By Roy Lie Atjam.
The Ambassador of Japan in the Netherlands H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Inomata, hosted a Ceremony of Conferment on 12th June 2018. The ceremony was in honour of Mr. Hans de Wekker, member of the board of the Kyudo Renmei Nederland. The ceremony took place at the Ambassador’s residence in The Hague.
For additional Hester Dijkstra’s memorable pictures, please open the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157670912382408
In delivering his address Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata, stated the following:
“Mr De Wekker received “the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays” H.E. Hiroshi Inomata, the Ambassador of Japan, honoring Mr. Hans de Wekker.
This decoration is conferred in the name of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan for Mr. De Wekker’s significant contribution to introducing Japanese culture and promoting understanding of Japan in the Netherlands through the martial art of kyūdō, Japanese archery.
I would like to share some of the many highlights in his career that have led to this celebratory moment. One of the persons who introduced kyūdō to the Netherlands was Mr. Simon van den Nieuwendijk, the founder of the Kyudo Renmei Nederland. He visited Japan and studied quite some martial arts. Back in the Netherlands he travelled across the country and in 1981, during one of his kyūdō demonstrations in Groningen, he crossed the path of Mr. De Wekker who was in his early thirties.
Mrs. Linda van der Kamp, Mr. Hans de Wekker Ambassador Inomata and Midori Inomata.
This was a moment that would change Mr. De Wekker’s life. In the years that followed Mr. De Wekker would completely devote himself to kyūdō, and he became a member of the Kyudo Renmei Nederland (KRN). Only a few years later, in 1984, he became a member of the board of the Kyudo Renmei Nederland (KRN) and soon he taught kyūdō to students himself.
Not only on a national level, but on an international level as well Mr. De Wekker has devoted himself to the advancement of kyūdō. In 1988 he became a member of the board of the European Kyūdō Federation, and together with his wife Mrs. Linda van der Kamp who is also a devoted kyūdō-ka, they saw the beginnings of the International Kyūdō Federation (IKYF) in 2006.
Also, in the same year Mr. De Wekker edited and translated the book Michi no Yumi, written by one of his sensei.
In the meantime, Mr. De Wekker had assumed his position as president of the Kyudo Renmei Nederland (KRN), which he would fulfil for about 26 years. A moment that should not be left unmentioned is the opening of the dōjō Engakuan in 2008.
I think Mr. De Wekker was quite lucky to be able to share his passion with his wife, because I do not think there are many couples that agree it is a good idea to build a dōjō in their backyard! I think it is truly a monument to both of your dedication and passion for kyūdō.
I met Mr. De Wekker in the summer of 2016 when he was finishing his last responsibilities as former president of the Kyudo Renmei Nederland (KRN). The occasion was the 10th anniversary of the International Kyudo Federation (IKTF) that was celebrated in the Netherlands and for which Her Royal Highness Princess Takamado was also present.
Her Royal Highness visited the Engakuan dōjō and she was quite impressed; the dōjō even features cameras in order for students to be able to review correct posture and form.
Mr. Hans De Wekker, for almost 40 years you have made invaluable efforts to advance and promote kyūdō in the Netherlands. The Government of Japan recognizes, and is deeply grateful for your tremendous contribution to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the Netherlands by means of kyūdō.
Now the time has come to honour you, Mr. De Wekker, in the Name of His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, with “the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays”. End of quote.
In his acceptance speech, Mr De Wekker expressed his sincere gratitude on receiving such a highly esteemed distinction. Very humbling. De Wekker concluded by remarking “the Dutch Japanese road to kyūdōis one adorned with flowers”
Speakers at the Ceremony of Conferment were: H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan in the Netherlands, Mr. Hans de Wekker, Mrs. Linda van der Kamp and Ms. Malou Saat, who also proposed the toast.
A reception concluded the impressive Ceremony of Conferment.
Mr. Domingos Melo e Alvim, Counsellor, H.E. Mrs. Rosa Batoréu, Ambassador of Portugal and Mr. Miguel F. Porfirio, Commercial Attaché.By Roy Lie Atjam.
June 10, is Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities or simply, Portugal National Day has been celebrated on 14th June 2018.
For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157698801711255H.E. Soraya Alvarez, Ambassador of Cuba, Ambassador Batoréu and the Director-General of the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü.
According to tradition, the Portuguese President has assigned two cities to hold official National Day celebrations.
This year’s festivities took place in the Portuguese city of Ponta Delgada in the Azores and Boston in the United States of America.
H.E. Mr. Chris Leo Clark Hoornaert, Ambassador of Belgium, H.E. Odette Melono, Ambassador of Cameroon and the Ambassador of Luxembourg, H.E. Mr. Jean-Marc Hoscheit.
In the Netherlands – The Hague, Ambassador of Portugal, H.E. Mrs. Rosa Batoréu, celebrate Portugal’s National Day with a splendid reception at her residence.
H.E. Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, Apostolic Nuncio and H.E. Mr. Elpidoforos Economou, Ambassador of Cyprus.
A huge number of Ambassadors, to mention just a few: Denmark, Romania, Cuba, Indonesia, Brazil, Argentina, Denmark, Albania, Peru, Cyprus, along with many invitees including the diaspora came by to join in the celebration.
Mr Victor Barros Correia, OPCW, Mrs Mawrid Sharmin, FirstSec. Bangladesh Embassy and Roy Lie Atjam, Diplomat Magazine.
The ambience was excellent and guests enjoyed the Portuguese wines (Altano Douro 2016, Symington Estates) and Portuguese snacks, including the famous bolinhos de bacalhau, Rissóis de camarões, Pastéis de Nata, Queijo da Serra and Torta de laranja.
What a wonderful afternoon, Portuguese style it has been.
G7 summit 2018 – Picture by European Union.
Tuesday, 19 June 2018, Meseberg Castle, Brandenburg, Germany: France and Germany have reached a compromise ahead of the landmark EU summit in Brussels in June 28-29 during a joint ministerial council held at Brandenburg.
President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel outlined the points in which they reached consensus. The announcement on Tuesday entailed substantive compromises, including on Eurozone reforms wherein Berlin and Paris stood widely apart.
EU Commission
There is a Franco-German consensus on the reduction of EU Commissioners from the current 28. That also means the two countries accept the principle that they may relinquish their own Commissioners on a rotational basis.
Eurozone Agreement
Germany conceded on the need for a Eurozone budget that should be in place by 2021. President Macron made clear that this is to be a real budget, “with annual revenues and spending.” How great a compromise this is for Germany remains to be seen, as it is unclear how this budget will be funded.
The two states have also agreed on the transformation of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) into a European Monetary Fund that will permanently act as a lender of last resort to states, in exchange for reforms. There is broader consensus that this fund may now also extend aid to troubled systemic lenders, reducing the link between credit risk and country risk.
Pending Franco-German cleavage
France wishes for Germany to take significant steps towards the further economic integration of the Eurozone in the hope that it shall reduce systemic political and economic volatility.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called repeatedly for a Eurozone budget funded by EU-wide taxation. France has advocated an EU-wide corporation tax to fund this budget, that is, an initiative that Germany opposes. In a recent interview, Chancellor Merkel was unwilling to commit to a budget that would exceed a double-digit number in billions of euros.
Germany leads a group of countries with Austria, the Netherlands, and Finland that are net contributors to the EU budget. The group wants to avoid increasing contributions to the EU budget and a number of states vehemently oppose the idea of a single corporate tax, as much of their competitiveness is founded on taxation, including Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Over the last few weeks, Berlin appeared ready to concede a limited fund rather than a budget – to the tune of €30bn – that would invest in countries undergoing a crisis. It is unclear whether the new “budget” will, in fact, be a limited funding instrument.
Migration Management
The German Chancellor was given a two-week political breathing to broker an EU-wide migration deal by the summit in Brussels (June 28-29).
The Chancellor’s junior coalition partner – the Christian Social Union (CSU) – want immediate immigration curbs. The Chancellor wants to secure a multilateral solution before the leader of the CSU and Minister of Interior, Horst Seehofer, proceeds with his own national plan on migration.
Juan Manuel Santos Calderón and Donal Tusk – Picture by European UnionThursday, 31 May 2018, Brussels: Colombia has joined NATO as a “global partner” after President Juan Manuel Santos finalized the agreement.
It entails that Colombia will not necessarily have to partake in military action -should an ally be under siege- yet it shall be fully accredited in headquarters.
The 29-state NATO alliance reached a partnership agreement with Colombia back in May 2017, just after peace was signed with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, an agreement that earned Santos a Nobel Peace Prize. Other global partners include Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan.
Colombia’s partnership shall deal with co-operating on global security areas like cyber and maritime security, terrorism and links to organized crime, according to NATO’s website.
Colombia has likewise joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) headquartered in Paris.For further information:
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairman of the African Union Commission and Federica Mogherini – Picture by European Commission.
Wednesday, 23 May 2018, members of the European Commission and the African Union Commission met at Brussels for the 9th Commission-to-Commission Meeting, co-chaired by President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker and the African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat. The two Commissions discussed how to reinforce their cooperation in order to tackle common global challenges. They also followed-up more concretely on the Abidjan Summit, based on agreed priorities such as peace and security, governance, investment, sustainable development, migration and education.
Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat also took the opportunity to meet whilst in Brussels with the Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michael on 22 May.
For further information:
African Union: https://au.int
Wednesday, 13 June 2018, Berlin, Germany: German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his Danish counterpart Anders Samuelsen have unveiled the Dano-German Cultural Year of Friendship in 2020 (Deutsch-Dänisches Kulturelles Freundschaftsjahr) during a bilateral meeting.2020 marks the hundredth anniversary of the drawing of today’s borders between Denmark and Germany. This opportunity shall be used to highlight the profound ties, and various cooperation fields between the two EU countries. The foreign ministries are patrons for the cultural year of friendship. On 15 June 1920, Northern Schleswig was officially reunited with Denmark after the then Duchy of Schleswig had been lost 1864 to Prussian and Austrian armed forces. Strikingly was the only one of the German transfers of territory after World War I that the National Socialists did not dispute.For further information:
Daniel Günther and Richard Grenell – Picture by Staatskanzlei, Landesregierung Schleswig-Holstein.
Friday, 15 June 2018, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein: US Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell paid a maiden visit Schleswig-Holstein, and met privately with the Bundesland’s Premier Daniel Günther at Government House.
For Daniel Günther the main focus of the bilateral meeting was the city partnership of Kiel with San Francisco since last year. End of August 2018, the head of Chancery Dirk Schrödter, shall lead a delegation comprising 70 representatives from the fields of economy, science, research and politics to the Golden Gate Bridge City.
After the warm welcome at Government House Ambassador Grenell partook at a reception offered on the US flagship “USS Mount Whitney” visiting during the Kieler Woche. Home Affairs Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, Hans-Joachim Grote accompanied the ambassador during the function.
Thursday, 14 June 2018, Caracas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: President Nicolás Maduro reshuffled his cabinet, and appointed the hitherto President of the Constitutional Assembly, Delcy Rodriguez Gómez, to the office of XXIX Vice-President of Venezuela.
She served as Foreign Minister from 2014 to 2017. As Vice-President she is in charge of the country’s intelligence service.
For further information:http://www.vicepresidencia.gob.vehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delcy_Rodríguez#Vice_President_of_Venezuela
Kim Jon-un and Donald Trump – Picture by U.S. Department of State.Joint statement of President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at the Singapore Summit.
President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a first, historic summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018.
President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un conducted a comprehensive, in-depth, and sincere exchange of opinions on the issues related to the establishment of new U.S.–DPRK relations and the building of a lasting and robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, and Chairman Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Convinced that the establishment of new U.S.–DPRK relations will contribute to the peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and of the world, and recognizing that mutual confidence building can promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un state the following:
The United States and the DPRK commit to establish new U.S.–DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity.
The United States and the DPRK will join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
Reaffirming the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
The United States and the DPRK commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified.
Having acknowledged that the U.S.–DPRK summit—the first in history—was an epochal event of great significance in overcoming decades of tensions and hostilities between the two countries and for the opening up of a new future, President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un commit to implement the stipulations in this joint statement fully and expeditiously. The United States and the DPRK commit to hold follow-on negotiations, led by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and a relevant high-level DPRK official, at the earliest possible date, to implement the outcomes of the U.S.–DPRK summit.
President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have committed to cooperate for the development of new U.S.–DPRK relations and for the promotion of peace, prosperity, and security of the Korean Peninsula and of the world.
DONALD J. TRUMP
President of the United States of America
KIM JONG UN
Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
June 12, 2018
Sentosa Island
Singapore
For further information:https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/press-conference-president-trump/
Dior celebrated its passion for colour in the book The Art of Color where the most prominent names of Dior Makeup artists were asked to take inspiration from the 12 key colours illustrated in beautiful photographs and to compare them with great works of art.
Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai was the host to the exhibit The Art of Color that included images from the works of the like of Serge Lutens, Tyen and Peter Philips, Creative Director of the House’s Makeup. Likewise, it presented expressionist short-films of Serge Lutens as well as aesthetic photographic works of Tyen, Richard Burbridge, and Peter Philips.
For further information:https://www.dior.com/couture/en_int/the-house-of-dior/exhibitions
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Photography Dior the art of color – Picture by Christian Dior
In the meantime, Mr. De Wekker had assumed his position as president of the Kyudo Renmei Nederland (KRN), which he would fulfil for about 26 years. A moment that should not be left unmentioned is the opening of the dōjō Engakuan in 2008.
I think Mr. De Wekker was quite lucky to be able to share his passion with his wife, because I do not think there are many couples that agree it is a good idea to build a dōjō in their backyard! I think it is truly a monument to both of your dedication and passion for kyūdō.
I met Mr. De Wekker in the summer of 2016 when he was finishing his last responsibilities as former president of the Kyudo Renmei Nederland (KRN). The occasion was the 10th anniversary of the International Kyudo Federation (IKTF) that was celebrated in the Netherlands and for which Her Royal Highness Princess Takamado was also present.
Her Royal Highness visited the Engakuan dōjō and she was quite impressed; the dōjō even features cameras in order for students to be able to review correct posture and form.
Mr. Hans De Wekker, for almost 40 years you have made invaluable efforts to advance and promote kyūdō in the Netherlands. The Government of Japan recognizes, and is deeply grateful for your tremendous contribution to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the Netherlands by means of kyūdō.
Now the time has come to honour you, Mr. De Wekker, in the Name of His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, with “the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays”. End of quote.
In his acceptance speech, Mr De Wekker expressed his sincere gratitude on receiving such a highly esteemed distinction. Very humbling. De Wekker concluded by remarking “the Dutch Japanese road to kyūdōis one adorned with flowers”
Speakers at the Ceremony of Conferment were: H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan in the Netherlands, Mr. Hans de Wekker, Mrs. Linda van der Kamp and Ms. Malou Saat, who also proposed the toast.
A reception concluded the impressive Ceremony of Conferment. 
