Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev has signed a decree to switch the country’s official alphabet from Cyrillic to Latin.
The presidential office announced that the government will appoint a national commission to “ensure a gradual transition of the Kazakh alphabet to the Latin-based script by 2025”.
The former Soviet Republic declared independence in 1991. Its state language is Kazakh, a member of the Turkic family. Yet, Russian is widely spoken across the country, and is its second official language.
President Nazarbayev and PM Mark Rutte.
Kazakh was written in Arabic script until 1920, when it was substituted by the Latin alphabet. In 1940, it was replaced by a Cyrillic one. The current Cyrillic alphabet consists of 42 characters (33 characters of the Russian alphabet and nine characters for specific Kazakh sounds).
The plan for the switch to Latin reportedly centres on an alphabet of 32 letters, with some specific sounds of the Kazakh language to be covered with the usage of apostrophes.
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For further information:http://www.government.kz/en/
On the picture H. E. Sabine Nölke Ambassador of Canada.The broad Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada already into force while waiting for the ratification.President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker welcomed this milestone in the EU’s trade policy: “This agreement encompasses everything we expect our trade policy – a tool for growth for European businesses and citizens, but also a tool to spread our values, globalization good jobs to lead and shape the rules for world trade. This trade agreement is subject to a thorough parliamentary scrutiny reflects the increased interest of the trade policy civilians. Now it’s time for our businesses and citizens to make the most of this opportunity. “.Trade Commissioner CeciliaMalmström said:. “There are changes afoot for our exporters provisional entry into force of this Agreement, companies and citizens in the EU to immediately reap the benefits of this is a positive signal for the world economy, with the potential for economic growth. This agreement represents a significant strengthening of our relations with Canada, a strategic partner and ally with which we have close historical and cultural ties. ” However, the agreement shall enter fully and definitively into force after ratification by all EU Member States. The Commission will work with EU Member States and Canada work together to ensure a smooth and effective implementation. What will CETA?CETA offers European businesses of all sizes new opportunities to export to Canada. The agreement will save EU businesses € 590 million per year currently paid exported to customs duties on goods to Canada. CETA removed since last September 21th customs duties on 98% of products (tariff lines) which markets the EU with Canada. European businesses have the best opportunities that were once offered to companies outside Canada to compete for contracts to Canadian public – not just at the federal level but also at provincial and municipal levels. The agreement will be particularly beneficial for smaller companies that have the most difficulty with the cost of the administrative burden posed exports to Canada. While CETA will create new opportunities for European farmers and food producers, the EU sensitive sectors will be fully protected. The EU has a limited, measured extent its market more open to certain competitive Canadian products while ensuring a better access to the Canadian market for major European exports. Included here is to cheese, wine and spirits, fruit and vegetables, and processed products. CETA will 143 European “geographical indications”, high-quality regional food and beverage products, protection in Canada. CETA will not change the EU rules on food safety, including the regulation of GMOs and the ban on hormone-treated beef. Procedure and next stepsThe EU and Canada have CETA signed on October 30, 2016, following the adoption of the EU Member States in the Council. On February 15, the European Parliament also endorsed the proposal. On May 16, 2017 Canada ratified CETA. This paved the way for the provisional application once Canada had adopted all the necessary implementing rules. CETA will be fully implemented when all EU member states will have ratified the agreement in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements. At the moment that CETA has become fully effective, a new and improved system of investment dishes comes in the place of the current mechanism for the settlement of disputes between investors and states (ISDS), which is included in many bilateral trade passing through in the past, the governments of the EU Member States are negotiated. The new mechanism will be transparent and not based on an ad-hoc tribunals. The EU’s free trade agreements have proven to boost European growth and jobs. An example is the trade agreement between the EU and South Korea. Since its entry into force in 2011, EU exports to South Korea increased by more than 55%, increased exports of certain agricultural products by 70%, sales of cars from the EU tripled in South Korea and is the trade deficit turned into a surplus. This agreement is also a few years after its ratification been provisionally applied at EU level, pending ratification by all EU Member States. 31 million jobs in Europe depend on exports. On average, each billion in additional exports accounted for 14 000 jobs in the EU.
From 25 November 2017 until 2 April 2018, Gemeentemuseum
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag will hold a major retrospective of Spanish sculptor Julio González (1876-1942) from 25 November 2017 until 2 April 2018. The exhibition will examine González’s artistic development, from his first stage as a metalsmith in Barcelona to being an avant-garde artist in Paris, and his friendship with Picasso.
In collaboration with the Embassy of Spain, Spanish art historian and art critic Tomàs Llorens will give a lecture about Julio González due to be held on 21 January 2018 at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag.
Llorens has been founder and former director of the Valencian Institute of Modern Art (IVAM, 1986-1988). Later on, he has been the director of the Reina Sofía Art Centre (1988-1990) and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (1991-2005) in Madrid. He’s an expert in Julio González’s work. In 2007, he was awarded with the Spanish Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts.
More information about dates and schedule can be found at the website of Gemeentemusem Den Haag.
The Embassy of Spain and the Cervantes Institute will organize a conference by Pieter van Heijnsbergen who will speak about his book “Cordoba and Muslim Spain: culture and tolerance”, recently published in Dutch (“Cordoba; een samenleving van moslims, christenen en joden in Moors Spanje”) by Aspekt B.V.
This book deals with the history of Spain, occupied by Muslims between A.D. 711 and 1492. It describes the cultural development, mutual tolerance and co-operation between Christians, Jews and Muslims living in Spain in that period.
The lecture will be held in Dutch (with simultaneous translation into Spanish) at the Cervantes Institute in Utrecht on Thursday, 30 November 2017, at 19.00 hours.
Lecture by Pieter van Heijnsbergen, 30 November 2017, Cervantes Institute Utrecht
For more information please visit the website of the Cervantes Institute.
By John Dunkelgrün.
Art lovers among you will be acquainted with the famous museums in The Hague. Less well known is a veritable gem in the very center of the city, the Pulchri Studio on the Lange Voorhout, a mid 19th century association of artists and art lovers.
Pulchri offers many interesting exhibitions of current artists (often members) and artists of years and ages past with a connection to The Hague.
It is well worth visiting and keeping up with the activities on www.pulchri.nl.
Until December 3rd you may enjoy an impressive exposition of the The Hague painter and graphic artist Marius Bauer. This year marks the 150th anniversary of his birth and 2017 is nominated the Bauer Year with various expositions throughout The Netherlands.
Bauer was born in The Hague and was encouraged by his parents to develop his artistic talents. At the age of 21 he received a scholarship for a visit to Istanbul, where he became mesmerised by the colours, the smells and the exotic culture.
This fascination was never to leave him. He travelled through Turkey, Palestine, North Africa, Russia, the Dutch East Indies and British India.
On his travels he made many sketches and bought photographs by local and internationally renowned photographers, which -back home in his atelier- he developed into paintings and wonderfully refined etchings. In his etchings he was much influenced by Rembrandt, while his painting style he was in the main stream of the last quarter of the 19th century.
His work is somewhat like what a travel writer might photograph today. He showed the extraordinary, he was fascinated with local ceremonies. His best work came out of his travel through British India.
He died in 1932 leaving a very large oeuvre of works, which aren’t often seen.
Go and visit his exposition in Pulchri. It is well worth it, but hurry, it lasts until December 3rd only.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Order of Malta’s Chancellor, Baron Albrecht von Boeselager – Picture by Order of Malta.
Wednesday, 15 November 2017, Magistral Villa of the Sovereign Order of Malta: Germany has become the 107th state to enter diplomatic relations with the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta.
According to an statement by the order “The German federal government’s decision demonstrates its great appreciation of the Sovereign Order of Malta’s activities in 120 countries worldwide in the healthcare, social and humanitarian sectors, of its efforts in rescuing and integrating migrants and refugees, as well as the special role played by its diplomatic service in helping the most disadvantaged everywhere”.
Grand Chancellor, Baron Albrecht von Boeselager, announced the establishment of relations during a bilateral meeting with his German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel.
Discussed during the talks between the two delegations was the important contribution of Malteser International, the Order of Malta’s Relief Agency, in offering assistance to refugees in some of the most difficult areas in the world, such as the regions around Syria, South Sudan and Myanmar.
Also highlighted was the important migrant search and rescue activity in the Mediterranean Sea by the Order’s Italian Rescue Corps, with their medical teams on board the Italian Navy’s vessels and the Order of Malta’s decades of experience in Germany assisting and integrating migrants, with over 5,000 volunteers, out of the 50,000, located in the 100 shelters across the country.
For further information:https://www.orderofmalta.int/2017/11/15/diplomatic-relations-established-between-germany-order-of-malta/
The Order of Malta and the EU: https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en/2381/The%20Order%20of%20Malta%20and%20the%20EU
By Michael Bonté.
The third edition of Vietnam little Corner cultural and culinary event took place on 5 November at the MeetingDistrict in Nieuwegein. The Vietnamese community and their Dutch family and friends came from all over the Netherlands to this spirited function.
As a special guest the Vietnamese Ambassy in the Netherlands came with a small delegation headed by H.E Ms Ngô Thi Hòa, Ambassador of Vietnam.
With more than five hundred people attending the organisers Lan Anh Hoàng and Theo Vrijenhoek certainly were happy with their most succesful event yet. As Theo said:” The event is very popular. We had to book a bigger capacity room this year. For us this is the maximum of participants we want to have at this stage”.
With the venue buzzing and the participants joining each other at nicely decorated round tables. The program started with a traditional Vietnamese dance meanwhile the appealing appetisers of a selection of spring rolls and fishcake with young rice were served by volunteers who did an excellent job.
From here on the guests were on their own as the main dishes and desserts were presented buffet style. Several noodle soups and salads as starters. From there on a large selection of main courses which included BBQ pork and beef with rice vermicelli. At one of the stands steamed rice rolls were freshly prepared which were very popular with the crowd.
The entertainment was now provided by an array of vocalists whom sang in Vietnamese and English. The kids certainly loved it as they were dancing along in front of the podium.
Participants in the cultural section of the program.
As the conversation flowed and all the main course dishes were cleared. The dessert station was looking very inviting. Amongst them were a rice and mung beans cake wrapped in pandan leaves. This sweet was traditionally given by a suitor. The delicious coffee coconut jelly was disappearing quickly as it was much appreciated.
As all good things come in three. Volunteers who had attended all events were honoured with a memento. The husband and wife organisers were honoured and applauded by all.
H.E Ms Ngô Thi Hòa, Ambassador of Vietnam with diplomats from Vietnam.
They explained that the net profits of all the events will go to a charity ‘Stichting Hart voor Vietnam”. A foundation which finances an education for children from less fortunate families in Vietnam.
All in all a very succesful celebration of Vietnamese cuisine which will go from strength to strength.
Recently the Embassy of the Republic of Malta in The Hague, the Netherlands celebrated Malta’s National Day of Independence with a social event that was attended by members of the Diplomatic Corps based in The Hague, Dutch government officials, business contacts as well as the Maltese community living in The Netherlands. At the opening of the reception, a video message from the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion of Malta, Hon. Carmelo Abela was presented to the guests, which message highlighted the work of Malta’s Diplomatic network especially on the EU Presidency just concluded and Climate Change policy. The Minister also expanded on the goals that will be embarked upon during his term and the focus on Trade Promotion. At the opening, H.E. Ambassador Joseph Cole also took the occasion to express his sympathy with the Dutch Government for the difficult times encountered by the fellow citizens of the Caribbean islands Sint Maarten, Saba and St Eustatius.Ambassador Cole, H. E. Andrea Perugini, Ambassador of Italy, Bernadette Cole, and an Italian diplomat.During the reception, guests were also offered tasting of wines, olive oil and tomato paste produced in Gozo – Malta’s sister Island which offers diverse and rich culinary products and is known as ” the island of wines”. This was offered courtesy of Casa delle Fonti – Gozo Wine, a Dutch company which imports Gozitan Wine produced by the ‘ta Mena Agri-Business’, which are becoming ever more popular with the Dutch as seen by the increase of visitors to the Maltese Islands from the Netherlands during the last few years. Casa delle Fonti – Gozo Wine owners.An increase of 17 per cent in 2016 and a 30 per cent increase already registered for the first half of this year. We look forward to host more Dutch nationals in 2018, the year of Valletta European Capital of Culture which will be the key attraction for the many tourists visiting the Maltese Islands next year. Information about Malta:www.visitmalta.comwww.gozowine.eu
It is well worth visiting and keeping up with the activities on www.pulchri.nl.
Until December 3rd you may enjoy an impressive exposition of the The Hague painter and graphic artist Marius Bauer. This year marks the 150th anniversary of his birth and 2017 is nominated the Bauer Year with various expositions throughout The Netherlands.
Bauer was born in The Hague and was encouraged by his parents to develop his artistic talents. At the age of 21 he received a scholarship for a visit to Istanbul, where he became mesmerised by the colours, the smells and the exotic culture.
This fascination was never to leave him. He travelled through Turkey, Palestine, North Africa, Russia, the Dutch East Indies and British India.
On his travels he made many sketches and bought photographs by local and internationally renowned photographers, which -back home in his atelier- he developed into paintings and wonderfully refined etchings. In his etchings he was much influenced by Rembrandt, while his painting style he was in the main stream of the last quarter of the 19th century.
His work is somewhat like what a travel writer might photograph today. He showed the extraordinary, he was fascinated with local ceremonies. His best work came out of his travel through British India.
He died in 1932 leaving a very large oeuvre of works, which aren’t often seen.
Go and visit his exposition in Pulchri. It is well worth it, but hurry, it lasts until December 3rd only.
It is well worth visiting and keeping up with the activities on www.pulchri.nl.
Until December 3rd you may enjoy an impressive exposition of the The Hague painter and graphic artist Marius Bauer. This year marks the 150th anniversary of his birth and 2017 is nominated the Bauer Year with various expositions throughout The Netherlands.
Bauer was born in The Hague and was encouraged by his parents to develop his artistic talents. At the age of 21 he received a scholarship for a visit to Istanbul, where he became mesmerised by the colours, the smells and the exotic culture.
This fascination was never to leave him. He travelled through Turkey, Palestine, North Africa, Russia, the Dutch East Indies and British India.
As a special guest the Vietnamese Ambassy in the Netherlands came with a small delegation headed by H.E Ms Ngô Thi Hòa, Ambassador of Vietnam.
With more than five hundred people attending the organisers Lan Anh Hoàng and Theo Vrijenhoek certainly were happy with their most succesful event yet. As Theo said:” The event is very popular. We had to book a bigger capacity room this year. For us this is the maximum of participants we want to have at this stage”.
With the venue buzzing and the participants joining each other at nicely decorated round tables. The program started with a traditional Vietnamese dance meanwhile the appealing appetisers of a selection of spring rolls and fishcake with young rice were served by volunteers who did an excellent job.
From here on the guests were on their own as the main dishes and desserts were presented buffet style. Several noodle soups and salads as starters. From there on a large selection of main courses which included BBQ pork and beef with rice vermicelli. At one of the stands steamed rice rolls were freshly prepared which were very popular with the crowd.
The entertainment was now provided by an array of vocalists whom sang in Vietnamese and English. The kids certainly loved it as they were dancing along in front of the podium.
As a special guest the Vietnamese Ambassy in the Netherlands came with a small delegation headed by H.E Ms Ngô Thi Hòa, Ambassador of Vietnam.
With more than five hundred people attending the organisers Lan Anh Hoàng and Theo Vrijenhoek certainly were happy with their most succesful event yet. As Theo said:” The event is very popular. We had to book a bigger capacity room this year. For us this is the maximum of participants we want to have at this stage”.
With the venue buzzing and the participants joining each other at nicely decorated round tables. The program started with a traditional Vietnamese dance meanwhile the appealing appetisers of a selection of spring rolls and fishcake with young rice were served by volunteers who did an excellent job.
From here on the guests were on their own as the main dishes and desserts were presented buffet style. Several noodle soups and salads as starters. From there on a large selection of main courses which included BBQ pork and beef with rice vermicelli. At one of the stands steamed rice rolls were freshly prepared which were very popular with the crowd.
The entertainment was now provided by an array of vocalists whom sang in Vietnamese and English. The kids certainly loved it as they were dancing along in front of the podium.
