Working breakfast with H.E. Dr. Alireza Jahangiri Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The theme of the working breakfast was “New opportunities in Iran”.By Roy Lie A Tjam.
On August 23rd, 2017, H.E. Prof. Dr. Alireza Jahangiri, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in The Hague organized another of his regular working breakfast with members of the local media.
The venue was the Residence of the Ambassador of Iran in Wassenaar. Pictures are a courtesy of the Iranian Embassy, please open the following link:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157689568309455The group of journalist together with Ambassador Jahangiri.
In part, this is the information Dr. Alireza Jahangiri shared with the media.
The Nuclear deal is considered as one of the great achievements of diplomacy in recent decades. In order to achieve this agreement, 5+1 powers of the world and the Islamic Republic of Iran, after having long negotiations and putting an end to an unnecessary crisis threatening the international security, finally managed to realize a great outcome called the Nuclear deal. The Nuclear agreement was a win-win result for all negotiating parties, the United Nations and European Union.
Following the implementation of the nuclear deal, the Islamic Republic of Iran, having extensive capabilities and strategic position in the Western Asia region, succeeded in developing of its trade relation with the world and in particular European countries.
Extremely large contracts have been signed between the I. R. of Iran and the world’s major economic powers. There have been multiple negotiations to finalize larger contracts and, in the months and years ahead, we are waiting for the results of these negotiations and implementation of further agreements.
From an economic and commercial point of view the nuclear agreement has provided European countries with a great opportunity for using the regional position and economic capacities of the I.R. of Iran to gain enormous benefits. The approximately 5 billion dollars contract with Total, the contract for the purchase of hundreds of civil aircrafts with Airbus and Boeing, automobile manufacturing contract with Peugeot and Renault and dozens of other contracts are only part of the achievements of the Nuclear agreement.
Although some important countries of the global economy have enjoyed the opportunities of the Nuclear agreement to the maximum and have signed major contracts with the I.R. of Iran, we occasionally see that some countries, having unnecessary concerns or under the influence of propagandas, have not yet taken part in this healthy international competition in Iran and have deprived themselves of the great opportunities provided. Interestingly, Iranian people with a broad participation in the recent presidential election conveyed the message of continuing constructive engagement of Iran with the world.
The relationship between the I.R. of Iran and the Netherlands has also made good progress. Dozens of political, economic and commercial delegations have been exchanged between the two countries.
As the most important cases we can refer to the mutual visit of foreign ministers to each other’s capitals and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations between the two countries, two times travel of H.E. Mr. Henk Kamp, Minister for Economic Affairs of the Netherlands to the I.R. of Iran, preparing a road map for expanding economic co-operation between the two countries, visit of H.E. Mrs. Melanie Schultz, Dutch Minister of the infrastructure and the Environment to Tehran and the visit of H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Hojati, Minister of Agriculture of Iran to the Netherlands.
During these visits great strides have been taken in developing relations between the two countries in various political and economic fields including agriculture, water resources management, environment, oil, gas, energy, medical equipment, etc. The volume of exchanges between the two countries is expected to increase by more than 50% this year compared to 2016. The two countries’ economic and trade co-operation process is very promising and there is a very positive prospect of relations between the two countries as well.
In order to maintain 400 years-old bilateral relations, the I.R. of Iran has always been keen on welcoming and presence of Dutch companies and investments in Iran and the Embassy of the I.R. of Iran in The Hague has tried to work together with various organizations to overcome the obstacles for the presence of Dutch investors in different economic sectors in Iran.
Tourist attractions of Iran can function as an important element for expanding the tourism industry between the two countries. Iran has unparalleled historical monuments and magnificent nature including both snow-capped mountains and spectacular deserts. Due to a large area one can experience four types of weather in one season. This is why all the tourist who have travelled to Iran want to visit the country again with their entire family.
The Embassy of the I.R. of Iran in The Hague has facilitated the travel of tourist to Iran by launching an electronic visa system and also many Iranian tourists travel to the Netherlands to visit this beautiful country.
In our view the role of the journalists in informing the elites, owners of capital and public opinion about the capacities of economic co-operation with Iran can be described as unique and highly important. We hope with the help and collaboration of the media, we can improve the co-operation between these two great countries after the recent elections in both countries.
Do you love to sing? Then join the course of Carol Singing in the Kalhuis.
We sing four-quarters Christmas songs from all countries and from all ages. Singing teacher and voice coach Magdalena Pattianakotta teaches everyone to sing, reading a score is not necessary. She pays much attention to the technical use of your voice.
We perform at various Christmas Markets, quite often outdoors.
Rehearsals are weekly on Thursdays from 17.30 tot 18.00 in the Kalhuis, Badhuisstraat 177 in Scheveningen.
For more information:mariet@overkoming.nl
Len Dong – Quan Ho are a new work choreographed by Minh Hoa specially for the Embassy festival. The art performances explored Vietnamese traditional languages, music which are honoured as Intangible Cultural Heritages representing humanity by UNESCO.
The program included two sections: Quan ho and Len dong.
Quan ho is one of the typical folk singing in the Red River Delta, in the North of Vietnam. Len dong is a form of practicing related to Viet beliefs in the Mother – Goddess of three Realms. Last year, it was honored to be Intangible Cultural Heritage representing humanity by UNESCO.
It is a new art form and It has not much been introduced to the world. Therefore, we should bring it to the world. Folklore Art is a very great chance especially on the occasion of Vietnamese National Day.
It is an opportunity to help Vietnamese overseas and the people of the Netherlands in particular and the whole world in general understand more about the cultural heritage of Vietnam. Folk songs are folk cultural forms born from people’s life so it is easy to listen.
Quan ho – Main Artress- Nguyen Thi Chung 1¨I feel very proud and happy to bring our heritages to your country. I see, all of you are very friendly and lovely and interested in our traditional culture. I hope that there will many chances like this.¨ said choreographed Hoa.
Quan ho: Moi nuoc, moi trau ( Please enjoy drinking water and enjoying Trau) performed by Nguyen Thi Chung and Nguyen Hong Thai.
The beauty of Quan ho: Quan ho is one of the typical folk songs of the Red River Delta, in the North of Vietnam. Quan ho was formed and developed in the ancient Kinh Bac culture, now it is Bac Giang and Bac Ninh. In the Vietnamese folk treasure, Quan ho Bac Ninh is the most popular music type. Lim town is the heart of Bac Ninh province with Lim festival in his almanac, his sister.
Lendong: Giá Cô Chín (The Ninth Princess) performed by main artist Mrs. Thanh Hải with folk music band including four musicians: the Anh/Tran Nam / Xuan Tuyen / Kim Dung. Len dong is a very special form of folklore. It is very spiritual. Len dong is a interplay between artistic performance and spirituality. This is very mystical. In fact, even with the Vietnamese, it is hard to understand. If not in a mystical world, it is difficult to imagine that goddess is hidden in a normal human being. That is extremely special not only for the Vietnamese but also for the world. All over the world they are looking to understand this art form.
Quan ho- Main artist – Hong Thai.Giá Cô Chin by Thanh Hải artist: She was a fairy. she also had talent of fortune telling she strolled all over the world, then arrived Thanh Hoa with beautiful landscape, she was satisfied. King on the earth found her supernatural power, ordered people to build her temple in Thanh Hoa.
The above is a personal reflection of Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the OPCW.The tenure of the incumbent Director-General of the OPCW E. Mr Ahmet Üzümcü is going to end in July 2018, when and how the new Director-General of the OPCW is going to be appointed?Answer: The incumbent Director-General of the OPCW, H.E. Mr Ahmet Üzümcü was appointed in December 2009 by the Conference of the States Parties at its Fourteenth Session. Following his appointment, Mr Ahmet Üzümcü began his term of office for four years on 25 July 2010. He was reappointed for a second term for four years beginning on 25 July 2014 by the Conference of the States Parties at its Eighteenth Session in December 2013 following the recommendation of the Executive Council of the OPCW at its Seventy-Fourth Session in October 2013. The current tenure of the incumbent Director-General H.E. Mr Ahmet Üzümcü will be ending on 24 July 2018 and the new Director-General will assume office with effect from 25 July 2018.
According to Article VIII, paragraph 43, of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Director-General of the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW shall be appointed by the Conference of the States Parties upon the recommendation of the Executive Council for a term of four years, renewable for one further term, but not thereafter.
The Eighty-Fourth Session of the Executive Council, held on 7-10 March 2017, considered and adopted a decision on the process for the appointment of the Director-General and in the context of the above decision, it requested that the Chairperson of the Council to invite, on Council’s behalf, States Parties to present their nominations of candidates by no later than 23 June 2017, to enable their consideration at the Eighty-Fifth Session of the Council.
The Council further requested the Chairperson of the Council to undertake, as soon as possible, consultations on issues related to the appointment of the Director-General and other actions that the Chairperson deems appropriate, with a view to assisting the Council in adopting its recommendation to the Conference at its Twenty-Second Session, in conformity with paragraph 43 of Article VIII of the Convention.
The Eighty-Sixth Session of the Executive Council to be held on 10-13 October 2017 is going to recommend a candidate to the Twenty-Second Conference of the States Parties to be held on 27 November – 1 December 2017 for the appointment of a new Director-General of the OPCW.
How the selection process has proceeded till now and what is ahead leading to the next Session of the Executive Council?
Answer: The seven candidates made their presentations on 13 July 2017 during the Eighty-Fifth Session of the Executive Council. As Chairperson of the Executive Council, I issued a Statement before the Council on a road map for the appointment to the position of Director-General highlighting that the appointment process should be fair, open, and transparent in order to ensure widest support for the incoming Director-General; and that there should be a commitment to make every effort to adopt a decision by consensus during the Eighty-Sixth Session of the Executive Council to be held on 10-13 October 2017 for recommending a candidate to the Twenty-Second Conference of the States Parties to be held on 27 November-1 December 2017.
The road map has spelled out the Chairperson’s intention to use, with the support of the States Parties, a number of tools, including consultations, “confessional meetings”, and, when appropriate, straw polls, in order to identify, in successive cycles, early but clear trends that could allow the Chairperson to engage in constructive and respectful discussions, which may lead to a reassessment of the candidate’s standing vis-à-vis other candidates. Each cycle would be followed, in succession, by another, in order to reduce the number of candidates and/or to identify a trend that could lead to consensus in support of recommending a single, consensus-based candidate.
The first straw poll was held on 13 September 2017 and the second straw poll is scheduled on 20 September 2017. We will decide about the rest as we go from there within the provisions of the “Rules of Procedure” of the Executive Council.
What credentials are the States Parties looking for in the next Director-General of the OPCW?
Answer: State Parties are the best judges to decide on the credentials they want in a candidate. As the Chairperson of the Executive Council and as an ardent follower of the Convention, I am just trying to facilitate this process so that the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) may be made adequately aware of their candidates’ credentials in terms of their knowledge, skill and experience.
I humbly wish that the next Director-General of the OPCW would be a person capable of dealing with the ever-evolving challenges through astute diplomacy and negotiation while having the required skill of managing around 500 officials in the Technical Secretariat. Our next Director-General ought to be someone with impeccable integrity to uphold the CWC and protect the OPCW. Considering the very technical nature of the OPCW and the achievement of this Organization towards making the world free of chemical weapons, I hope, the States Parties would appoint the best candidate for this coveted position through a process of meritocratic search.
How do you foresee the roles of the next Director-General of the OPCW?
Answer: The mandate of the OPCW is to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in order to achieve the OPCW’s vision of a world free of chemical weapons.Therefore, upholding the CWC, under any circumstances, is a promise we all have to remind ourselves. The Director-General of the OPCW is a very important conduit for us to do it in coordination with the 192 States Parties that have already ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention covering 98% of the global population.
As the chemical weapon is perhaps abhorred by each and every individual of the earth, the next Director-General of the OPCW would need to walk extra miles to bring the remaining States to accede to the Convention to make the world safer from the scourge of chemical weapons. On the other hand, approximately 95% of the world’s declared stockpiles of chemical agents have already been destroyed and the destruction of the remaining stockpiles is expected to be completed by 2023. However, the threat of re-emergence of such weapon is also a credible threat against which we will all have to remain on guard.
From this view point, the next Director-General would need to make the OPCW, with the support of the States Parties, a vanguard against the threat of the re-emergence of chemical weapons and the use of chemical weapons by ‘rouge’ States and the non-state actors including terrorist organisations.
4) What would be your recommendations to the next Director-General of the OPCW?
Answer: First and foremost, we would like to see the next Director-General’s leadership in implementing the provisions of the CWC in ensuring that a global chemical weapons ban is achieved, threat of re-emergence adequately addressed and future challenges are duly thought out and dealt with.
Coming from a developing country like Bangladesh, we would also like to see an organisation like OPCW, while remaining a vanguard to uphold the Chemical Weapons Convention, shall also provide for international cooperation among States Parties in the pursuit of chemistry for peaceful purposes. We would like to see the next Director-General promoting vigorous international cooperation in many areas: from sponsoring chemical research to capacity building in verification regime to guaranteeing legal assistance; from developing and improving laboratory capacity to specialised internships/fellowships. We would like to see his (regrettably we don’t have a female candidate this time) leadership in activating a trust fund for funding the interns/fellows from the least developed countries and addressing the problem of skewed geographical representations that we now have.
Metaphorically speaking, we would like to see a “third eye” in our Director-General to always remain ahead of the problems curve and thereby uplift this organisation as a successful model of disarmament. With ramping poverty and ravaging war in different parts of the world, the OPCW should be a source of solace to the victims as well as support to divert resources away from destruction to rehabilitation and new construction.
The OPCW was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 2013 for its “extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons”. It is Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, under whose leadership; the OPCW received such an international accolade with the support of all the State Parties. I would hope to see even more spirited cooperation from the State Parties to the new Director-General as he embarks at the helm of the OPCW to uphold our promise of “never again” to the chemical weapons.
I would urge all the State Parties to continue their best of cooperation to the OPCW and to its next Director-General towards our ultimate goal of ridding the world free of chemical weapons.
Disclaimer: The above is a personal reflection of Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the OPCW, in rendering his role as the Chairperson of the Executive Council of the OPCW. Therefore, neither the OPCW nor the Executive Council has anything, either explicit or implicit, to do with this reflection.
On the picture, Dutch delegation at the 6th ERA of Knights of Rizal.By Anton Lutter.
From the 25th to the 27th of august the 6th European Regional Assembly of the Order of the Knights of Rizal – the sole order of knighthood in The Philippines – has taken place in Brussels. The Order of Knights of Rizal was founded in 1911 to to honor and uphold the ideals of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal.
In 1951 it was granted a legislative charter by a law, which signed by president Elpidio Quirino becoming Republic Act 646.
Sitting next to Sir Olaf baron van Boetzelaer is Alan Deniega, charge d’affaires at The Philippines Embassay at Brussels.
The assembly -which theme was the “KOR Europe in solidarity of Rizal’s vision” was visited by more than 200 knights and ladies, from all over Europe: Czech Republic, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom, under the leadership of the European Regional Commander the Honorable cónsul Sir Antonio Guansing, KGOR. But also knights from the United States and Canada attended the assembly.
The guest of honour was without doubt the Supreme Commander of Knights of Rizal and former Chief Justice of The Philippines Sir Reynato Puno, KGCR, who attended with several other members of the Supreme Council from Manila. The Dutch delegation was led by Sir Anton Lutter, KCR, chapter commander of The Hague Chapter. The first day commenced at The Philippines Embassy in Brussels hosted by the chargé d’affaires Alan L. Deniega.
As guest speaker of the evening Sir Olaf baron van Boetzelaer, KR held a very interesting speech titled Dr. Jose Rizal : A Philippine Patriot who knew Europe. Some excerpts: “As the intellectual patriot he was, he stays as a beacon of light to his countryman: then, now and for the generations to come. But what strikes, this patriot, with the Philippines never out of his mind was also a cosmopolitan“.Sir Reynato Puno, KGCR.
We can say, here in our European assembly that he knew different European countries. He worked in Paris and was also a member of the Berlin Anthropological Society. He has lived here in Brussels and his famous book El Filibusterismo was printed in Gent. Dr. Rizal was driven by universal ethical values: succinctly: human dignity at home and if possible also abroad. Therefore he belongs to the Pantheon of great men – and women – of our world who want to further human dignity, human rights, without naiveté.
As said, he visited studied and worked in several European countries. We can say he “knew” parts of our continent. He had contacts, friendship even, with European scholars. An outstanding example of course was his friendship and exchange of ideas with the German scholar Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt. What has all this to say to us, in our present time? Well, his example as an outward looking patriot and at the same time as a fatherland loving internationalist is still relevant and inspiring, especially in our world where on the one hand people are sometimes afraid of losing their national or regional identity and traditions and where on the other hand, we witness more and more globalization.
Both aspects should be complementary not contradictory. Dr. Rizal always saw his fatherland as part of the global world, the family of nations. In this aspect he is also inspiring in 2017, now that The Philippines has the chair of ASEAN. The “homo universalis” he was, would have seen with a benign eye the contacts and cooperation between the European Union and ASEAN.
Regarding the status of the EU-ASEAN relations, I can quote the then High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Baroness Ashton, who stated: “The EU wants to be an active and constructive player in Asian regionalism. “The appointment of an EU Ambassador to ASEAN in August 2015, is an important step in that direction”. Van Boetzelaer concluded “Well, look to us here today. Dr. Rizal still brings nations and people together: brothers and knights from so many European nations, in brotherly solidarity. Also an example for international relations. And we all have also a special bonding with the country where it originated: The Philippines”.
The second day found important speeches by the Rev. Fr. Paul John Camiring, chaplain at SHAPE (NATO), titled “Knights of Rizal Europe in Solidarity with Rizal’s Vision” and the keynote speech from the Supreme Commander which was on Federalism in The Philippines.The ceremonial part of the assembly consisted of the dubbing and elevation to higher ranks as well as awarding individuals for outstanding services rendered.
Sir Olaf an Boetzelaer, KR between Sir Dominiek Segaert, KGOR and Sir Lino Paras, KGCR.
From The Netherlands elevated to Officer in the Order of Knights of Rizal were Sir Olaf baron van Boetzelaer, KR and Sir Steef Klarenbeek, KR, respectively pursuivant and exchequer of The Hague Chapter.
The visting supreme commander Sir Reynato Puno, KGCR led the official ceremonies of the three days assisted by members of the supreme council and Masters of Ceremony Sir Dominiek Segaert, KGOR and Sir Lino Paras, KGCR, who flawlessly led as through the three days of confraternity.
Rev. Fr. Paul John Camiring.
The official ceremonies of the day ended by the awarding of the Regional Commander Sir Antonio Guansing, KGOR with the well deserved Grand Cross of the Order of the Knights of Rizal for his longtime honorably serving the Order.
A galadinner ended the evening, while the closing of the assembly – next day – by the supreme commander was preceded by a Thanksgiving Mass at the Saint Mary Mother of God Church, presided by the Rev. Father Jorgedy Bago, Chaplain of Seafarers and of the Filipino Community in Antwerp.
Sir Antonio Guansing, KGCR with Supreme Council members.
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Photography by A. Lutter.
Diversity and inclusion,as they continue to build a welcoming Canada
Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Youth – as they continue to engage young people and give them the means to contribute to their society, because they are the ones who will shapetomorrow’sCanada
Environment, as they are all the custodians of their environment, a source of our country’s wealth and pride.
This year on October 4, at The Peace Palace in The Hague, as part of the MBBI Conference 2017, a day-long masterclass on de-escalating strong emotions will be given by Douglas E. Noll, a lawyer, peace maker and an AV-rated attorney, assigned to the top 1% of attorneys worldwide.
Traditional forms of negotiation and communication have shown to be less effective than desirable. Douglas E. Noll for many years now has offered new skills and insights on how to de-escalate a volatile situation and move the discussion into effective problem-solving and durable agreements.
So, if your professional life is full of complex negotiations of all sorts, this masterclass might change the way you do things – it happened to many before you: to people working in law, business, international relations, or in family relations, in politics, and to all kinds of mediators.
This masterclass is recognised by the Mediation Foundation of the Netherlands (MfN) as a course for 6 PE points, category: 1a. Now you are welcome to join in, and share learning and experience with many others, all with experience in mediation from all over the world.
This is the first time ever Douglas E. Noll offers his masterclass in the Netherlands. For 22 years he worked as a top class lawyer. He now is an acclaimed advanced mediation advocate and legal negotiation skills trainer, specialized in helping people solve difficult, complex, and intractable problems.
His work and masterclasses have inspired thousands of professionals all over the world with new insights and skills on de-escalating strong emotions – key to resolving any conflict.
The masterclass is part of the rich program of the 8th MBBI’s Conference held on 3-6 October, 2017, centered around the new long-term initiative: “Keep People Affected by Conflict in Charge”.
This masterclass is highly interactive: it is learning by doing. An intense experience, for max. 50 participants.
October 4, 2017
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, The Hague, 2517 KJ,
The Netherlands
To register and/or find more information about the masterclass and Douglas E. Noll, please, visit the website:
https://mbbinternational.org/project/masterclass/
By Jhr mr Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland LL.M.
Several years ago the United Nations declared September 21 ‘the International Day of Peace’. The City of The Hague, with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) since 1946 the second UN City in the World and declared to be The International City of Peace and Justice as well as The Legal Capital of the World by two UN Secretaries-General, of course celebrates this day, even in a four days event: the Just Peace Festival, in 2017 for the fourth time, with a wealth of activities.
On Thursday September 21st itself you can join the Hague Talks at the Peace Palace: Dialogues for Peace. Lots of other activities will follow. On the last day, Sunday September 24th the Festival ends with three events. In the morning (9 am to 1 pm) you can join Peace Run The Hague. You can run 5 or 10 kilometers (Kids Run 1,5 or 2,5 km); the charity of Peace Run The Hague will be Unicef. In the afternoon (noon until 6 pm) you are welcome in the Palace Gardens of the Kings Palace Noordeinde (entrance: Prinsessewal) for ‘Peace in the Park’. And during the whole day the many international organisations for which the city is known will open their doors for one day to the public: you can pay a visit to remarkable institutions like the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Unicef, the Peace Palace with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as well as the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) etc.
The admission is free, but for security reasons you have to sign up for the tours in and around the international organisations in advance via the website www.justpeacethehague.com, where you can find many more details of the program for the 4th Just Peace Festival from 21 to 24 September 2017.
Enjoy those four wonderful international days in our International City of Peace and Justice !
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About the author: Jhr. mr. Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland LL.M. is Justice (Judge) in the (Dutch) Court of Appeal as well as honorary Special Advisor International Affairs, appointed by the Mayor and Aldermen of The Hague
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 inside the family. Diplomat Magazine decided to publish this powerful companion book designed for diplomats and their families, in its original language.
Second chapter.
Por Silvia Korenblum.
La gran mayoría de las familias en tránsito se desplazan debido a que la madre o el padre de la familia tienen una oportunidad de trabajo que los lleva a salir de su país de origen, cambiando de sede con cierta frecuencia. Esta oportunidad generalmente trae consigo una mejora en el desarrollo profesional y en lo económico. Desde un aspecto personal, los directivos de empresas buscan ser transferidos a otros países por varias razones: mejores compensaciones económicas, nuevas experiencias, estándares de vida más altos, en especial en aquellos países en los que se convertirán en parte integrante de la elite social. También se destacan la oportunidad de aprender diferentes idiomas y culturas, y obtener cargos con mayores responsabilidades.
Hace no tantos años, la mayoría de los ejecutivos internacionales eran hombres, y las mujeres funcionarias internacionales eran una excepción. Hoy en día esto se ha transformado siendo la proporción prácticamente cincuenta por ciento hombres y cincuenta por ciento mujeres.
Las mujeres funcionarias, a diferencia de los hombres, tan sólo en una proporción menor se trasladan acompañadas de su familia, ya sea porque son solteras o separadas, o bien porque el marido no acompaña en forma permanente. En efecto, todavía hay un fenómeno observable: al hombre le cuesta mucho más seguir a la mujer por trabajo que al revés. También encontramos mujeres funcionarias con familias sin esposo, madres de familia solas.
Sin embargo, existen también los casos en que los hombres acompañan a sus mujeres, tomando muchas veces roles que en general son históricamente femeninos. A esto me referiré más adelante en detalle al analizar la particularidad de la mujer funcionario internacional y su cónyuge como acompañante.
“Aconsecuencia del desarrollo cultural de las últimas décadas han cambiado mucho las premisas para el estereotipo masculino y femenino. Ahora ambos, la mujer y el hombre, se encuentran en una profunda transformación respecto de la función específica de cada uno de los sexos. Entonces, en esta situación, son víctimas de una postergación, en virtud del cónyugue… Hoy ya no se tiene en cuenta más que el propio rendimiento” (Jurg, 1978). Antes “detrás de un gran hombre siempre hay una gran mujer”. Hoy, ésto ya no se escucha más, cada uno se ocupa mucho más de sí mismo.
En la diplomacia, otro fenómeno observable es el de las parejas de funcionarios, en dónde ambos pertenecen a la carrera o a la función diplomática, en cuyo caso los roles son más repartidos.
En cualquiera de las situaciones descritas, el proceso de expatriación puede fracasar. En su gran mayoría, estos fracasos se deben a una falta de adaptación (a nivel personal y familiar) al nuevo entorno cultural, y a la incapacidad del funcionario de hacer frente a sus nuevas responsabilidades. Por tanto, el expatriado no sólo deberia recibir una preparación para el cargo que ocupará, sino que también se deberia incluir a su familia en la formación sobre el impacto cultural que sufrirán.
“El libro “Traslados , la mudanza internacional y su impacto familiar” Fue concebido para explicar y tratar de ayudar con los problemas de las familias de los diplomáticos en los sucesivos traslados, tanto en las salidas al exterior como en los regresos. Para esto se vale del relato de historias de quienes pasaron por la experienciacon los distintos puntos de vista de las funcionarias, los funcionarios, sus parejas y sus hijos. Es un trabajo en donde se plantean las ventajas y las desventajas del proceso.Se incluye el analisis de temas tales como la adaptacion, el shock culturl, el duelo por la lejania de la familia extensa y el retorno, entre otros.” Silvia Korenblum.
Cuando la familia se muda es el funcionario que llega al nuevo destino, tiene ese punto de referencia (la empresa, la embajada, el laboratorio). Este es un lugar de contención, una base segura.
El cónyuge, por su parte, se ocupa de la casa y de los hijos y de la instalación de la familia en el nuevo lugar. Hay cónyuges que experimentan esta realidad sin problemas: ocupando el rol de organización se sienten satisfechos, y pueden asumir los desafíos que ello implica. En estos casos, el cónyuge asume este papel en el convencimiento que es su parte en el trabajo que motivó el traslado, que por lo tanto pasa a convertirse en un trabajo familiar.
Hay otros cónyuges que este papel no les sienta tan cómodo. Por lo general se trata de personas que han estudiado alguna carrera o tienen un trabajo u ocupación que debe ser abandonado en el momento del traslado. Ahí pueden surgir problemas que resultan de la contradicción de estas dos variables (carrera propia versus seguir al otro).
La decisión de acompañar en un traslado a la pareja no implica que la contradicción desaparezca. Es más, la misma se puede profundizar cuando el que se queda en la casa debe ocuparse de la instalación familiar, ya que pueden sentirse desubicados o anacrónicos (les cuesta mucho más a los hombres esta posición o a algunas mujeres con ambiciones profesionales ).
En general, el que se ocupó de la crianza casi siempre tiene que contentarse con trabajos subordinados ya que dedicaron su tiempo de mayor productividad a esto, mientras que los funcionarios internacionales pueden ejercer una carrera profesional gracias al empleo sistemático de todas sus fuerzas y a la ayuda de sus parejas.
Por consiguiente no se puede considerar, sin más ni más, como trastorno neurótico cierto el que en algún momento el cónyuge reaccione con celos, envidia y tendencias destructivas. Dentro de estas parejas, en donde la subordinación de uno a la carrera del otro es muy clara y permanente, y por lo tanto es muy difícil que haya un desarrollo profesional para ambos, es muy alta la cantidad de divorcios o separaciones. Las empresas dan muchos beneficios a sus directivos y exigen en consecuencia. Hay veces en que el funcionario debe viajar considerablemente y ausentarse de la casa y es el que queda quien debe quedarse a cargo de la familia, ya que “papá tiene que ir a trabajar” o “mamá tiene que ir a trabajar”. Se debe tener en cuenta, además, que muchas veces el funcionario debe presentarse a su trabajo desde el primer día de arribo al país.
Liliana, una argentina de 40 años relata, “Cuandollegamosa Venezuela, hacíatresmesesquemimaridoestabaallá,y no pudo venir a recibirnos, llegamos al aeropuerto y estaba una secretaria y el chofer de la compañía, la verdad es que no sabía qué decirle a mis hijos, estaba estupefacta…”.
Este tipo de familias funcionan con la típica ideología de parejas tradicionales en las que la mujer (o el que ocupa la posición típicamente femenina en la familia) se ocupa de todo lo que es “adentro” y el otro de todo que es “afuera”. El “adentro” son los niños, las cuestiones domésticas. Eso lleva al rol solitario del ama/o de casa.
Muchas empresas u organismos internacionales o gubernamen tales no tienen en cuenta la carrera profesional del cónyuge ni su situación laboral . De acuerdo al último estudio de Price Waterhouse Coopers sobre los traslados internacionales, de cada diez fracasos de empleados expatriados, ocho se producen como consecuencia de la inadaptación de la pareja al nuevo ámbito (Canales, 1999).
Aunque tiene poderosos beneficios secundarios para cada protagonista, esta situación es fuente importante de conflictos de pareja. Pero sobre todo, en tanto atraviesa el subsistema hijos, genera en ellos y en los vínculos que tienen con los padres, zonas de confusión y de silencio, promueve conflictos de lealtades, sobrecargas y dificultades para la individuación (Troya, 2000).
Silvia Korenblum, autora de Traslados.
La flexibilidad es una característica determinante. Las familias flexibles afrontan más fácilmente los cambios y se adaptan mejor a ellos, las que no son suficientemente flexibles experimentan conflictos y la consiguiente aparición de síntomas en los períodos de transición. Habitualmente, hay que ayudar a estas familias a establecer una sensación de continuidad y competencia.
La adaptabilidad de una familia se halla, por lo tanto, íntimamente ligada a su grado de flexibilidad y su aptitud de cambio.
Olson (1986) define la adaptabilidad de una familia como la capacidad de un sistema conyugal o familiar de cambiar su estructu- ra de poder, relaciones de roles y reglas de relación en respuesta al estrés situacional o evolutivo.
Una familia migrante necesita como equipaje básico una buena cuota de adaptabilidad. Las familias migrantes suelen ser muy unidas y cerradas en sí mismas. Pasan mucho tiempo “solas”.
Los cambios que se suceden pasan por diferentes niveles, y la familia va sorteando los vaivenes, las pérdidas, los beneficios. Cada integrante de la familia que emigra temporalmente pierde muchos de los roles que desempeñaba en su comunidad, como miembros de un grupo familiar extenso, de un grupo de trabajo, de un grupo de amistades (si bien no se han ido definitivamente, en lo cotidiano, en el aquí y ahora, no están).
Sólo una buena relación consigo mismo, una buena cohesión familiar, la aceptación de las pérdidas y la elaboración de los duelos, permitirá integrar de manera discriminada los distintos países, los distintos tiempos, las partidas y los regresos, los grupos de antes y los de ahora, lo que dará lugar a la reorganización y consolidación del sentimiento de identidad, que corresponderá a quienes siguen siendo ellos mismos a pesar de los cambios (Cervantes, 2000).
Marina llegó a Bruselas desde Lanús, provincia de Buenos Aires. No hablaba francés, hacía poco tiempo que se había recibido de psicóloga, recién casada, su marido había sido destinado a Bélgica, e iban a estar ahí por dos años. Al poco tiempo de llegar por casualidad conoce a un psicólogo argentino, que le ofrece hacer una pasantía en una comunidad terapéutica en la que él trabajaba. Ella se sintió entusiasmada, pero entendía muy poco el idioma y lo hablaba aún peor. “…habíadíasenlosquemesentíamuymal,yaquenolograbaentendermuybienloquepasabay me sentía muy incómoda y extraña, y me preguntaba que estaba haciendo allí. Algunas veces sentía que no podía más y que no iba a seguir…, sin embargo seguí yendo todos los días hasta que terminó la pasantía, con una sensación muy especial, algo así como: “si pude con esto, puedo ser capaz de hacer cualquier cosa…”.Así, mientras que por un lado se sienten sentimientos de pena y dolor por lo que quedó atrás, por otro lado, al poder superar lo que resulta tan difícil, se apodera de uno una sensación de fuerza, de verse capaz de abordar el control del propio destino, de que nada es imposible.
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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.
By Dr. David Tawei Lee, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
1 September, 2017
“As we embark on this great collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind”—Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
New York is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. As with visitors from other countries, those from Taiwan love to experience first-hand the city’s famous attractions—the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and, of course, the very nerve center of global affairs: the Headquarters of the United Nations. These landmarks—the latter in particular—are symbols of equality, diversity and freedom. Regrettably, the brilliant luster of these ideals has become tarnished of late as more and more visitors from Taiwan find themselves being turned away from the UN grounds, discriminated against simply because of their country of origin.
The UN is about people, yet the universality of human rights that the UN proclaims does not extend to Taiwan and its 23 million people. This mistreatment dates back to 1971, when our government lost its representation in the organization—and in the intervening decades, Taiwan has met with challenges and isolation with respect to its international situation. Nevertheless, this adversity has propelled us forward and we have never retreated, for we believe very strongly that those who follow the path of virtue can never truly be alone.
While traveling the world to carry out my duties as minister of foreign affairs, I have always marveled at how Taiwan’s experience in such areas as environmental protection, public health and medicine, agriculture, education and ICT has helped our partners develop and grow. We are committed to continuing our interaction and cooperation with our friends and partners, and to maintaining global peace, security and prosperity through mutually beneficial collaboration.
Despite Taiwan’s efforts and the recognition they have earned, despite the need for universality, and despite the repeated pledge to leave no one behind, the UN seems content to leave the 23 million people of Taiwan behind. In May of this year, Taiwan was refused attendance at the 70th WHA, despite having participated as an observer over the previous eight consecutive years. Rejecting Taiwan—which has invested over US$6 billion in international medical and humanitarian aid efforts since 1996, benefiting millions of people worldwide—runs counter to common sense, and creates a blind spot in the World Health Organization’s operations, just like the one that cost lives during the 2003 SARS epidemic.
This unjust treatment, however, has not and will never deter Taiwan from carrying out its duties both to its people and to the international community. As the world’s 18th largest trading and 11th freest economy, Taiwan has brought its laws and regulations into line with the UN’s human rights conventions, and in terms of living up to democratic values, Taiwan has worked as hard as any country—and perhaps harder than most—to advance equality. The Taiwanese people elected their country’s first female president in 2016, and 38 percent of their lawmakers are women. Taiwan is also home to a vibrant civil society whose civic organizations constantly reach out to the world. And whenever disasters strike, rescue workers from Taiwan’s nongovernmental organizations are right there on the ground, providing assistance, with their devotion and professionalism clear for all to see.
Taiwan is currently working on its first Voluntary National Review, which will document many of its concrete achievements regarding the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In terms of public health and medicine, for example, in recent years Taiwan has worked alongside a host of other countries to fight such infectious diseases as MERS, Ebola and Zika. Taiwan has also been promoting a green economy and green energy, aiming to raise the proportion of renewable energy generated for the country’s power supply to 20 percent—five times the current level—by 2025, while also aiming to lower carbon emissions to at least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2050.
Holders of ROC passports enjoy visa-free travel or other forms of travel convenience to 165 countries and territories, which speaks to the respect that Taiwan’s tourists, businesspeople and academics have earned worldwide. Yet, they are unable to take even a single step inside the Headquarters of the UN.
For years, representatives from Taiwan’s many nongovernmental organizations involved in indigenous, labor, environmental and women’s rights have been barred from attending meetings and conferences held at the UN’s New York headquarters and at the Palais des Nations in Geneva simply because they hail from Taiwan. Similarly, to the outrage of the international press community, Taiwanese journalists are not allowed to cover UN meetings in person.
These discriminatory measures put in place by UN bureaucrats—targeted specifically against the people of Taiwan—are inappropriately justified by the invocation and misuse of 1971’s General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI). It is important to remember that, while it seated the People’s Republic of China in the UN, this resolution did not address the issue of representation of Taiwan and its people in the organization; much less did it give the PRC the right to represent the people of Taiwan.
It is important to stress the political reality here, which is that the PRC does not now, nor has it ever, held jurisdiction over Taiwan. Indeed, as evidenced by the aforementioned ban on Taiwanese inside the UN headquarters, the PRC exerts far more influence on the UN than it does on Taiwan.
The preamble of the UN Charter speaks powerfully of the organization’s mission to “reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small.” The government and people of Taiwan strongly believe that their involvement, especially when the UN is calling for the universal implementation of the SDGs, would be to the benefit of all. The absence of Taiwan, on the other hand, will only continue to cripple the effectiveness of this global effort.
Taiwan can do much to help the world build a more sustainable future. The people of Taiwan need the international community to support our aspirations and our right to fair treatment by the UN. At the very least, stop turning us away at the door.
From an economic and commercial point of view the nuclear agreement has provided European countries with a great opportunity for using the regional position and economic capacities of the I.R. of Iran to gain enormous benefits. The approximately 5 billion dollars contract with Total, the contract for the purchase of hundreds of civil aircrafts with Airbus and Boeing, automobile manufacturing contract with Peugeot and Renault and dozens of other contracts are only part of the achievements of the Nuclear agreement.
Although some important countries of the global economy have enjoyed the opportunities of the Nuclear agreement to the maximum and have signed major contracts with the I.R. of Iran, we occasionally see that some countries, having unnecessary concerns or under the influence of propagandas, have not yet taken part in this healthy international competition in Iran and have deprived themselves of the great opportunities provided. Interestingly, Iranian people with a broad participation in the recent presidential election conveyed the message of continuing constructive engagement of Iran with the world.
The relationship between the I.R. of Iran and the Netherlands has also made good progress. Dozens of political, economic and commercial delegations have been exchanged between the two countries.
As the most important cases we can refer to the mutual visit of foreign ministers to each other’s capitals and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations between the two countries, two times travel of H.E. Mr. Henk Kamp, Minister for Economic Affairs of the Netherlands to the I.R. of Iran, preparing a road map for expanding economic co-operation between the two countries, visit of H.E. Mrs. Melanie Schultz, Dutch Minister of the infrastructure and the Environment to Tehran and the visit of H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Hojati, Minister of Agriculture of Iran to the Netherlands.
During these visits great strides have been taken in developing relations between the two countries in various political and economic fields including agriculture, water resources management, environment, oil, gas, energy, medical equipment, etc. The volume of exchanges between the two countries is expected to increase by more than 50% this year compared to 2016. The two countries’ economic and trade co-operation process is very promising and there is a very positive prospect of relations between the two countries as well.
In order to maintain 400 years-old bilateral relations, the I.R. of Iran has always been keen on welcoming and presence of Dutch companies and investments in Iran and the Embassy of the I.R. of Iran in The Hague has tried to work together with various organizations to overcome the obstacles for the presence of Dutch investors in different economic sectors in Iran.
Tourist attractions of Iran can function as an important element for expanding the tourism industry between the two countries. Iran has unparalleled historical monuments and magnificent nature including both snow-capped mountains and spectacular deserts. Due to a large area one can experience four types of weather in one season. This is why all the tourist who have travelled to Iran want to visit the country again with their entire family.
The Embassy of the I.R. of Iran in The Hague has facilitated the travel of tourist to Iran by launching an electronic visa system and also many Iranian tourists travel to the Netherlands to visit this beautiful country.
In our view the role of the journalists in informing the elites, owners of capital and public opinion about the capacities of economic co-operation with Iran can be described as unique and highly important. We hope with the help and collaboration of the media, we can improve the co-operation between these two great countries after the recent elections in both countries. 
