QIAGEN and ICMP Launch next-generation DNA testing solutions for identifying Missing Persons. The Hague, 24 October 2017: The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) today announced the launch of a cutting-edge next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflow created in collaboration with QIAGEN N.V. for ICMP’s missing persons DNA identification laboratory in The Hague, the Netherlands. The solution integrates QIAGEN’s GeneReader NGS System and spans all aspects of the DNA laboratory workflow, from sample extraction through final analysis, thereby creating a unique “sample to insight” user experience. The workflow includes automated QIAGEN instruments and consumables for DNA extraction, liquid handling, quantification, sample preparation and next generation, Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS). “QIAGEN’s support for ICMP is timely, focused, and substantial,” ICMP Director-General Kathryne Bomberger said today. “Our partnership with QIAGEN and other leading technology companies makes it possible for us to maintain the ICMP laboratory system as the premier high-throughput, human identification DNA laboratory system in the world that is capable of responding – quickly, economically and effectively – to missing persons scenarios wherever they arise.” QIAGEN Chief Executive Officer Peer Schatz said, “This collaboration springs from a shared passion for applying state-of-the-art technologies to address a very important and very challenging need. Wars, disasters and other events that separate victims from families leave behind unanswered questions and tremendous grief. We believe that that the application of these state-of-the-art technologies has the potential to provide help to those experiencing such terrible uncertainty. ICMP’s global role in securing the cooperation of governments and other agencies to account for complicated or large-scale missing persons scenarios requires the very best DNA analysis workflow, and achieving this is a further example of QIAGEN’s mission of making improvements in life possible.” ICMP and a number of academic institutes have worked closely with QIAGEN to develop a powerful SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) panel specifically designed for missing persons identification. The ICMP MPs-Plex targets more than 1,400 sites in the human genome, capitalizing on the power provided by Massively Parallel Sequencing. In addition to the custom panel, QIAGEN will supply software, reagents, consumables and technical support on an ongoing basis for ICMP. Since 2001, ICMP has operated a state-of-the-art DNA laboratory system focused exclusively on missing persons identification. The system delivers high-throughput capabilities to assist governments in identifying large numbers of persons missing from conflict, human rights abuses, natural and manmade disasters, organized crime, irregular migration and other circumstances where persons go missing for involuntary reasons. The system, which is designed to work on the most challenging cases, operates on a high-throughput scale,  has  generated DNA results on more than 50,000 cases of degraded skeletal remains and contributed to the identification of around 20,000 persons worldwide. ICMP’s new laboratory in The Hague aspires to maintain a capacity of up to 10,000 cases a year. Over the course of two decades, ICMP has responded to a wide variety of complex missing persons scenarios in over 40 countries, including assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina identify almost 90 percent of the approximately 8,000 victims of the Srebrenica genocide. After the 2004 South East Asian Tsunami, in conjunction with INTERPOL, it deployed its forensic expertise as part of a major international Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) program. The laboratory system is also a key component of ICMP’s Center of Excellence in Training and it supports ICMP’s programs in the Western Balkans, the MENA region and Latin America. —— ICMP ICMP is a treaty-based international organization based in The Hague, the Netherlands. Its mandate is to secure the cooperation of governments and others in locating and identifying missing persons from conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, organized crime, irregular migration and other causes and to assist them in doing so. It is the only international organization tasked exclusively to work on the issue of missing persons. QIAGEN  http://www.QIAGEN.com

                            Her Excellency Ms. Dziunik Aghajanian, Ambassador of Armenia. By Roy Lie A Tjam. The Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in the Netherlands, Her Excellency Ms. Dziunik Aghajanian, hosted a reception to celebrate Armenia’s 26^th Anniversary of Independence and the 25^th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Armenia and the Netherlands. The venue was Theater Diligentia, The Hague on 5 October 2017. In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Aghajanian cordially welcomed the large, turnout. She emphasized the relationship between her country and the Kingdom of The Netherlands and their solid alliance. The ambassador recounted how The Netherlands have stood by Armenia every step of the way in their development. Assisting in dealings with the World Bank and IMF for example. The journey was not always easy, however, today Armenia is no longer “a receiving country but one that also contributes”. The military peacekeepers are an example thereof, Armenia is surging ahead!

The next speaker at the event was Mr. Adeiaan Palm, representative of the Eastern Partnership and Eastern neighborhood countries, MFA, in The Netherlands. Mr. Palm applauded the pleasant cooperation with Armenia. The evening’s program continued with a concert by the Armenian string quartet, Komitas, under the artistic director Mr. Eduard Tadevosyan. Komitas is a musical ensemble of four string players – two violin players, a viola player and a cellist. It’s one of the oldest string quartet in the world.

Other members of the ensemble are Mr. Alexander Kosemyan, Mrs. Suzy Yeritsyan and Mrs. Angela Sargsyan. Komitas played pieces by Handel, Schubert- just to name a few. The Komitas quartet will also perform in Maastricht-Limburg in the south of the Netherlands. The patron saint of Maastricht is Bishop St. Servaas who happens to have been born in Armenia. Closing the event, Ambassador Dziunik Aghajanian invited fellow Ambassadors, officials, and other guests to a reception where everyone including those of the Armenian diaspora, mingled while enjoying traditional Armenian finger food.

                          By Michael Bonté.      Peruvian cuisine is trendy and here to stay. As shown at the Peruvian Chilies 2.0 event at the Hotelschool The Hague in Amsterdam. The gathering organised by the Embassy of Peru in conjunction with Hotelschool The Hague and several Peruvian food importers certainly was a success. The many guests were welcomed with the country’s signature Pisco Sour cocktail and a vibrant display of exotic produce from the country. The Ambassador of Peru H.E. Mr Carlos Herrera, welcomed us with an introduction to the Peruvian cuisine and after that the baton was given to Chef Carlos Pardo-Figueroa who  presented a seminar giving an overview of the diverse ingredients and dishes, with a star role for the  aji’s (chilies) from his homeland.

The most famous culinary export from Peru the ceviche starter dish was prepared and tasted by the Ambassador. Another lesser known potatoe dish causa was made in order to be tasted by Veronique Miclea, wife of the Ambassador. A quick quiz was organised to give the audience a chance to win both dishes. 

Afterward the participants were invited to the cooking stations manned by Ceviche y Maas (Rotterdam), Somos Peru (The Hague), Peruvian Cuisine NL (Amsterdam), Pukitas Catering (Alkmaar), Verstegen Spices & Sauces, Embajada del Perú and Hotelschool The Hague. The display of food was a sight for sore eyes. Ranging from several different kinds of ceviche to arroz con mariscos. All dishes were deemed delicious by the guests.

In the dining area there was a chance to browse a minimarket with a selection of Peruvian food and drink products. Paricipants included: Que rico van Miryam, Don Santos Latin Products, Fia International (Piscos), Pacae and Bud Holland.

As if that was not enough the invitees were able to participate in their choice of workshops: The starter tiradito lead by chef Fernando Limanche, the popular maincourse  ají de gallina by chef Darwin Grados and  pisco cocktails, lead by Jan Jaap Nijemansland. All workshops were well attended with convivialty shared among the participants.   Among the guests the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Fernando Arias and spouse Patricia van Oordt de Arias, H.E. Willys Delvalle Ambassador of Panama and spouse Tatiana Delvalle, chefs, restaurants owners, students and friends of Peru, they all participated in an overview of  the history of the Peruvian cuisine. As Ambassador Herrera explained, “the purpose of the event was to promote importation of food from Peru, to introduce participants specially chefs and students to the Peruvian cuisine and to expand their knowledge about its ingredients. In the near future many more Dutch restaurants will offer Peruvian dishes or dishes cooked with Peruvian ingredients.” It was now up to the many guests to promote and spread the word about the diverse and enticing cuisine from Peru in order to grow its marketshare in the global restaurant and catering business. ——- Photography by Susan Ortega.     

On the picture H.E Dr. Elías Azar, Ambassador of Mexico,  Mr. Paulo Carreño King, General Director of PROMEXICO and Mr. Ernst Noorman, CEO of The Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO. By Roy Lie A Tjam. The Embassy of Mexico in The Hague hosted a ceremony marking the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) between PROMEXICO and The Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO. Present at the ceremony was the Ambassador of Mexico H.E Dr. Elías Azar. The date was, 10 October 2017. ProMexico is the Mexican investment promotion agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investments into the country and seeks to increase the number of Mexican exporting companies in the foreign market. Its mandate is to promote Mexico as a business location abroad and to assist foreign investors to start business in Mexico and internationalize Mexican companies. Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO is part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Netherlands Enterprise Agency focuses on providing services to entrepreneurs. Netherlands Enterprise Agency helps with grants, finding business partners, know-how and compliance with laws and regulations, with main focus on sustainable, agrarian, innovative and international business.  For international business Netherlands Enterprise Agency is responsible for implementation of the Dutch trade and investment policies. Note what the Ambassador of Mexico in The Hague H.E Mr. Elías Azar had to say at the signing ceremony. Welcome to this little piece of Mexico in the Netherlands. It is my duty to start congratulating both parties for their initiative: PROMEXICO and RVO. This time, is the time for signing this Memorandum of Understanding. This is the precise moment in history and in circumstances, to strengthen the economical and the commercial relationship between the Netherlands and Mexico. Certainly, both countries have a long and steady relationship throughout the years; they have a history together, which is, mainly, an economical and commercial history. As a matter of fact, next year we will celebrate our 190^th anniversary of bilateral relationship, the Netherlands is one of the biggest investors in Mexico. President Peña Nieto, throughout his mandate, has driven the adoption and the implementation of several legal and political changes in our country. Among them, telecommunication, energy, financial and fiscal sectors, in labor market, Economic competition, transparency and education, among others. The memorandum of understanding will help without a doubt, to promote trade within Mexico and the Netherlands, it will help to launch new commercial projects as the new RVO office in Queretaro, or the new quality control office established in Mexico too. Signing the MOU should be seen as an equally beneficial relation between both: the Netherlands and Mexico, and as a great step for the economy and the market of both sides of the Atlantic. I am very proud and very pleased that this kind of agreements take place now, and that they take place here at the Embassy. I thank you all, and I wish you a lot of success and great achievements. Mr. Ernst Noorman, CEO of RVO; in his partly Spanish and English delivery, hailed the fruitful cooperation between the Netherlands and Mexico. Noorman indicted his wish to perpetuate working together with ProMexico.

Mr.Paulo Carreño King, General Director of PROMEXICO made the following remarks. I am pleased to be here to announce the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between ProMéxico and The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), in order to strengthen cooperation, boost trade and investment activities between our countries; with the firm desire to contribute to the design of favorable conditions for the sustainable growth of economic cooperation, and strengthen connections in the business sector. With shared visions and mutual interests, the collaboration we have fostered has already shown great results. This event is a clear reflection of our interest in continuing to create synergy. Mexico offers excellent investment opportunities to Dutch companies in segments such as: agriculture, infrastructure and logistics and health sciences. I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Ambassador Edgar Elías Azar for all the support and facilities that made possible the reopening of this OREX: The Hague. His commitment to continue opening roads to Mexico is admirable. Likewise, I would like to acknowledge the work of our Counselor Alfonso Mojica, who since the first of September has made the necessary arrangements so that ProMexico can function properly. Counselor, in you we have a worthy representative, thank you for your delivery in this process, which was certainly not a simple task. ———– Photography by the Embassy of Mexico in The Hague.