By H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, United Arab Emirates. In today’s world, one of the greatest challenges that we face is the rise in various forms of intolerance. Whether it is differences in religious belief, in cultural and historical traditions or in colour or origin, conflicts are created and stimulated by those who seek to use them as reasons to divide us. In sharp contrast to that, we in the United Arab Emirates firmly believe that such differences should be welcomed and celebrated. They offer much from which we can all learn as we seek to build a modern, diverse and forward-looking society. Last year, I was appointed as the UAE’s first Minister of State for Tolerance, with a mandate to reinforce and to build upon the spirit of tolerance that has always been a fundamental part of our society, deeply rooted in our history. The citizens of the UAE are overwhelmingly Muslim by faith, embracing a religion that preaches tolerance and respect for other faiths, creating a land where all people may live in coexistence, peace and security. Though we are a Muslim-majority country, we have over 40 churches, catering to hundreds of thousands of believers of many different Christian denominations, along with Sikh and Hindu places of worship. We take pride in that diversity, which encompasses the 200 or so nationalities that live in our country, and also in the evidence of our own ancient Christian heritage 1,400 years ago. One of our most important historic sites is a monastery of the Church of the East, founded in around 600 AD, before the revelation of Islam, and a centre of the faith for over 100 years before it was eventually abandoned. That monastery is evidence that the UAE has always accepted other beliefs. Our country has always been what I term “an incubator of civilisations.” Support for the principles of tolerance and diversity – religious, cultural and ethnic – are enshrined in our Constitution. Discrimination on the grounds of faith, race and ethnic origin, as well as speech intended to promote such discrimination, is proscribed under the terms of our legislation. My role as Minister of State for Tolerance, though, is not simply confined to ensuring that the Constitution and legislation are respected, important though they are. Of equal, if not greater, significance is the role of promoting the underlying values that they represent, through discussion, dialogue, education and debate. In pursuit of that goal, my Ministry reaches out to the varied religious, community and cultural groups, to our schools and voluntary organisations and to UAE society at large. It is not always an easy task. In the region in which we live, there are siren voices which seek to promote division and hatred. While we are fortunate that there are very few in the Emirates who listen to them, we have seen only too vividly the death and devastation that such voices can bring about. We must always be on our guard to ensure that such poisonous views never gain a hold in our society. Over 20 years ago, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder-President of the UAE, noted: “In these times, we see around us violent men who claim to talk on behalf of Islam…. Regrettably, these people have nothing whatsoever that connects them to Islam. They are apostates and criminals. We see them slaughtering children and the innocent. They kill people, spill their blood and destroy their property, and then claim to be Muslims.” Sheikh Zayed’s words underpin our approach today. In a world where intolerance derived from a perversion of religion threatens all, the United Arab Emirates will continue to promote our belief in tolerance, welcoming diversity of beliefs, of faiths and of cultures, as the best, indeed the only, hope for us all in the years that lie ahead. In our UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, one of our major mosques has recently been re-named the Mariam Umm Eisa mosque – or the Mary, Mother of Jesus Mosque. It is immediately adjacent to the Catholic Cathedral, the Anglican Church and the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, where, on Fridays, the UAE’s day of rest, thousands of people, Emirati citizens and expatriates, intermingle in harmony as they go to perform their prayers. That is the kind of society we have inherited and the kind of society we wish to cherish and preserve. It is for me an honour that the Government which I serve has entrusted me with the task of contributing to the pursuing of that goal.

H.E. Ambassador Sergio Ugalde, Ambassador of Costa Rica / Vicepresident of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court. On Wednesday 31st May, the Opening Ceremony for the VI Ibero-American Week of International Justice took place at the Peace Palace. H.E. Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, President of the International Criminal Court, H.E. Ambassador Sergio Ugalde, Vicepresident of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court, H.E. Ambassador Johan Van der Werff, Ambassador of the Netherlands to International Organisations, and Prof. Héctor Olasolo, Chairman of the Ibero-American Institute of The Hague for Peace, Human Rights and International Justice (IIH) were the speakers of such occassion. The Opening ceremony can be watched in the IIH Facebook Page: https://es-la.facebook.com/InstitutoIIH/ Since 2011, the Ibero-American Week of International Justice is organised each year by the IIH during the first ten day of June. In its VII Edition (29 May-9 June, 2017), the Ibero-American Week  comprised a number of events in Spanish, with some lectures in Portuguese, including a Moot Court on the International Criminal Court, an Essay Contest on International Justice, a Seminar on Ibero-American Thinking  on International Justice, a Research Group on the Ibero-American Epistemological Perspective on Justice, a guided tour to the historical buildings of the City of The Hague, and several visits to Hague-based International Courts, Tribunals and Organisations. Translation into English is provided for some of the activities. The Ambassador of Costa Rica, H.E.  Sergio Ugalde delivered a remarkable key note speech on the importance of international Justice for Iberoamerica, the limitations and challenges of the international justice and the hope for future generations. Here below his integral speech: Acto de Inauguración – Discurso  del Embajador Sergio Ugalde* / VII Semana Ibero-Americana de la Justicia Internacional  Señor Héctor Olasolo Alonso, Presidente del Instituto Ibero-Americano de la Haya Señora Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, Presidenta de la Corte Penal Internacional Señor Johan Van der Werff, Embajador de los Países Bajo ante Organizaciones Internacionales Excelentísimos señores Embajadores Estudiantes y académicos participantes en la VII Semana-Americana de la Justicia Internacional Señoras y señores: Me es muy grato dirigir unas palabras en este acto de inauguración de la VII Semana Ibero-Americana de la Justicia Internacional. Conviene iniciar subrayando la importancia que el Derecho Internacional tiene para la región Iberoamericana. No son pocos los aportes provenientes de la región que han contribuido significativamente a la sistematización del derecho internacional, sea por jurisprudencia, por hermenéutica o por codificación positiva. A nivel global existe plena conciencia de los aportes y de la relevancia que el Derecho Internacional tiene para Iberoamérica, una región que hoy, mayoritariamente, confía la resolución de sus disputas a los diferentes mecanismos que tenemos al alcance, sea la mediación, el arbitraje o la jurisdicción contenciosa obligatoria, para lo cual se echa mano a la considerable gama de foros existentes, unos más especializados que otros, desde tribunales arbitrales especializados en temas de comercio e inversión, como el CIADI, hasta las cortes especializadas en asuntos del Derecho del Mar, Derechos Humanos y/o Justicia Penal Internacional, y naturalmente, la Corte Internacional de Justicia. Hoy deseo referirme brevemente a la situación actual del derecho internacional, y ofrecerles una idea hacia dónde, en definitiva, debe evolucionar. A pesar de los significativos avances en la creación y promoción de foros enfocados en las diversas ramas de la justicia internacional, aún estamos lejos de un verdadero y efectivo sistema de derecho internacional. Esto básicamente se debe a la fragmentación que existe en la sistematización, en algunas contradicciones en codificación positiva, y asimismo a la competencia que se genera entre los propios foros de justicia internacional. Esa fragmentación, dicho sea de paso, es también promovida por los propios estados, que buscan tener una justicia hecha a la medida, o, que estiman que la fragmentación les permite mayor flexibilidad en la interpretación del derecho internacional, acomodándolo a las necesidades políticas del momento. Al ver el estado de la situación hoy, es obvio que el sistema de justicia internacional, cuyos cimientos están en la multilateralidad y en la universalidad, se encuentra estático, y, algunos afirman que se encuentra en un genuino retroceso, consecuencia de una franca tendencia hacia el nacionalismo. El desafío es aún mayor considerando que son muchas las áreas donde aún debe progresarse normativamente, que debe abarcar asuntos desde la responsabilidad de los estados hasta el establecimiento de la jurisdicción universal obligatoria. Eso no significa que todo sea ominoso: lo que significa es que todos los que participamos en la gestión del derecho internacional debemos mantener nuestra marcha con firmeza. Por supuesto que también celebramos que el derecho internacional, como nunca antes en la historia de la humanidad, haya tenido significativos avances en los últimos 70 años. La fragmentación de la que hablaba anteriormente, es también testimonio de un sistema en franca construcción, a pesar de sus limitaciones actuales. Como señala un reconocido profesor de derecho internacional “existe un sistema de derecho internacional, aun cuando sea imperfecto”. Pero al reconocer los avances alcanzados, no podemos perder de vista la importancia de su evolución hacia la armonización y la sistematización. Al contemplar el estado de las relaciones internacionales de hoy día, aun cuando pueda juzgarse que el multilateralismo sufre por la erosión que le inflige un retoñado nacionalismo, estimo que dicha erosión es sólo temporal. Detener la marcha tampoco puede verse de forma negativa. Por el contrario, nos da la oportunidad de contemplar con cierta pulcritud las partes que conforman el sistema actual, y nos permite mejorar la carpintería en la edificación de un sistema de derecho internacional mucho más consistente y universal. A pesar de que son muchas las tareas pendientes, como seguramente ustedes lo han podido apreciar, hay una que estimo primordial. En la sistematización del derecho internacional, aún está pendiente un trabajo mucho más preciso en la tarea de homologación de la práctica y de la jurisprudencia, que asegure su consistencia. Por donde se mire, el estallido de decisiones por toda suerte de tribunales hace que ciertos aspectos del derecho internacional no tengan una aplicación consistente. Ello atenta contra la seguridad jurídica, y cuando no hay seguridad jurídica, se pierde la confianza en el sistema de justicia. Esta situación nos obliga entonces a desarrollar una verdadera institucionalización de la justicia internacional, la última parada de un proceso de sistematización. En otras palabras, la consumación de todo esfuerzo de sistematización debe resultar en el establecimiento de una arquitectura institucional completa, permanente y universal del derecho internacional, que garantice su consistencia, y que con ello se fortalezca la seguridad jurídica. Sobre si esta es una tarea de las Naciones Unidas, o si espontáneamente los Estados están dispuestos a organizarse para crear una estructura supranacional que logre ese objetivo, es algo que está sujeto a debate. No tengo duda que muchos quizá opinen que el estado de la situación no debe variarse, justamente porque ello permite flexibilidad y se acomoda mejor a los objetivos geopolíticos de algunos. Y ustedes mismos se preguntarán ¿para qué más burocracia internacional? No se trata de crear burocracia por la burocracia misma. Se trata del establecimiento de una autoridad internacional central. Alguien dirá que esa autoridad internacional central ya existe, que se llama Corte Internacional de Justicia. Mi respuesta es, sí y no. Si bien la CIJ cumple el papel de ser el principal órgano judicial de Naciones Unidas, no cumple el criterio de ser una autoridad central. Primero porque no tiene jurisdicción obligatoria universal. Segundo porque su competencia (distinto a su jurisdicción), también está restringida, y por ejemplo, no puede resolver una multitud de disputas surgidas entre estados por la existencia de limitaciones ratione temporis y ratione personae. Tampoco es gestor de normativa, aunque tiene el poder de interpretar la actual. Y si bien esta última cualidad convierte la CIJ en el órgano judicial más relevante a nivel mundial, carece de otras cualidades indispensables. Por ejemplo, en mi criterio, una limitación del sistema actual es el hecho de que no se puedan ejecutar sentencias judiciales, o lo que en el derecho anglosajón se llama law enforcement. Es cierto que las sentencias judiciales deben acatarse de buena fe, y que una Corte de Justicia no puede convertirse también en un policía, pero también es cierto que hay un vacío porque hasta la buena fe está sujeta a la interpretación y a la temperatura de la política internacional. También es cierto que la Carta de las Naciones Unidas otorga una calificadísima atribución de law enforcement al Consejo de Seguridad, pero todos los que estamos aquí sabemos que eso es un eufemismo, y es un eufemismo porque, con muy contadas excepciones, es un órgano estrictamente político dominado por intereses geopolíticos, cuya incapacidad de acción es manifiesta. Concedo que la idea de crear una institucionalidad permanente de derecho internacional, con jurisdicción universal obligatoria, sin límite de competencia, que tenga capacidad para ejecutar fallos judiciales sin interferencia política, y que además contribuya a la sistematización del derecho internacional, parece una fantasía. No obstante, en mi defensa observo que apenas unos 25 años atrás, pensar que hoy contaríamos con una Corte Penal Internacional de carácter permanente, que juzgue los peores crímenes contra la humanidad, y dónde además no fuera oponible la inmunidad de los jefes de estado, por ejemplo, era poco menos que una excentricidad, y sin embargo aquí estamos, con 20 años de Estatuto de Roma, y con más de 10 años de labor judicial, cuyo sistema de justicia penal es nada más y nada menos que presidido por una remarcable jueza iberoamericana, como lo es la Presidenta Fernández. En la excelente oportunidad que ofrece la Semana Iberoamericana del Derecho Internacional, los invito a debatir, a criticar constructivamente, y a proponer cómo edificar un robusto sistema de derecho internacional. Les deseo mucho éxito en sus trabajos, y nuevamente agradezco la oportunidad de haberles dirigido estas palabras de reflexión. ——— * Sergio Ugalde es el Embajador de Costa Rica ante el Reino de los Países Bajos, ha sido abogado y co-agente de su país ante la Corte Internacional de Justicia en unos seis casos, ha sido invitado a impartir seminarios en la Academia de La Haya de Derecho Internacional, y es actualmente el Vicepresidente de la Asamblea de Estados Parte de la Corte Penal Internacional, y es el Coordinador del Grupo de Trabajo de la Haya sobre la Corte Penal Internacional.

At the end of June the first ever Maltese Presidency of the EU came to a conclusion. To mark this occasion an EU Presidency Handover ceremony was held on the 28 June at the Embassy in The Hague with the presence of the Heads of Mission of EU Member States, candidate countries, international organizations, officials from the EEAS, European Commission representation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. The ceremony was held for the first time in The Hague and a commemorative plaque was prepared by Embassy for the occasion which features the flags of the EU and the Netherlands. The plaque was presented to the Estonian Ambassador as a symbol of the EU Presidency that will be handed over to successive rotating Presidencies, with the hope that this tradition will continue in the coming years. The Maltese Presidency was characterized by an intensified debate relating to the future of Europe. This was partly in response to the developments regarding Brexit, the rise of populism and partly in connection with the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Rome Treaties on 25th March. During the ceremony the Ambassador of the Republic of Malta, Mr Joseph Cole highlighted the main achievements of the Maltese Presidency. On Migration, the Maltese Presidency worked on the external dimension and its special focus on migratory flows in the central Mediterranean. An implementation plan to reinforce regional cooperation with Libya in particular, was put in place, while action continued on the Partnership Framework agreed at the 2015 Valletta Summit on Migration. As the Presidency unfolded, progress was made on dossiers in relation to the Union’s comprehensive approach to migration, including the reform of the Common European Asylum System and effective management of external borders. There is now a common understanding that the revised EU asylum system needs to strike the right balance between responsibility and solidarity and that it needs to ensure resilience to future crises. Several regulations, directives and decisions were agreed which enhance the scope and function of the single market and have a direct positive impact on the lives of EU citizens. These covered the areas of the digital economy, energy and climate change, consumer protection, capital markets and financial services among others. On the Digital Single Market, the Maltese Presidency made overall progress and reached important milestones on a number of Proposals, including the portability of online content, wholesale roaming charges, as well as the Wifi4EU initiative allowing for wifi connectivity for citizens and visitors in public spaces. A notable achievement was that in trade policy, where the Council adopted a unanimous position on the new anti-dumping methodology in record time. In the context of trade, the MT Presidency also reached an agreement on granting Autonomous Trade Measures to Ukraine. Neighbourhood Policy was one of the areas of special priority for the Maltese Presidency. Malta is particularly gratified at the successful launching of the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean, known as PRIMA, which is aimed to develop innovative solutions for sustainable water provision and management and food production in the Mediterranean region. On the Eastern front, Regulation on visa liberalisation for neighbouring Ukrainian citizens was adopted. Notable accomplishments were also made in the field of the EU’s Enlargement policy, with the Maltese Presidency taking forward accession negotiations with Serbia and Montenegro. Maritime policy was another area of special priority for the Maltese Presidency. Agreement was reached on a number of dossiers relating to port services, passenger ship safety rules and standards. Success was also achieved on a number of fisheries dossiers including the signing of the Malta MedFish4ever Declaration. This international declaration, agreed to by both EU and non-EU Mediterranean Ministers, establishes a 10-year plan intended to bring Mediterranean fish stocks to sustainability levels. The Council adopted Conclusions on International Ocean Governance, and on the priorities for the EU’s maritime transport policy until 2020. Following the UK’s notification of its intention to withdraw from the EU on 29 March 2017 and the subsequent adoption of Guidelines by the European Council, the Presidency worked towards the adoption of the negotiating directives and authorised the opening of negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. The Presidency Handover ceremony was also an occasion for the Ambassador of Estonia, Mr Peep Jahilo to provide a preview of the priorities that the Estonian Presidency will pursue in the coming 6 months. Estonia will now have the daunting task to lead the EU Council at such an unpredictable and challenging time with solutions required for Migration, Brexit and the Future of Europe. The main goal of the Maltese Presidency was to bring the EU closer to its citizens and to bring tangible improvements to their quality of life. Malta believes this should be the goal of successive EU Presidencies to ensure a bright future for the EU.

Diplomat Magazine celebrated its fourth anniversary at its traditional venue, Marriott The Hague Hotel. Starting out small with huge support of the diplomatic corps, the very first diplomatic magazine in the Netherlands history, rapidly grew into the popular magazine attracting today more than 70,000 monthly readers, alongside its special biannual printed edition. A lunch was offered to many of Diplomat Magazine´s volunteers and staff, in the presence of Dr Mayelinne De Lara, Publisher and Mr. Vincent Pahlplatz, General Manager of Marriott The Hague Hotel. Amongst the special invited guests were magazine´s volunteer founders, such as Dr. Eugenio Matos G., former Chargé d´Affaires a.i. in The Hague, who is currently Minister Counselor of the Dominican Republic Embassy in Montevideo, photographer Robert Huiberts and Editor Roy Lie A Tjam. Were present supporters as Mrs, Kate van der Loos, Chief photographer Kim Vermaat, photographers Hester Dijkstra and Roy Strik, Jacqueline Lie, Carlotta Duken and Inge Kluin from the Residentie Orkest.

Diplomat Magazine success can be attributed to the dedication of its staff of highly skilled contributors. It has successfully emerged as a platform for diplomatic discourse, an event organiser. The magazine’s regular agenda includes organising and supporting diplomatic networking. Herein, some  Diplomat Magazine’s  facts:

• We are the fastest growing diplomatic magazine in Europe and the globe.
• First magazine in Europe launched by and for diplomats.
• First publication in the Netherlands to join the international Public Diplomacy Awards, an academic prize to heads of diplomatic missions, already introduced in The Hague in 2016.
• Diplomat Magazine holds an international record for organizing top class diplomatic events. In fact, DM has logged 62 important events since 2013. This includes Diplomats Meet & Greet, Diplomatic Farewells, Certificate of Merit, one-day trips-excursions, popular and classical concerts, business promotions, sportive events and special gatherings, fashion shows, new year´s parties, after summer cocktails, conferences and the like, all for diplomats.
• Diplomat Magazine has been hired to edit, design and print five special magazines by diplomatic missions, appealed by the quality of our publication. The special issue for The 10 Year Anniversary of the Embassy of Rwanda is one of our most recent achievements.

  

   
• We are directly accessible to some 1.1 million readers in Factiva –owned by Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal.
• Diplomat Magazine has included in its diplomatic repertoire a high-level academic publication entitled Border Crossing.
• Considerable number of heads of states, ambassadors and ministers has chosen Diplomat Magazine to write their own free point of view.
• We keep a professional neutrality on public opinion.