By Joe Ray.
On 29 September the Latin American Table of Societeit de Witte hosted a lecture by Ms Sherry-Keneson Hall, Public Affairs Counsellor at the US Embassy in The Hague.
The subject of the lecture was US trade with Latin America, with Ms Keneson-Hall providing an authoritative summary of the latest developments in the many and varied bilateral trade relationships between the US and its southern neighbours.
Guests at the historic social club, many of whom hailed from Latin American countries themselves and included several embassy representatives, enjoyed a detailed assessment of the latest trade developments in the Americas.
On the whole, trade relations are strong and in many cases bilateral economic ties between the US and Latin American nations are strengthening, explained Ms Keneson-Hall. Although the political climate may create uncertainties, she emphasised that the US remained open to trade and would seek to continue actively strengthening its trading position across Latin America.
After the lecture, a lively Q&A session was held, followed by a dinner.
Mr. Halbe Zijlstra, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs.By Anton Lutter.
After 208 days of negotiating, being the longest period creating a new government program after the march 15 parliamentary elections, a cabinet has been formed by the VVD, CDA, D’66 and CU political parties under the slogan “Trust in the future“, with Mark Rutte as third time prime minister.
For the readers of Diplomat Magazine the new Minister of Foreign Affairs will surely be of prime interest, although every ministry has an international office within its walls. Even for political insiders the choice of Mr. Halbe Zijlstra as Minister of Foreign Affairs has been a suprise. Known as a person who loves straight talk and a confirmed political pragmatist, his heading this most important department will be closely watched with great interest.
Mr. Halbe Zijlstra, the son of a police detective, was born January 21, 1969 in Oosterwolde from the northern province of Friesland. He studied sociology at the University of Groningen earning a masters degree in 1996. Working for Royal Dutch Shell he visited countries like Greece, Italy, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela and Nigeria. His membership of the VVD stems from 1994 entering public office 4 years after.
From 1998 to 2001 he was a member of city council of Utrecht and again from 2003 to 2006, when he became a candidate in the parliamentary elections. Elected in 2006 he became his parties spokesman on care, energy, sports, higher education and sciences and biotechnology. In october 2010 be was chosen to be the underminister (staatssecretaris) for Education, Culture and Science in the Rutte Cabinet I, he served in this post until 5 november 2012. As underminister he was known for initiating budget cuts in the cultural sector, which bolstered his image as person who’s not afraid to take unpopular measures. Before as a member of parliament he also introduced a bill to counter football hooliganism.
He returned to parliament (Tweede Kamer) in 2012 after a no-confidence motion ended the Rutte Cabinet I. As Mr. Mark Rutte became prime-minister for the second time, Zijlstra became the chair of the VVD parliamentary group thereby leading the most important government party in parliament. After being reelected in the 2017 parliamentary elections Zijlstra indicated his interest in a ministerial post, resulting in “Foreign Affairs”.Ms. Sigrid Kaag, new Minister of Development Cooperation.
He’s married, having one son. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also houses the office of the minister without potfolio for Development Cooperation. For this position D’66 member Mrs. Sigrid Kaag has been chosen. A career diplomat Mrs. Kaag, born in 1961, holds the post of United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) since january 2015.
She has been working in a variety of positions both for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Royal Dutch Shell and the United Nations. She has earned a masters of philosophy degree in international relations from the University of Exeter and a masters degree in international relations from the University of Oxford.
Mrs. Kaag is married with Mr. Anis al Aq former Palestinian representative to Switzerland, having with him 4 children. She enters the cabinet as one of the 10 female government (under) ministers.
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Mr. Halbe Zijlstra’s Photo from: www.tweedekamer.nl
Venezuela and the Netherlands strengthen bilateral relations through a joint exercise in the Caribbean Sea
The annual joint naval exercise between the Bolivarian Coast Guard of Venezuela and the Caribbean Coast Guard of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, known as Open Eyes 2017, took place from the 23rd to the 26th of October in the maritime area of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
The main purpose of this naval exercise is to strengthen working relations between the Venezuelan Coast Guard and the Netherlands Coast Guard. Also, Open Eyes brings opportunities for mutual learning experiences on various procedures used by each Coast Guard under different circumstances.
This year naval and flight units of both coast guards trained on search and rescue operations. In addition, the Centre for Rescue and Coordination of Curaçao participated in these exercises by performing important roles.
As a closing event, participants of “Open Eyes 2017” exchanged presents from each country and engaged in a social activity at Daaibooi Beach in Curaçao.
“Open Eyes 2017” is a clear example of the high level of cooperation conducted by both countries, Venezuelan and the Netherlands, in order to jointly contribute to peace and stability in the Caribbean region, thus strengthening constructive bilateral relations.
HRH Princess Lalla Salma inaugurates the Yves Saint-Laurent Museum in Marrakech – Picture by Yves Saint-Laurent Museum Marrakech.
Saturday, 14 October 2014, Kingdom of Morocco: Yves Saint Laurent museum in Marrakech opened to the public merely three weeks after a museum dedicated to the fashion pioneer was inaugurated in his native city of Paris.
The Marrakech museum, designed by the French architectural firm Studio KO, sprawls across an area of 4,000 square meters (4,783 square yards) and is located near the Majorelle Garden, which Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé bought in 1980. It features a permanent exhibition featuring the work of the prolific French couturier, who passed away in 2008. It includes an exhibit hall, an auditorium, a library, a bookshop and a restaurant.
Officially the museum’s opening was held under the protection of HM The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, as represented by his spouse, HRH Princess Lalla Salma. In attendance was the President of the Institut du Monde Arabe, M Jack Lang, actresses Catherine Deneuve and Betty Catroux, HE Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, BACA President (Bahrain) or TRH The Duke and Duchess of Anjou and Cadaval, Charles-Philippe d’Orléans and Diana de Cadaval. For further informationhttps://www.museeyslmarrakech.com/en/
Self-Portrait, 1944. Picture by Raad bin Zeid Al-Hussein.Deutsche Bank KunstHalle presents the pioneering modernist Fahrelnissa Zeid from 20 October 2017, to 25 March 2018.
The Deutsche Bank KunstHalle is showing a comprehensive retrospective of Fahrelnissa Zeid (b. 1901, Istanbul, d. 1991, Amman) and the third presentation resulting from the cooperation between the KunstHalle and Tate Modern in London. Fahrelnissa Zeid was a pioneering artist best known for her large-scale colorful canvases—some over five meters wide—which reveal her unique vision and distinctive abstract style.
This major exhibition brings together paintings, drawings and sculptures spanning over 40 years—from expressionist works made in Istanbul in the early 1940s, to immersive abstract canvases exhibited in London, Paris and New York in the 1950s and 1960s, finishing with her return to portraiture later in life. Celebrating her extraordinary career, the exhibition presents Zeid as an important figure in the international story of abstract art.
Zeid was one of the first women to receive formal training as an artist in Istanbul, continuing her studies in Paris in the late 1920s. The show begins with her breakthrough moment in the early 1940s, when she championed experimental approaches to painting and began to exhibit with the avant-garde d Group in Turkey.
The works from the early part of Zeid’s career demonstrate her affinities with and divergence from international art movements, blending European painting traditions with Oriental themes. In 1946 Zeid and her husband, Prince Zeid Al-Hussein of the Hashemite royal family, moved to the UK where he had been posted as Iraqi Ambassador.
My Hell, 1951 Oil on canvas205 x 528 cm. Picture by Istanbul Museum of Modern Art Raad bin Zeid Al-Hussein.
Dividing her time between London and Paris, Zeid’s exhibitions were well received by critics and artists alike, cementing her position as one of the great female artists working in the post-war period. Key paintings from her 1954 show at the ICA in London feature in this exhibition, such as My Hell 1951 and The Octopus of Triton 1953, representing the artist at the height of her career as well as the complex range of influences and life experiences she drew upon.
When the Hashemite royal family in Iraq was decimated in a military coup in Iraq in 1958, Zeid and her husband were forced to vacate the embassy—and her studio —in London. In response to the coup, and perhaps in recognition of her own mortality, Zeid made a return to figurative painting. For the last 20 years of her career she painted portraits of her friends and family with exaggerated features that aim to capture the ‘spirit’ of the sitter. The artist also began experimenting with painting on turkey and chicken bones, which she later cast in polyester resin panels evocative of stained-glass windows.
Resolved Problems, 1948 Oil on canvas130 x 97 cm. Istanbul Museum of Modern Art Raad Zeid Al-Hussein.
Zeid died in 1991, aged 89, in Amman, Jordan, having exhibited across Europe, the USA, and the Middle East. She left behind a remarkable visual legacy of her extraordinary life as well as a significant contribution to the global history of modernism.
Fahrelnissa Zeid is curated by Kerryn Greenberg, Curator (International Art) and Vassilis Oikonomopoulos, Assistant Curator, Tate Modern. The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue from Tate Publishing. It is available at the ArtShop of the KunstHalle with an insert in German. A programme of talks and events are in the gallery. After the premiere at Tate Modern this summer and the presentation at the Deutsche Bank KunstHalle in Berlin, the exhibition will be on view at the Sursock Museum in Beirut in April 2018.
In cooperation with Tate Modern Photographic material on Fahrelnissa Zeid can be downloaded for free at www.photo-files.de/deutschebankkunsthalle.
For further information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Fahrelnissa_Zeidhttp://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/fahrelnissa-zeidhttps://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2017/06/canvasses-nowherehttps://www.db.com/newsroom_news/2017/deutsche-bank-kunsthalle-presents-the-pioneering-modernist-fahrelnissa-zeid-en-11683.htm
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Text and photographs by Deutsche Bank Kunsthalle/Tate Museum of Modern Art/HRH Prince Ra’ad bin Zeid Al Hussein (Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan)
Mr Ladislav Hamran, President elected of Eurojust.Today, the College of Eurojust elected Ladislav Hamran, currently Vice-President of Eurojust, as well as National Member for the Slovak Republic, as the new President of Eurojust. Mr Hamran will replace Michèle Coninsx, who is leaving Eurojust.In accordance with Article 28(2) of the Eurojust Council Decision and Article 3(1) of the Rules of Procedure of Eurojust, the result of the election will be submitted to the Council for approval.Ladislav Hamran has 17 years’ experience as a prosecutor. He started working at the General Prosecution Office in Bratislava in 2003, investigating and prosecuting mainly economic crime and corruption, until his secondment to Eurojust as National Member for the Slovak Republic in 2007. He was elected Vice-President of Eurojust in December 2013, and was re-elected Vice-President in December 2016. As Vice-President, he was mainly responsible for information and knowledge management projects, leading Eurojust’s Working Group on reorganisation and prioritisation.Mr Hamran said: ‘I am overwhelmed with emotion and extremely grateful that my colleagues have placed their trust in me once again. They twice voted for me for Vice-President, and have now granted me the ultimate honour, President of Eurojust. I vow to listen carefully to people throughout the organisation to help make Eurojust a trusted and effective key partner in judicial cooperation. I fully believe in collegiality, both as an approach and as a working method, by developing healthy, effective and sustainable links between the College and the Administration, and also with our external partners and stakeholders. I want my term in office to be marked by objectivity, fairness, transparency and integrity. My door will always be open. I look forward to modernising and professionalising Eurojust, in line with its wonderful new premises.’
QIAGEN and ICMP Launch next-generation DNA testing solutions for identifying Missing Persons.The Hague, 24 October 2017: The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) today announced the launch of a cutting-edge next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflow created in collaboration with QIAGEN N.V. for ICMP’s missing persons DNA identification laboratory in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The solution integrates QIAGEN’s GeneReader NGS System and spans all aspects of the DNA laboratory workflow, from sample extraction through final analysis, thereby creating a unique “sample to insight” user experience. The workflow includes automated QIAGEN instruments and consumables for DNA extraction, liquid handling, quantification, sample preparation and next generation, Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS).
“QIAGEN’s support for ICMP is timely, focused, and substantial,” ICMP Director-General Kathryne Bomberger said today. “Our partnership with QIAGEN and other leading technology companies makes it possible for us to maintain the ICMP laboratory system as the premier high-throughput, human identification DNA laboratory system in the world that is capable of responding – quickly, economically and effectively – to missing persons scenarios wherever they arise.”
QIAGEN Chief Executive Officer Peer Schatz said, “This collaboration springs from a shared passion for applying state-of-the-art technologies to address a very important and very challenging need. Wars, disasters and other events that separate victims from families leave behind unanswered questions and tremendous grief. We believe that that the application of these state-of-the-art technologies has the potential to provide help to those experiencing such terrible uncertainty. ICMP’s global role in securing the cooperation of governments and other agencies to account for complicated or large-scale missing persons scenarios requires the very best DNA analysis workflow, and achieving this is a further example of QIAGEN’s mission of making improvements in life possible.”
ICMP and a number of academic institutes have worked closely with QIAGEN to develop a powerful SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) panel specifically designed for missing persons identification. The ICMP MPs-Plex targets more than 1,400 sites in the human genome, capitalizing on the power provided by Massively Parallel Sequencing. In addition to the custom panel, QIAGEN will supply software, reagents, consumables and technical support on an ongoing basis for ICMP.
Since 2001, ICMP has operated a state-of-the-art DNA laboratory system focused exclusively on missing persons identification. The system delivers high-throughput capabilities to assist governments in identifying large numbers of persons missing from conflict, human rights abuses, natural and manmade disasters, organized crime, irregular migration and other circumstances where persons go missing for involuntary reasons.
The system, which is designed to work on the most challenging cases, operates on a high-throughput scale, has generated DNA results on more than 50,000 cases of degraded skeletal remains and contributed to the identification of around 20,000 persons worldwide. ICMP’s new laboratory in The Hague aspires to maintain a capacity of up to 10,000 cases a year. Over the course of two decades, ICMP has responded to a wide variety of complex missing persons scenarios in over 40 countries, including assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina identify almost 90 percent of the approximately 8,000 victims of the Srebrenica genocide.
After the 2004 South East Asian Tsunami, in conjunction with INTERPOL, it deployed its forensic expertise as part of a major international Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) program. The laboratory system is also a key component of ICMP’s Center of Excellence in Training and it supports ICMP’s programs in the Western Balkans, the MENA region and Latin America.
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ICMPICMP is a treaty-based international organization based in The Hague, the Netherlands. Its mandate is to secure the cooperation of governments and others in locating and identifying missing persons from conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, organized crime, irregular migration and other causes and to assist them in doing so. It is the only international organization tasked exclusively to work on the issue of missing persons.QIAGENhttp://www.QIAGEN.com
Her Excellency Ms. Dziunik Aghajanian, Ambassador of Armenia. By Roy Lie A Tjam.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in the Netherlands, Her Excellency Ms. Dziunik Aghajanian, hosted a reception to celebrate Armenia’s 26th Anniversary of Independence and the 25th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Armenia and the Netherlands. The venue was Theater Diligentia, The Hague on 5 October 2017.
In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Aghajanian cordially welcomed the large, turnout. She emphasized the relationship between her country and the Kingdom of The Netherlands and their solid alliance. The ambassador recounted how The Netherlands have stood by Armenia every step of the way in their development.
Assisting in dealings with the World Bank and IMF for example. The journey was not always easy, however, today Armenia is no longer “a receiving country but one that also contributes”. The military peacekeepers are an example thereof, Armenia is surging ahead!
The Speaker is H.E. Mr. Adrian Palm, Special Representative for the Eastern Partnership and Eastern Neighborhood Countries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
The next speaker at the event was Mr. Adeiaan Palm, representative of the Eastern Partnership and Eastern neighborhood countries, MFA, in The Netherlands. Mr. Palm applauded the pleasant cooperation with Armenia.
The evening’s program continued with a concert by the Armenian string quartet, Komitas, under the artistic director Mr. Eduard Tadevosyan. Komitas is a musical ensemble of four string players – two violin players, a viola player and a cellist. It’s one of the oldest string quartet in the world.
the Armenian string quartet, Komitas.
Other members of the ensemble are Mr. Alexander Kosemyan, Mrs. Suzy Yeritsyan and Mrs. Angela Sargsyan. Komitas played pieces by Handel, Schubert- just to name a few. The Komitas quartet will also perform in Maastricht-Limburg in the south of the Netherlands. The patron saint of Maastricht is Bishop St. Servaas who happens to have been born in Armenia.
Closing the event, Ambassador Dziunik Aghajanian invited fellow Ambassadors, officials, and other guests to a reception where everyone including those of the Armenian diaspora, mingled while enjoying traditional Armenian finger food.
ByMichael Bonté. Peruvian cuisine is trendy and here to stay. As shown at the Peruvian Chilies 2.0 event at the Hotelschool The Hague in Amsterdam. The gathering organised by the Embassy of Peru in conjunction with Hotelschool The Hague and several Peruvian food importers certainly was a success. The many guests were welcomed with the country’s signature Pisco Sour cocktail and a vibrant display of exotic produce from the country.The Ambassador of Peru H.E. Mr Carlos Herrera, welcomed us with an introduction to the Peruvian cuisine and after that the baton was given to Chef Carlos Pardo-Figueroa who presented a seminar giving an overview of the diverse ingredients and dishes, with a star role for the aji’s (chilies) from his homeland. Ambassador Herrera and his spouse looking at Peruvian products imported by Bud Holland.The most famous culinary export from Peru the ceviche starter dish was prepared and tasted by the Ambassador. Another lesser known potatoe dish causa was made in order to be tasted by Veronique Miclea, wife of the Ambassador. A quick quiz was organised to give the audience a chance to win both dishes. Chef Carlos Pardo-Figueroa during the seminar.Afterward the participants were invited to the cooking stations manned by Ceviche y Maas (Rotterdam), Somos Peru (The Hague), Peruvian Cuisine NL (Amsterdam), Pukitas Catering (Alkmaar), Verstegen Spices & Sauces, Embajada del Perú and Hotelschool The Hague.The display of food was a sight for sore eyes. Ranging from several different kinds of ceviche to arroz con mariscos. All dishes were deemed delicious by the guests.Chef Carlos Pardo-Figueroa, Javier Pella, Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Peru in The Hague and one of the chefs participants.In the dining area there was a chance to browse a minimarket with a selection of Peruvian food and drink products. Paricipants included: Que rico van Miryam, Don Santos Latin Products, Fia International (Piscos), Pacae and Bud Holland. Learning how to make Peruvian ‘causa’.As if that was not enough the invitees were able to participate in their choice of workshops: The starter tiradito lead by chef Fernando Limanche, the popular maincourse ají de gallina by chef Darwin Grados and pisco cocktails, lead by Jan Jaap Nijemansland. All workshops were well attended with convivialty shared among the participants.Among the guests the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Fernando Arias and spouse Patricia van Oordt de Arias, H.E. Willys Delvalle Ambassador of Panama and spouse Tatiana Delvalle, chefs, restaurants owners, students and friends of Peru, they all participated in an overview of the history of the Peruvian cuisine.As Ambassador Herrera explained, “the purpose of the event was to promote importation of food from Peru, to introduce participants specially chefs and students to the Peruvian cuisine and to expand their knowledge about its ingredients. In the near future many more Dutch restaurants will offer Peruvian dishes or dishes cooked with Peruvian ingredients.”It was now up to the many guests to promote and spread the word about the diverse and enticing cuisine from Peru in order to grow its marketshare in the global restaurant and catering business.
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Photography by Susan Ortega.
On the picture H.E Dr. Elías Azar, Ambassador of Mexico, Mr. Paulo Carreño King, General Director of PROMEXICO and Mr. Ernst Noorman, CEO of The Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO.By Roy Lie A Tjam.
The Embassy of Mexico in The Hague hosted a ceremony marking the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) between PROMEXICO and The Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO. Present at the ceremony was the Ambassador of Mexico H.E Dr. Elías Azar. The date was, 10 October 2017.
ProMexico is the Mexican investment promotion agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investments into the country and seeks to increase the number of Mexican exporting companies in the foreign market. Its mandate is to promote Mexico as a business location abroad and to assist foreign investors to start business in Mexico and internationalize Mexican companies.
Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO is part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Netherlands Enterprise Agency focuses on providing services to entrepreneurs. Netherlands Enterprise Agency helps with grants, finding business partners, know-how and compliance with laws and regulations, with main focus on sustainable, agrarian, innovative and international business. For international business Netherlands Enterprise Agency is responsible for implementation of the Dutch trade and investment policies.
Note what the Ambassador of Mexico in The Hague H.E Mr. Elías Azar had to say at the signing ceremony.
Welcome to this little piece of Mexico in the Netherlands.It is my duty to start congratulating both parties for their initiative: PROMEXICO and RVO.This time, is the time for signing this Memorandum of Understanding. This is the precise moment in history and in circumstances, to strengthen the economical and the commercial relationship between the Netherlands and Mexico.Certainly, both countries have a long and steady relationship throughout the years; they have a history together, which is, mainly, an economical and commercial history. As a matter of fact, next year we will celebrate our 190th anniversary of bilateral relationship, the Netherlands is one of the biggest investors in Mexico.President Peña Nieto, throughout his mandate, has driven the adoption and the implementation of several legal and political changes in our country. Among them, telecommunication, energy, financial and fiscal sectors, in labor market, Economic competition, transparency and education, among others.The memorandum of understanding will help without a doubt, to promote trade within Mexico and the Netherlands, it will help to launch new commercial projects as the new RVO office in Queretaro, or the new quality control office established in Mexico too.Signing the MOU should be seen as an equally beneficial relation between both: the Netherlands and Mexico, and as a great step for the economy and the market of both sides of the Atlantic.I am very proud and very pleased that this kind of agreements take place now, and that they take place here at the Embassy.I thank you all, and I wish you a lot of success and great achievements.
Mr. Ernst Noorman, CEO of RVO; in his partly Spanish and English delivery, hailed the fruitful cooperation between the Netherlands and Mexico. Noorman indicted his wish to perpetuate working together with ProMexico.
The Ambassador of Mexico, H.E Dr. Elías Azar, Mr. Paulo Carreño King, General Director of PROMEXICO and Mr. Ernst Noorman, CEO of The Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO.
Mr.Paulo Carreño King, General Director of PROMEXICO made the following remarks.
I am pleased to be here to announce the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between ProMéxico and The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), in order to strengthen cooperation, boost trade and investment activities between our countries; with the firm desire to contribute to the design of favorable conditions for the sustainable growth of economic cooperation, and strengthen connections in the business sector.With shared visions and mutual interests, the collaboration we have fostered has already shown great results. This event is a clear reflection of our interest in continuing to create synergy.Mexico offers excellent investment opportunities to Dutch companies in segments such as: agriculture, infrastructure and logistics and health sciences.I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Ambassador Edgar Elías Azar for all the support and facilities that made possible the reopening of this OREX: The Hague. His commitment to continue opening roads to Mexico is admirable.Likewise, I would like to acknowledge the work of our Counselor Alfonso Mojica, who since the first of September has made the necessary arrangements so that ProMexico can function properly. Counselor, in you we have a worthy representative, thank you for your delivery in this process, which was certainly not a simple task.
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Photography by the Embassy of Mexico in The Hague.
On the whole, trade relations are strong and in many cases bilateral economic ties between the US and Latin American nations are strengthening, explained Ms Keneson-Hall. Although the political climate may create uncertainties, she emphasised that the US remained open to trade and would seek to continue actively strengthening its trading position across Latin America.
After the lecture, a lively Q&A session was held, followed by a dinner. 
The main purpose of this naval exercise is to strengthen working relations between the Venezuelan Coast Guard and the Netherlands Coast Guard. Also, Open Eyes brings opportunities for mutual learning experiences on various procedures used by each Coast Guard under different circumstances.
This year naval and flight units of both coast guards trained on search and rescue operations. In addition, the Centre for Rescue and Coordination of Curaçao participated in these exercises by performing important roles.
As a closing event, participants of “Open Eyes 2017” exchanged presents from each country and engaged in a social activity at Daaibooi Beach in Curaçao.
“Open Eyes 2017” is a clear example of the high level of cooperation conducted by both countries, Venezuelan and the Netherlands, in order to jointly contribute to peace and stability in the Caribbean region, thus strengthening constructive bilateral relations.
Among the guests the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Fernando Arias and spouse Patricia van Oordt de Arias, H.E. Willys Delvalle Ambassador of Panama and spouse Tatiana Delvalle, chefs, restaurants owners, students and friends of Peru, they all participated in an overview of the history of the Peruvian cuisine.
As Ambassador Herrera explained, “the purpose of the event was to promote importation of food from Peru, to introduce participants specially chefs and students to the Peruvian cuisine and to expand their knowledge about its ingredients. In the near future many more Dutch restaurants will offer Peruvian dishes or dishes cooked with Peruvian ingredients.”
It was now up to the many guests to promote and spread the word about the diverse and enticing cuisine from Peru in order to grow its marketshare in the global restaurant and catering business.
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Photography by Susan Ortega.
