The International Metropolis Conference will take place on September 18-22 at the World Forum, The Hague in The Netherlands. This marks the second time that The Hague will be welcoming the annual International Metropolis Conference, the first being in 2010 when the Queen of The Netherlands was in the audience.
The theme of this year’s event is Migration and Global Justice. Further details about the conference can be found on the web at www.MetropolisTheHague.org.
Metropolis is the world’s largest network of researchers, government officials, international organizations, and civil society organizations in the field of migration and population diversity. Our aim is to enhance policy through empirical research and thereby to support societies that are managing the many effects of migration.
Metropolis is an apolitical organization whose work is rooted in a realistic understanding of the policy process and which seeks to create useful co-operation amongst research, policy, and civil society. Although Metropolis do not advocate specific views about how any given society ought to manage migration and diversity, Metropolis do believe that no society will succeed if it attempts simply to eradicate migration and the diversity of its population. Metropolis basic position is that successful societies will be those that explicitly manage these phenomena for the mutual benefit of their citizens, their migrants, and their minority communities.
The annual International Metropolis Conference has become the largest regular migration conference in the world with a mandate to create active engagement amongst the academy, government, international organizations, and civil society organizations. This five day event offers a mix of 8 plenary sessions and roughly 90 workshops and roundtables, three special symposia and a PhD workshop to the approximately 600 delegates in attendance. The plenary program attempts to bring new issues to the Metropolis table each year and to take a forward-looking approach to migration and its effects on societies. This year’s plenary themes are:
Refugees: From Re-settlement to Integration
Managing Migration in a Theatre of War
Populism, Post-Truth Politics and Moral Leadership
Research Innovations and their Policy Implications
Cities Part One: Local Integration Policies
Volunteering, Urban Civility, and Active Citizenship
Cities Part Two: Economic Opportunities for All in Creative Cities
The Hague – India celebrates its 71st Independence Day on August 15, 2017. For the first time, the Indian Embassy will mark this important event by organizing a special flag hoisting event at ‘India House’, the residence of the Ambassador in Wassenar. The function will be open to all members of Indian community, people of Indian origin and friends of India. This measure is being taken in order to strengthen the friendly relationship between the Embassy and the Dutch/Indian community.
The address of the venue is Backershagenlaan 21, 2243 AB Wassenaar. The function will be from 10:00 to 11:30 hrs. on Tuesday 15 August 2017. Anyone interested in attending the celebration can register themselves using: http://www.indiainnl.nl/ and attend the event.
The event will start with hoisting of the Indian flag by the Ambassador, H.E. Venu Rajamony, singing of the Indian national anthem and reading of the address to the nation by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind. The celebration will conclude with a small cultural program and refreshments.
Diplomatic Relations between India and the Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of first three countries that established diplomatic relations with independent India in 1947 itself. This year, the two countries celebrate 70-years diplomatic relations. At the end of June, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Netherlands for the first time as Prime Minister. During his visit he met with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. He also met with Prime Minister Mark Rutte to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations.
In terms of trade and investment, both countries have strong economic interests in each other. Netherlands, in the financial year 2015-16, was the fourth largest investor of FDI into India. Two-way trade between India and the Netherlands stood at US$ 4.81 billion in 2016. Presently, there are 180 Indian companies based in the Netherlands and over 200 Dutch companies in India.
H.E. Ambassador Venu Rajamony declared: “This year’s Independence Day celebrations are truly special because it coincides with India completing 70 years of independence as well as 70 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries. The Ambassador of the Netherlands was one of the three Ambassadors present in India at the time of our first Independence Day in 1947. There is at present a great momentum in bilateral relations following the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Netherlands on June 27, 2017. We have great hopes of taking our relations to new heights. I hope, this Independence Day will be the beginning of fresh efforts from the Governments and people of both our countries in this direction.”
An organised crime group (OCG) operating in the Sliven region of Bulgaria was dismantled following Eurojust’s coordination of five investigations of trafficking of human beings (THB) for the purpose of sexual exploitation of Bulgarian women to the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as money laundering.
These five investigations resulted in two separate international operations, Operation Palma and Operation Leerdam, and respectively the establishment of two joint investigation teams (JITs), which were set up and coordinated as well as financially supported by Eurojust.
Operation Palma
Operation Palma was initiated by the Dutch authorities in 2013, investigating criminal activity of trafficking of human beings that took place between 2003 and 2010. Following the first coordination meeting at Eurojust in November 2015, the authorities of Bulgaria and the Netherlands set up a JIT in January 2016 to coordinate their investigative efforts.
Within the framework of this JIT, between 4 and 11 October 2016, coordinated operations were carried out in Sliven, Bulgaria, and Utrecht and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Two suspects were detained in Bulgaria, one of them on the basis of an European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by Prosecutors Office Utrecht and the other one for money laundering offences of large scale. At the same time in the Netherlands another suspect was arrested. During these coordinated operations a great number of witnesses were questioned in the Netherlands, Belgium and in Bulgaria (in Bulgaria by mixed Bulgarian/Dutch police-teams).
Searches and seizures were conducted in two different towns in Bulgaria. Photos and documents were seized, and the Bulgarian court imposed freezing orders on real estate and vehicle. The Dutch police is preparing a financial report concerning the illegally obtained profits by the main suspect in the Dutch case.
Operation Leerdam
In November 2015, the Bulgarian authorities requested the support of Eurojust in another ongoing Dutch investigation, called Operation Leerdam, for trafficking of Bulgarian women to The Netherlands and Belgium.
Eurojust was instrumental in detecting links between the investigations carried out by the Bulgarian and Dutch authorities within the framework of Operation Palma and Operation Leerdam, and another ongoing investigation in Belgium on sexual exploitation in Antwerp and Brussels of victims of Bulgarian nationality.
In February 2016, Eurojust organised a joint coordination meeting during which prosecutors, investigators and police officers from Belgium, Bulgaria and the Netherlands in charge of the 5 linked investigations gathered for the first time to discuss and agree on a coordinated approach to dismantle the OCG. The meeting was attended by twenty-five participants, including Europol officials. As a result of the coordination meeting, Belgium, Bulgaria, and the Netherlands set up a new JIT in Operation Leerdam to define and execute a common case strategy to ensure that the actions in one case would not interfere with the investigations in the other case.
In the framework of an international specialized operation, on 27 September 2016, the leader and two members of the OCG were arrested in Amsterdam. In Bulgaria, six other members of the OCG were arrested pursuant to EAWs and subsequently surrendered to the Belgian and Dutch authorities.
One person was arrested in Germany based on a EAW issued by the Netherlands. Ten simultaneous searches were carried out in four different towns in Bulgaria. Evidence and documents related to the OCG were found and seized, as well as cash and drugs. Witnesses were questioned in Belgium, Bulgaria and the Netherlands.
During all the investigative actions that took place in Bulgaria, members of the JIT from the Netherlands, including the prosecutor supervising the investigation in Utrecht, were present.
Eurojust supported the activities of the national authorities participating in these two separate JITs, including providing both investigation teams with significant logistical and financial assistance, which in the end amounted to approximately EUR 90 000.
Dimitar Hadzhiyski, Assistant to the National Member for Bulgaria at Eurojust, said: ‘For the first time Eurojust facilitated the coordination between two separate JITs. Due to the active involvement of Eurojust, the links between all five national investigations carried out in Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Belgium were established, proper planning of the investigative activities was performed, which resulted in a very successful coordinated operation, dismantling the activities of the OCG. ’
On the picture, H.E. Ambassador Carlos Herrera and the Captain of the Tall Ship.The Peruvian Sail Training Ship “B.A.P Unión” (Buque Armada Peruana Unión, in Spanish) arrived Tuesday August 8th to the Port of Rotterdam. In this occasion, the Captain of the Tall Ship and H.E. Carlos Herrera, Ambassador of Peru to the Netherlands hosted a Press Conference after docking at the port. Two days after Ambassador Herrera and the Commanding Officer Captain (N) Franz Bittrich hosted a very well attended reception on board. Diplomats, Dutch business people and friends of Peru came to “B.A.P Unión” to enjoy the wonderful event.For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the following two links: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157687424302616https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157683987624142The “B.A.P. Unión”, which was incorporated on 26 January 2016 to the Peruvian naval fleet, is the biggest vessel of its type in Latin America and the second in the world. Built entirely in Peru, in the Navy Industrial Service (SIMA), the B.A.P. Unión is the achievement of a great national aspiration. It is considered part of the Peruvian territory, at sea and abroad, like an itinerant Embassy of Peru. H.E. Carlos Herrera, Ambassador of Peru to the Netherlands.The Training Voyage of the Tall ship, the second of this kind, began in May this year and will end in November and comprises the following countries: Panama, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Dominican Republic and Ecuador. It is the first time that the B.A.P. Unión visits Europe. In this journey, the “B.A.P. Unión” won a Sail Ship crew parade in the “A” category of Tall ships in the “Sail Boston 2017” last 19 June in the United States.Also, it had a remarkable participation at the “Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta”, the biggest international encounter of Tall Ships of Canada which took place in the framework of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. In that occasion obtained the first place in the general ranking and its category. It also was the fastest Sailing ship of the competition, travelling 450 miles in 43 hours. Please find attached a brochure for your perusal and a link to the coverage of the BBC: https://www.facebook.com/BBCLondon/videos/1670453259663031/
UNWTO wants to feature the creative work of all Member States! On the occasion of the 22st Session of the UNWTO General Assembly, they are launching the second UNWTO Tourism Video Competition.
All UNWTO Member States are invited to participate in this competition. The UNWTO tourism video competition deadline has been extended to August 12.
Already 156 member states, 59 videos received to date
videos must be submitted directed from National Tourism Agency
http://lmd.unwto.org/unwto-tourism-video-competition-2017
Click here for the Competition Guidelines. Deadline 12 August 2017.
The winners will be announced at the 22nd Session of the UNWTO General Assembly.
UNWTO wants to feature the creative work of all Member States! On the occasion of the 22st Session of the UNWTO General Assembly, they are launching the second UNWTO Tourism Video Competition.
All UNWTO Member States are invited to participate in this competition. The UNWTO tourism video competition deadline has been extended to August 12. Already 156 member states, 59 videos received to date.
Videos must be submitted directed from National Tourism Agency
http://lmd.unwto.org/unwto-tourism-video-competition-2017
Click here for the Competition Guidelines. Deadline 12 August 2017.
The winners will be announced at the 22nd Session of the UNWTO General Assembly.
Al Mahdi case: ICC Trial Chamber VIII to deliver reparations order on 17 August 2017On 21 July 2017, Trial Chamber VIII of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”) issued an order scheduling a public hearing on 17 August 2017 at 10:00 am (The Hague local time) in Courtroom III to deliver its reparations order in the Al Mahdi case, in the presence of the Mr Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, his defence team, the Legal Representative of Victims and the Office of the Prosecutor. The Chamber also invited the Trust Funds for Victims to attend the hearing.ICC Trial Chamber VIII is composed of Judge Raul C. Pangalangan (Presiding Judge), Judge Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua and Judge Bertram Schmitt.
On the picture ICTY/MICT Prosecutor Serge Brammertz welcome Chief War Crimes Prosecutor of Serbia, Snežana Stanojković. The Hague, 8 August 2017- On 2 and 3 August 2017, the ICTY/MICT Office of the Prosecutor hosted the first visit of Prosecutor Snežana Stanojković, the Chief War Crimes Prosecutor of Serbia.
Prosecutor Stanojković, met with ICTY/MICT Prosecutor Serge Brammertz, her office’s EU-MICT Liaison Prosecutor and ICTY/MICT OTP staff. Prosecutor Brammertz and Prosecutor Stanojković discussed the status of war crimes justice in Serbia and the work of the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office (WCPO), as well as regional judicial cooperation in war crimes matters.
Prosecutor Brammertz expressed his Office’s strong support for the work of the WCPO and underlined the importance of the implementation of Serbia’s Action Plan and National War Crimes Strategy.
——–
Picture by UN-MICT
The South African Embassy in The Hague is proud to announce its support of the International World Cinema Amsterdam that will have its 8th edition from 17–26 August 2017 at the Rialto Cinema in Amsterdam.
The festival is an international showcase of the most recent independent films from Africa, the Americas and Asia.
This year the Festival will have a special focus on African films.
In this regard, Rialto has selected the following 5 feature films from South Africa for screening:
• The Wound by John Trengove (Dutch premiere, 2016, 88 min)
• Vaya by Akin Omotoso (Dutch premiere, 2016, 110 min)
• Thina Sobabili by Ernest Nkosi (European premiere, 2015, 94 min)
• Tess by Meg Rickards (Dutch premiere, 2016, 88 min)
• Mrs Right Guy by Adze Ugah (European premiere, 2016, 92 min)
• Short film by Zanele Muholi
World Cinema Amsterdam attracks around 10.000 visitors during the course of the event and is organsied in partnership by the Rialto with the support of Dutch cultural film funds.
50 films will be screened at 6 venues across Amsterdam: Rialto, De Balie, Vondelpark, Oosterpark, Marie Heinekenplein and at the VU.
South Africans and friends are encouraged to support the event, especially South Africa Day on 20 August 2017.
On the picture Peruvian Diplomats credited in the Netherlands; Mr. Omar Tovar, Vice-Consul, Mrs Francis Chavez, Third Secretary, Mr Lucas Otero, Second Secretary, Mrs Veronique Micléa, spouse of the Ambassador of Peru, H.E. Ambassador Carlos Andrés Miguel Herrera Rodríguez, Mrs. Susan Ortega Olortegui, spouse of Javier Pella and Mr Javier Pella, Minister Cousellor. By Roy Lie A Tjam.
The 27 July marked the 196th anniversary of the independence of Peru, which was celebrated with a reception held at the residence of H.E. Ambassador Carlos Herrera, and Mrs. Véronique Micléa.
Dutch authorities, members of the diplomatic corps, businessmen, academics and representative of the Peruvian Community in the Netherlands, all attended the reception. Guests strolled along the beautiful garden admiring a sculpture by the artist Lika Mutal, which sits prominently sits in the garden.
For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157683598844082The Ambassador of Israel Aviv Shir-On, H.E. Vjosa Dobruna, Ambassador of Kosovo, the Ambassador of Germany, the Ambassador of Sweden H.E. Per Holmström and the Ambassador of Denmark, H.E. Ole Moesby.
After cordially welcoming the guests, Ambassador Herrera enumerated activities both in Peru and in the Netherlands, since the last National Day to date. Some of the topics he touched upon were the effects of the “Coastal Niño” phenomenon, ..“which struck our country at the beginning of this year. The Netherlands offered its vast experience in water management to help Peru in the efforts of reconstruction. The Special Envoy of the Netherlands for Water Affairs, Mr. Henk Ovink, visited Peru and met our president and high-ranking officials as part of this process.”H.E. Victor Jaime Ledda, Ambassador of the Philippines and spouse Gina Ledda; Veronique Micléa and the Ambassador of Peru, H.E. Carlos Herrera, Tatiana Delvalle and the Ambassador of Panama, H.E. Willys Delvalle.“The People of the Netherlands and Peruvians living in this country have also expressed their solidarity. As a result, the account that the Peruvian Consulate in Amsterdam set up for fund raising reached close to sixteen thousand euros which were sent to Peru for helping those ones in need.”“Rotterdam will also be, by the way, and in a few days, the scenario of a new important milestone: the arrival of the Peruvian Navy Training Ship “Unión”. This tall ship is the biggest of its type in Latin America and the second in the world. It is a sort of itinerant Embassy of Peru, being a distinctive symbol of our national and maritime power in the fields of diplomacy, culture, trade, and military, and will arrive in the Netherlands with the purpose of strengthening the ties between both of our countries.”“In other areas of interest, the Netherlands remains as one of the top markets for our exports and keeps growing. Last year we saw an increase in 13% of our exports, reaching almost a thousand million USD$. Being an important buyer of our avocados, mangos, grapes, and cacao, The Netherlands is the second largest business partner worldwide for fruits and vegetables.”Peruvian Residence in Wassenaar.“The Netherlands also scores high as a country of origin for Foreign Direct Investment in Peru, occupying the fourth position, with a focus on four main sectors: Finance, Mining, Industry, and energy.”“At the multilateral level, next year Peru and the Netherlands will be non-permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations, which is an excellent opportunity to strengthen our ties in order to promote global objectives of common interest.”“I close this brief account with one of the favorite topics in this Embassy: Culture, and within this subject, one of the most relevant issues for Peruvians: the gastronomy. In the last twelve months, we had a presentation from Jorge Eduardo Benavides linking gastronomy and literature and two major events including the first Peruvian Gastronomic Festival at the Crown Plaza in The Hague.”Mrs. Veronique Micléa and H.E. Philippe Couvreur, Registrar of the International Court of Justice.“We are focusing on a program of “training of trainers” which we expect that can lead to a new generation of Dutch chefs able to work accurately with the Peruvian flavors in the local market. As a result, the prestigious hotel school will host a Peruvian Gastronomic Night at the beginning of September, in which the students will create a Peruvian Menu at their premises in The Hague.”“It is also important to mention the increasing number of Peruvian Restaurants in the Netherlands. We have already a Food truck that goes around the Netherlands promoting our gastronomy, and five restaurants distributed in Amsterdam, in Rotterdam and The Hague. We are certain that there are more Peruvian restaurants to come.”
The Embassy offered a buffet lunch prepared by Alberto Lara, young chefs who, in a brief period, have contributed to the spread of the traditions and rich flavors of the Peruvian cuisine.
The “B.A.P. Unión”, which was incorporated on 26 January 2016 to the Peruvian naval fleet, is the biggest vessel of its type in Latin America and the second in the world. 
Built entirely in Peru, in the Navy Industrial Service (SIMA), the B.A.P. Unión is the achievement of a great national aspiration. It is considered part of the Peruvian territory, at sea and abroad, like an itinerant Embassy of Peru.
Also, it had a remarkable participation at the “Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta”, the biggest international encounter of Tall Ships of Canada which took place in the framework of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation.
In that occasion obtained the first place in the general ranking and its category. It also was the fastest Sailing ship of the competition, travelling 450 miles in 43 hours. 
Please find attached a brochure for your perusal and a link to the coverage of the BBC: https://www.facebook.com/BBCLondon/videos/1670453259663031/
In this regard, Rialto has selected the following 5 feature films from South Africa for screening:
• The Wound by John Trengove (Dutch premiere, 2016, 88 min)
• Vaya by Akin Omotoso (Dutch premiere, 2016, 110 min)
• Thina Sobabili by Ernest Nkosi (European premiere, 2015, 94 min)
• Tess by Meg Rickards (Dutch premiere, 2016, 88 min)
• Mrs Right Guy by Adze Ugah (European premiere, 2016, 92 min)
• Short film by Zanele Muholi
World Cinema Amsterdam attracks around 10.000 visitors during the course of the event and is organsied in partnership by the Rialto with the support of Dutch cultural film funds.
50 films will be screened at 6 venues across Amsterdam: Rialto, De Balie, Vondelpark, Oosterpark, Marie Heinekenplein and at the VU.
South Africans and friends are encouraged to support the event, especially South Africa Day on 20 August 2017. 
