGO that started in The Hague
2016-12 Kosovo: again a new international tribunal to settle in The Hague
2017-01 “Discover International Law”: an interesting new book
2017-02 Brochure The Hague International City of Peace and Justice
2017-03 Dutch elections on March 15th
2017-04 OPCW twenty years in The Hague
2017-05 The Hague and the Urban Agenda for the EU
2017-06 A new NGO in The Hague: Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI)
2017-07 Visitor’s Centre of the Peace Palace
2017-09 4th Just Peace Festival 2017
2017-10 The Red Cross branch The Hague’s activities in the autumn
2017-11 The Hague and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)
2017-12 The end of ICTY
2018-01 My resignation as ‘city ambassador of The Hague’ after 14 years
By Corneliu Pivariu.
During the last 20 years we witnessed numerous “calligraphy exercises” or exercises directly on the map as far as the possible developments in the Middle East were concerned, some of them worth paying attention to, mainly through the authors’ prism and the interests behind them and less through any practical elements they suggested.
Here we are 100 years later after the Balfour Declaration (2nd of November, 2017) and the developments after the two World Wars and the end of the Cold War foreshadow the continuation of an incertitude and conflict situation in this area.
If after the fall of Berlin Wall it seemed that the Middle East evolved gradually toward stability following the Peace Treaty between Jordan and Israel and some minor positive evolutions of the Palestinian problem, here it came 2006 which marked a dangerous development for Israel in its conflict with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and later on we were witnessing the so-called “Arab Spring” which, in fact, triggered a storm not only in the Middle East but also in North Africa. It created not only a state of instability but also it sent profound reverberations especially in Europe where the migrants/refugees crisis continues. And all these on the background of a still undecided struggle in a globalising world whereby the Middle East still represents an important geopolitical stake.
If we simplify a little the situation, a solution for normalizing the actual state of affairs in the Middle East might be represented by setting on new bases the relations among the four of the most important countries (in alphabetical order): Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Turkey and Israel’s acceptance of the evolutions in this regard as well as solving the Palestinian problem.
An especially first important condition for a start of the solution being possible is that of achieving a Sunni-Shia reconciliation, which would mean an important step toward normalizing the relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Such an achievement, followed by a series of political and economic steps for cementing and developing these relations could create the conditions for a new development of the cooperation among the Gulf countries, for stabilizing the situation in Yemen as well as positive evolutions in Iraq, a particularly important country for the Middle East.
Egypt, which ever since the last part of Mubarak regime played an ever dull role in the Middle East in comparison with its geopolitical size, importance and position and having diplomatic relations with Israel, could contribute to a greater extent to a durable solution in case it solves the serious economic and social problems it is confronted with and will improve its relations with Iran, Turkey and even with Saudi Arabia. In its relationship with Turkey, the leadership in Cairo should overcome the episode of the support Ankara extended to the former president Mohammad Morsi.
Turkey is an important regional player still in the ascendance, yet confronted with domestic problems of a political and social nature, with the Kurdish movement of independency and, no less important, dependent on foreign financing for implementing its ambitious programs of economic development. Turkey is also dependent on the import of energy resources (especially crude oil and gas from Russia and Iran), as well as on the relations with these countries, to which China should be added. The manner in which the conflict in Syria will be solved has a particular importance for Ankara and in this respect it is interesting to follow the developments in Idlib area. We think that the development of the relations between Ankara and Riyadh might be of great importance.
Tehran should renounce exporting the Islamic revolution and the project of the Shiite crescent, to achieve a greater economic regional and global opening and to decide as well if it wants to be a nuclear or a geopolitical power. To say nothing of the policy in relationship with Israel.
Here it is, very briefly, why we believe that such a solution is an utopian one and, at least for the next two or three decades, we do not contemplate an evolution toward stability in the Middle East.
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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.
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Photographer: Ionus Paraschiv.
With the release of the bestseller Traslados, Silvia Korenblum, psychologist and diplomatic spouse, describe and explore the transitory migration of diplomatic life and its impact on the family. Diplomat Magazine decided to publish this powerful companion book designed for diplomats and their families, in its original language.Por Silvia Korenblum. Las etapas del desarrollo con sus crisis vitales son esperables para todos los individuos. Surgen desde la naturaleza misma de la biología y de la sociedad y atraviesan la estructura familiar.Adolescencia
Una crisis de desarrollo por excelencia es la adolescencia, pasaje de niño a adulto, dolorosa y excitante travesía.
Siguiendo las ideas de Arminda Aberastury (1983), podemos decir que el adolescente realiza tres duelos fundamentales: a) duelo por el cuerpo infantil perdido, siente sus cambios como algo externo frente a lo cual se encuentra como espectador impotente de lo que ocurre en su propio organismo; b) duelo por el rol y la identidad infantiles, que implican una toma de responsabilidades que antes desconocía; y, c) duelo por los padres de la infancia que también tienen que aceptar su envejecimiento y el hecho de que los niños ya no son niños.
Ya el polo de identificaciones no está en la casa como en la infancia (madre, padre, hermanos). Es el momento de salir, de buscar afuera, de despegarse de los padres y descubrir el mundo. De esta manera, el adolescente se mueve entre el impulso del desprendimiento de los padres y la defensa que le impone el temor a lo desconocido.
A los adolescentes en tránsito, cuando se tienen que trasladar, se les suma el duelo por el grupo de pares y la geografía. Y se complica, porque dejar a los amigos, novios, clubes, deportes que se practican en virtud de una geografía y una cultura determinada, es dejar una imagen, un reflejo, un referente, en plena búsqueda de identidad.
Ese reflejo que al adolescente le devuelve quién es él, en el momento en el que la imagen del hogar ya no es lo que más necesita o justamente es una imagen de la que busca desprenderse. Es entonces cuando los adolescentes reaccionan y se enojan con sus padres. Los jóvenes sienten que tienen razón en esa rabia, mientras que sus padres se debaten entre las culpas y las reediciones de sus propias ansiedades adolescentes y se encuentran perdidos entre las razones de sus hijos, y sus propias razones.
Florencia de 16 años estaba de novia cuando llega el traslado. Esto crea una verdadera crisis en la madre, que se debatía entre estar alejando a su hija de “el amor de su vida”, y la culpa de hacer un daño irreparable. La madre con una testarudez adolescente, hacía que ella y su hija tuvieran enfrentamientos, de igual a igual, donde la madre no podía poner un orden de prioridades, sumida en una angustia paralizante. Ya no podía soportar escucharla. La madre ya no podía contener a su hija que necesitaba más que nunca de su escucha y contención.
Es un período de contradicciones, confuso, ambivalente, doloroso, caracterizado por fricciones con el medio familiar. Empiezan las justificaciones para todo tipo de trasgresión. Los hijos culpan a los padres porque son arrancados de su vida sin ser consultados, sin tener voz ni voto, en un momento en el que se trata por sobre todas las cosas de hacerse oír. El dolor es genuino.
Es un tiempo duro y de mucha soledad. Es un momento donde la identidad es muy frágil y la necesidad de un marco de referencia seguro y compartido se hace muy necesario.
Por eso será, de todos, el momento más complicado para la familia en tránsito. Los hijos deciden que ya no quieren acompañar más a sus padres en esa gitanería loca, pero no son autónomos como para quedarse solos. Comienzan luchas internas de las que no siempre se sale bien.
El adolescente es especialmente vulnerable para asimilar los impactos proyectivos de padres, hermanos y amigos. Es un receptáculo propicio para hacerse cargo de los conflictos de los demás y asumir los aspectos más sensibles del medio en que actúa. Por eso, es lo más factible que en la familia migrante sea el adolescente el que represente el malestar que la mudanza irremediablemente trae consigo.
En virtud de la crisis esencial de la adolescencia, esta edad es la más apta para sufrir los impactos de una realidad frustrante.
Los padres son juzgados por sus hijos, y son padres culpógenos. Los hijos sienten hostilidad hacia sus padres y sienten que no son comprendidos. Esa misma des idealización de las figuras parentales los sume en el más profundo desamparo.
Cuanto más conciencia tienen los padres de sus propias limitaciones y necesidades, tanto más son capaces de responder a sus hijos. Cuanto más se enfrenten con la aceptación del crecimiento de los hijos, y la ambivalencia y resistencia que esto puede implicar, más conectados estarán con sus propias limitaciones por el paso del tiempo y de ahí podrán sacar experiencias y claridad para atravesar este difícil momento de crecimiento.
Reconociendo lo que se pierde y teniendo en cuenta la capacidad para reconstruirlo, tratando juntos de crear una estrategia común para recrear un grupo de pares en el nuevo destino.
Las crisis, al no discutirse lo suficiente, hacen que las personas que las experimentan se sientan aisladas, confundidas o culpables y creen ver en ellas algo malo y quizás hasta anormal cuando en realidad ya en esta etapa hay que pensar que hay que entender las razones de los hijos y empezar a contemplarlas aunque a veces a los padres no los convenzan tanto.
Una madre una vez me pregunto: ¿Quién nos enseña a ser padres de adolescentes?
La contraparte de los adolescentes:
Adolescencia: Dícese de la etapa de la vida en la cual los padres se ponen insoportables.
La autora Silvia Korenblum, nació en Buenos Aires y es Licenciada en Psicología, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Tiene un Post grado en terapias de familias y parejas, además de un Magister en psiconeuroendocrinologia. Es Especialista en problemas de desarraigo y adaptación, ha ejercido su práctica clínica en diversas instituciones clínicas y hospitalarias. Ha trabajado dictando seminarios y coordinando talleres de orientación a padres de niños y adolescentes atravesados por la problemática de la migración, en diferentes países.Es Autora de numerosas ponencias y artículos sobre su especialidad y del libro Familias en Transito, Lumen humanitas 2003.Casada desde hace 25 años con un diplomático. Actualmente vive en Bruselas, ejerciendo su practica clinica, terapia y coaching on line.
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Fotografia por Pablo Crinspun.
By Corneliu Pivariu.
After around six months since taking over the presidential mandate (14 May 2017), president Emmanuel Macron’s foreign policy begins to take shape after he made tours abroad in Eastern and Central Europe (Austria, Romania and Bulgaria and met political leaders of Slovakia and the Czech Republic), in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Ghana), Middle East – United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.
What president Macron contemplates in his foreign policy is to restore France’s status of great power in matters of foreign policy (the status of permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto power together with that of nuclear power are essential elements for this role) whereby security issues play the foremost part.
France is placed on the first line of fighting terrorism (especially in Syria and Iraq, according to president Macron’s statements) and, in the last speech delivered at Versailles, the president named the enemy – the Islamic terrorism (something the previous president refused to specify). The military component plays an important role in this regard and the defense budget for 2018 will witness a “historical increase” so that the army dispose of a genuine deterrence capacity, will be modernized to confront the challenges, without reaching “the stage of militarizing the international relations”.
“France’s army must remain one of the main European armies and the second biggest in the free world” – president Macron said in his 29 August speech in Paris.
In the Gulf, president Macron attended the opening of the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi – an illustration of high level cultural diplomacy, after which he paid a surprise visit to Riyadh (our sources say that the French ambassador in Riyadh who wished to visit Hariri was subject to corporal and car control, a violation of diplomatic norms – which speeded up president Macron’s move) where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and stepped in favour of the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri who has resigned in obscure circumstances while he was in the Saudi capital.
As a result, before coming back to Beirut, Hariri visited Paris. That little achievement cannot hide the reality that France has not enough means for being a dominant player in the Gulf. Even if it succeeded in solving Hariri’s case, France lost much of the historic role it could have played in Lebanon and we do not think it could easily recover that role.
As for the European Union, Emmanuel Macron is one of the few European leaders to say things frankly: “Today, Europe functions badly, sometimes even very badly… and Brexit is just another expression of this phenomenon”. Nevertheless, his initiatives, including the one concerning the common defense, need a strong and stable partnership with Germany. For the time being, Angela Merkel tries to overcome the difficulties faced by forging a governing coalition and the possible alliance with Martin Schultz’s social-democrats, who back the reform agenda contemplated by France, could be a favourable factor for president Macron.
Another area of important opportunities is Russia and here we recall president Macron’s clear and open position upon president Putin’s first visit to Paris. The French president did not assess completely yet the possibilities and still does not want to cooperate with Moscow, something that could be useful for the EU’s diplomacy in Ukraine and particularly for a post-conflict solution in Syria.
In most of the situations, France does not possess the means for determining alone the international developments yet it has the capacity and experience of using the international developments to back its interests and president Macron seems well prepared for such an exercise. But the present international diplomacy has difficult to predict evolutions and we do not know to what extent Macron can and will want to adapt himself to such evolutions.
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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.——————-Photographer: Ionus Paraschiv.
Ese reflejo que al adolescente le devuelve quién es él, en el momento en el que la imagen del hogar ya no es lo que más necesita o justamente es una imagen de la que busca desprenderse. Es entonces cuando los adolescentes reaccionan y se enojan con sus padres. Los jóvenes sienten que tienen razón en esa rabia, mientras que sus padres se debaten entre las culpas y las reediciones de sus propias ansiedades adolescentes y se encuentran perdidos entre las razones de sus hijos, y sus propias razones.
Florencia de 16 años estaba de novia cuando llega el traslado. Esto crea una verdadera crisis en la madre, que se debatía entre estar alejando a su hija de “el amor de su vida”, y la culpa de hacer un daño irreparable. La madre con una testarudez adolescente, hacía que ella y su hija tuvieran enfrentamientos, de igual a igual, donde la madre no podía poner un orden de prioridades, sumida en una angustia paralizante. Ya no podía soportar escucharla. La madre ya no podía contener a su hija que necesitaba más que nunca de su escucha y contención.
Es un período de contradicciones, confuso, ambivalente, doloroso, caracterizado por fricciones con el medio familiar. Empiezan las justificaciones para todo tipo de trasgresión. Los hijos culpan a los padres porque son arrancados de su vida sin ser consultados, sin tener voz ni voto, en un momento en el que se trata por sobre todas las cosas de hacerse oír. El dolor es genuino.
Es un tiempo duro y de mucha soledad. Es un momento donde la identidad es muy frágil y la necesidad de un marco de referencia seguro y compartido se hace muy necesario.
Por eso será, de todos, el momento más complicado para la familia en tránsito. Los hijos deciden que ya no quieren acompañar más a sus padres en esa gitanería loca, pero no son autónomos como para quedarse solos. Comienzan luchas internas de las que no siempre se sale bien.
El adolescente es especialmente vulnerable para asimilar los impactos proyectivos de padres, hermanos y amigos. Es un receptáculo propicio para hacerse cargo de los conflictos de los demás y asumir los aspectos más sensibles del medio en que actúa. Por eso, es lo más factible que en la familia migrante sea el adolescente el que represente el malestar que la mudanza irremediablemente trae consigo.
En virtud de la crisis esencial de la adolescencia, esta edad es la más apta para sufrir los impactos de una realidad frustrante.
Los padres son juzgados por sus hijos, y son padres culpógenos. Los hijos sienten hostilidad hacia sus padres y sienten que no son comprendidos. Esa misma des idealización de las figuras parentales los sume en el más profundo desamparo.
Cuanto más conciencia tienen los padres de sus propias limitaciones y necesidades, tanto más son capaces de responder a sus hijos. Cuanto más se enfrenten con la aceptación del crecimiento de los hijos, y la ambivalencia y resistencia que esto puede implicar, más conectados estarán con sus propias limitaciones por el paso del tiempo y de ahí podrán sacar experiencias y claridad para atravesar este difícil momento de crecimiento.
Reconociendo lo que se pierde y teniendo en cuenta la capacidad para reconstruirlo, tratando juntos de crear una estrategia común para recrear un grupo de pares en el nuevo destino.
Las crisis, al no discutirse lo suficiente, hacen que las personas que las experimentan se sientan aisladas, confundidas o culpables y creen ver en ellas algo malo y quizás hasta anormal cuando en realidad ya en esta etapa hay que pensar que hay que entender las razones de los hijos y empezar a contemplarlas aunque a veces a los padres no los convenzan tanto.
Una madre una vez me pregunto: ¿Quién nos enseña a ser padres de adolescentes?
La contraparte de los adolescentes:
Adolescencia: Dícese de la etapa de la vida en la cual los padres se ponen insoportables.
La autora Silvia Korenblum, nació en Buenos Aires y es Licenciada en Psicología, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Tiene un Post grado en terapias de familias y parejas, además de un Magister en psiconeuroendocrinologia.
Es Especialista en problemas de desarraigo y adaptación, ha ejercido su práctica clínica en diversas instituciones clínicas y hospitalarias. Ha trabajado dictando seminarios y coordinando talleres de orientación a padres de niños y adolescentes atravesados por la problemática de la migración, en diferentes países.
Es Autora de numerosas ponencias y artículos sobre su especialidad y del libro Familias en Transito, Lumen humanitas 2003.
Casada desde hace 25 años con un diplomático. Actualmente vive en Bruselas, ejerciendo su practica clinica, terapia y coaching on line.
———-
Fotografia por Pablo Crinspun. 
Ese reflejo que al adolescente le devuelve quién es él, en el momento en el que la imagen del hogar ya no es lo que más necesita o justamente es una imagen de la que busca desprenderse. Es entonces cuando los adolescentes reaccionan y se enojan con sus padres. Los jóvenes sienten que tienen razón en esa rabia, mientras que sus padres se debaten entre las culpas y las reediciones de sus propias ansiedades adolescentes y se encuentran perdidos entre las razones de sus hijos, y sus propias razones.
Florencia de 16 años estaba de novia cuando llega el traslado. Esto crea una verdadera crisis en la madre, que se debatía entre estar alejando a su hija de “el amor de su vida”, y la culpa de hacer un daño irreparable. La madre con una testarudez adolescente, hacía que ella y su hija tuvieran enfrentamientos, de igual a igual, donde la madre no podía poner un orden de prioridades, sumida en una angustia paralizante. Ya no podía soportar escucharla. La madre ya no podía contener a su hija que necesitaba más que nunca de su escucha y contención.
Es un período de contradicciones, confuso, ambivalente, doloroso, caracterizado por fricciones con el medio familiar. Empiezan las justificaciones para todo tipo de trasgresión. Los hijos culpan a los padres porque son arrancados de su vida sin ser consultados, sin tener voz ni voto, en un momento en el que se trata por sobre todas las cosas de hacerse oír. El dolor es genuino.
Es un tiempo duro y de mucha soledad. Es un momento donde la identidad es muy frágil y la necesidad de un marco de referencia seguro y compartido se hace muy necesario.
Por eso será, de todos, el momento más complicado para la familia en tránsito. Los hijos deciden que ya no quieren acompañar más a sus padres en esa gitanería loca, pero no son autónomos como para quedarse solos. Comienzan luchas internas de las que no siempre se sale bien.
El adolescente es especialmente vulnerable para asimilar los impactos proyectivos de padres, hermanos y amigos. Es un receptáculo propicio para hacerse cargo de los conflictos de los demás y asumir los aspectos más sensibles del medio en que actúa. Por eso, es lo más factible que en la familia migrante sea el adolescente el que represente el malestar que la mudanza irremediablemente trae consigo.
En virtud de la crisis esencial de la adolescencia, esta edad es la más apta para sufrir los impactos de una realidad frustrante.
Los padres son juzgados por sus hijos, y son padres culpógenos. Los hijos sienten hostilidad hacia sus padres y sienten que no son comprendidos. Esa misma des idealización de las figuras parentales los sume en el más profundo desamparo.
Cuanto más conciencia tienen los padres de sus propias limitaciones y necesidades, tanto más son capaces de responder a sus hijos. Cuanto más se enfrenten con la aceptación del crecimiento de los hijos, y la ambivalencia y resistencia que esto puede implicar, más conectados estarán con sus propias limitaciones por el paso del tiempo y de ahí podrán sacar experiencias y claridad para atravesar este difícil momento de crecimiento.
Reconociendo lo que se pierde y teniendo en cuenta la capacidad para reconstruirlo, tratando juntos de crear una estrategia común para recrear un grupo de pares en el nuevo destino.
Las crisis, al no discutirse lo suficiente, hacen que las personas que las experimentan se sientan aisladas, confundidas o culpables y creen ver en ellas algo malo y quizás hasta anormal cuando en realidad ya en esta etapa hay que pensar que hay que entender las razones de los hijos y empezar a contemplarlas aunque a veces a los padres no los convenzan tanto.
Una madre una vez me pregunto: ¿Quién nos enseña a ser padres de adolescentes?
La contraparte de los adolescentes:
Adolescencia: Dícese de la etapa de la vida en la cual los padres se ponen insoportables.
La autora Silvia Korenblum, nació en Buenos Aires y es Licenciada en Psicología, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Tiene un Post grado en terapias de familias y parejas, además de un Magister en psiconeuroendocrinologia.
Es Especialista en problemas de desarraigo y adaptación, ha ejercido su práctica clínica en diversas instituciones clínicas y hospitalarias. Ha trabajado dictando seminarios y coordinando talleres de orientación a padres de niños y adolescentes atravesados por la problemática de la migración, en diferentes países.
Es Autora de numerosas ponencias y artículos sobre su especialidad y del libro Familias en Transito, Lumen humanitas 2003.
Casada desde hace 25 años con un diplomático. Actualmente vive en Bruselas, ejerciendo su practica clinica, terapia y coaching on line.
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Fotografia por Pablo Crinspun. 