“Israel and Rhineland-Palatinate share an unbreakable friendship. The State of Israel is celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023. Premier Dreyer “was pleased to welcome the Israeli ambassador to the State Chancellery during the latter anniversary year and to reaffirm our good and trusting cooperation with him,” said Premier Malu Dreyer on the occasion of the inaugural visit of the Ambassador of the State of Israel in Germany, H. E. Prof. Ron Prosor.
“Rhineland-Palatinate and Israel have maintained friendly and close partnerships for many years. The focus is on international understanding, educational projects and student encounters as well as scientific and economic cooperation,” said the Premier. The country has had a business representative office in Tel Aviv since 2020. Since 1993, Rhineland-Palatinate has supported the Israeli-Arab-Palestinian meeting place Givat Haviva to promote Jewish-Arab coexistence. The 30th anniversary of the collaboration was honored with a ceremony in the State Chancellery in December 2023. Since 2018, there has been an Israel professorship at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz for better mutual understanding, which was founded by Premier Malu Dreyer. Since 2018, there has also been the Office of the Prime Minister’s Representative for Jewish Life and Anti-Semitism Issues.
These close partnership relationships are a good foundation for further strengthening and intensifying the friendship with Israel. “We want to continue working together on a good future, especially against the background of the terrible past,” said the Premier. These included, among other things, German-Israeli school partnerships and cultural cooperation between institutions in Israel and Rhineland-Palatinate, but also memorial work and culture of remembrance. The decisive fight against any form of anti-Semitism – as current examples have shown very clearly – remains an ongoing task for the state and society, said Premier Malu Dreyer. The current judicial reform in Israel was also a topic of discussion.
Prof. Ron Prosor has been Ambassador of the State of Israel since August 2022. Previously, he served, among other things, as Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations and Ambassador to the United Kingdom. He was accompanied by Talya Lador-Fresher, Consul General of the State of Israel for Southern Germany since September 2023, based in Munich.
King and Queen of the Netherlands Host Diplomatic Corps for New Year Celebration
In a gesture of international goodwill and solidarity, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands graciously hosted the traditional New Year’s reception for the Diplomatic Corps and representatives of international organizations based in the Netherlands. The majestic event took place at the Royal Palace Amsterdam on Tuesday, January 16, marking a significant occasion early in the year for fostering diplomatic relations and cooperation.
The reception commenced with a grand procession as guests arrived at the Royal Palace, adorned in national dresses, uniforms, or elegant afternoon attire. They were received with the utmost respect and protocol, being presented to the King and Queen in the Troonzaal in order of precedence.
Following this ceremonial presentation, guests were invited to the Burgerzaal, where the King delivered a sincere speech, emphasizing the importance of nurturing strong diplomatic ties and collaboration. His words left an impression of a deep sense of responsibility towards global peace, justice, and sustainable development. In his address, the King underscored the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ commitment to active participation in international affairs, recognizing the invaluable role played by diplomats in advancing shared goals and addressing pressing global challenges.
Reflecting on the prevailing geopolitical landscape, the King expressed solidarity with regions affected by conflict and turmoil, notably highlighting the ongoing aggression in Ukraine and the suffering endured by civilians in Israel and Gaza. He stressed the imperative of finding peaceful resolutions to conflicts and reiterated the Netherlands’ dedication to working in partnership with the international community to promote stability and prosperity worldwide. “In my many conversations and meetings with you, one thing always stands out. Despite the big differences between the countries you represent, the similarities are even bigger. Each one of you is working hard to create a world in which young people can build a bright future for themselves.” He declared.
The King’s sentiments were echoed by the newly appointed Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, H.E. Ms. Sahar Ghanem, Ambassador of Yemen, who delivered her inaugural speech during this momentous gathering. With a somber acknowledgment of the challenges faced in the past year, particularly regarding international peace and security, Ambassador Ghanem called for concerted global cooperation to address crises and restore stability in conflict-ridden regions.
“We all were shocked and saddened by the catastrophic events in the Middle East, where thousands of civilians are killed and displaced, most of them are women and children.” She stated. “What is happening in the Middle East, Africa and Europe is alarming and proves that our continuous collective cooperation is essential to maintain a just and sustainable peace all over the world. What is happening across the globe is a lesson to be learned and considers as an open bleeding wound needs to be healed.”
Drawing attention to the alarming consequences of climate change, Ambassador Ghanem emphasized the urgent need for collective action to mitigate its impact and safeguard the planet for future generations. She urged diplomats to redouble their efforts in pursuit of sustainable solutions and reaffirmed their important role in shaping a more equitable and peaceful world.
Mme. Beatriz Piza, Costa Rica spouse, Mme. Virna Mayerfas and H.E. Mr. Mayerfas, Ambassador of Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Arnoldo Brenes Castro, Ambassador of Costa Rica, H.E. Mr. Askar Zhumagaliyev, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan and spouse, Mme Ainura Mami, Mme Amal Almasser and husband H.E. Mr. Ziad Al Atiyah, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia and spouse.
The gathering served as a reminder of the importance of diplomacy in fostering understanding, cooperation, and dialogue among nations. It encapsulated a spirit of unity and resolve as diplomats from diverse backgrounds and cultures came together to reaffirm their commitment to shared values and aspirations.
As glasses were raised in a toast to the new year, there lingered a sense of optimism and determination to confront the challenges ahead with renewed vigor and solidarity. The royal celebration underscored the Netherlands’ unwavering commitment to multilateralism and diplomacy as indispensable tools for building a brighter, more inclusive future for all. In the words of King Willem-Alexander, may 2024 be a year of progress, unity, and peace.
Over 100 searches and four arrests in Latvia, Germany, France, Italy and Malta against financial institution involved in money laundering
National authorities in Latvia, Germany, France, Italy and Malta have carried out over 100 searches in a large-scale operation against a Russian-Eurasian criminal network and a Maltese-based financial institution allegedly involved in money-laundering services. Four suspects were detained during an action day supported by Eurojust and Europol. Potential suspects and witnesses were also interviewed in Latvia, Germany, Estonia and Malta.
During the actions, over 460 police officers were deployed to carry out the searches. Germany also deployed four officers to support the investigations and searches in Latvia and Malta. In addition to the arrests, various bank accounts and properties were seized.
The Maltese financial institution laundered at least EUR 4.5 million in proceedings from criminal activities since end of 2015. The total sum of laundered money could amount to tens of millions of euros. The financial institution and organised crime group (OCG) behind it offered money-laundering services via a network of fake enterprises and individuals who were registered directors, without performing any real business activities.
The OCG operated mainly from Riga and Berlin. Investigations were initiated in 2021 by the Latvian authorities after they noticed unusual money transfers from Latvia to the Maltese financial institution. Simultaneously, the German authorities had started investigations into suspicious money flows involving the same financial institution.
Eurojust supported today’s concerted action by setting up a coordination centre and establishing and funding a joint investigation team between the German and Latvian authorities. The Agency also organised five dedicated coordination meetings to prepare for the action day and assisted with the execution of European Investigation Orders in the countries involved.
On the action day, Europol deployed a money laundering expert to Latvia and set up a mobile office at Eurojust’s coordination centre to support the operation. Since December 2021, Europol has been supporting the investigation by providing operational and financial analysis and operational expertise. The Agency also supported the joint investigation team and provided financial support to the case.
Today’s operations were carried out by the following authorities:
Latvia: Rīga Northern Prosecution Office; Rīga Judicial Region Prosecution Office; 1st Unit of the Economic Crime Enforcement Department of the Central Criminal Police Department of the State Police
Germany: Public Prosecutor‘s Office Berlin (Staatsanwaltschaft Berlin); State Office of Criminal Investigations Berlin (Landeskriminalamt Berlin)
Estonia: Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Estonia and Estonian Police and Border Guard Board
France: Public Prosecutor’s Office and Investigative Judge – Judicial Court of Nice; National Police (DIPN) Alpes-Maritimes Division (Judicial Police Nice; Research and Intervention Brigade; Financial Brigade) – Border Police
Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office Rome; Guardia di Finanza, Financial Police Unit Rome (Nucleo Polizia Economica e Finanziaria di Roma)
On 18 February 2024, a document signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan between the ministries, departments, public organizations of Turkmenistan and the representative offices of the United Nations specialized agencies accredited in Turkmenistan including UNDP, UNFPA, and UNICEF.
During the ceremony, the following 22 documents were signed concerning cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United Nations in the fields of economy, health, education, mass media, as well as other important areas:
The list of documents, published on the official website of MFA Turkmenistan, is the following:
1. 2024 Annual Work plan between the State Committee for Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography of Turkmenistan, the Union of Women of Turkmenistan and the Representative Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan on the implementation of the UNICEF Country Program for Turkmenistan for 2021-2025.
2. 2024 Annual Work plan between the Prosecutor General’s Office of Turkmenistan and the Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan on the implementation of the UNICEF Country Programme for Turkmenistan for 2021-2025.
3. 2024 Annual Work plan between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan on the implementation of the UNICEF Country Programme for Turkmenistan for 2021-2025.
4. 2024 Annual Work plan between the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan and the Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan on the implementation of the UNICEF Country Programme for Turkmenistan for 2021-2025.
5. 2024 Annual Work plan between the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and the Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan on the implementation of the UNICEF Country Program for Turkmenistan for 2021-2025.
6. 2024 Annual Work plan between the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and the Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan on the implementation of the UNICEF Country Program for Turkmenistan for 2021-2025.
7. 2024 Annual Work plan between the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan and the Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan on the implementation of the UNICEF Country Program for Turkmenistan for 2021-2025.
8. 2024 Annual Work plan between the State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan and the Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan on the implementation of the UNICEF Country Programme for Turkmenistan for 2021-2025.
9. 2024 Annual Work plan between the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan and the Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan on the implementation of the UNICEF Country Program for Turkmenistan for 2021-2025.
10. 2024 Annual Work plan between the Office of the Ombudsman of Turkmenistan and the Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan on the implementation of the UNICEF Country Program for Turkmenistan for 2021-2025.
11. Amendments to the Project document “Strengthening the trade capacity of Turkmenistan, Phase II” between the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan and the Office of the United Nations Development Program in Turkmenistan.
12. Project document “Support to strengthening institutional and regulatory environment for financial markets development” between the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Development Programme Office in Turkmenistan.
13. Amendments to the Project document “Procurement of Medicines and Health Products for the Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) in Turkmenistan” between the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and the Representative Office of the United Nations Development Program in Turkmenistan.
14. Amendments to the project document “Procurement of Health Products for the Control of Infectious Diseases in 2021-2023 for the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan” between the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Development Program Office in Turkmenistan.
15. Work plan for Turkmenistan Country Component of the Regional Project on “Promoting Resilient Communities to Prevent Violent Extremism in Central Asia” between the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Development Program Office in Turkmenistan.
16. Amendments to the project document “Single Window for export-import operations” between the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan and the Representative Office of the United Nations Development Program in Turkmenistan.
17. Project document “Support to the development of a financial account to further introduce System of National Accounts 2008” between the State Committee of Turkmenistan on Statistics and the United Nations Development Programme Office in Turkmenistan.
18. Project document “Support in improving statistics of foreign trade in services, as well as in improving statistical information on the volume of passenger and cargo transportation” between the State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Development Program Office in Turkmenistan.
19. Project document “Assistance in Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Office of the Ombudsman of Turkmenistan” between the Office of the Ombudsman of Turkmenistan and the Office of the United Nations Development Programme in Turkmenistan.
20. Project document “Assistance in capacity building of the Central Commission for Holding Elections and Referendums in Turkmenistan” between the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums in Turkmenistan and the United Nations Development Programme Office in Turkmenistan.
21. Work plan between the State Committee of Turkmenistan on Physical Culture and Sports and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for 2024-2025.
22. Work plan between the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan and UNFPA for 2024-2025. ///19 February 2024
Traditionally, on the first Sunday of the Berlinale, the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Film and Media Foundation NRW invited prominent guests to a large reception with around 1,000 guests at the representation of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to the federal government in Berlin. The hosts were happy about the filmmakers who came from all over the world to the Berlinale.
Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Media and Head of the State Chancellery said as per statement linked below: “The Berlinale is once again the absolute highlight for international and German film this year. North Rhine-Westphalia has the backdrops, the know-how and the people to turn the big questions of our time into good films. I am pleased about the great creative potential of filmmakers from and in NRW. With the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW we have one of the strongest funding institutions in Europe. It was a particular pleasure for me to welcome the industry to the NRW Berlinale reception at the state representation together with the new managing director of the Film and Media Foundation NRW, Walid Nakschbandi. This was the right place to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the filmmakers and at the same time to establish new creative networks. I wish all film enthusiasts a good day at this year’s Berlinale.”
Opening by the Head of State Chancellery, Minister Liminski – Picture by Landesvertretung NRW, Phil Dera
Walid Nakschbandi, Managing Director of the Film and Media Foundation NRW: “Yesterday evening was a lavish celebration for the industry and showed once again that the Berlinale is unthinkable without the NRW reception. We are an important meeting place, a sought-after stage for creatives and networkers from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe and internationally. My thanks go to Media Minister Nathanael Liminski, together with the state we organized our event for the 21st time. I would also like to thank State Secretary Dr. Mark Speich, his great team in the state representation and, last but not least, my wonderful team in Düsseldorf and Berlin. We are looking forward to an inspiring second half of the Berlinale and an exciting film year in 2024 – with a large proportion ‘made in NRW’, bien sûr.”
In addition to the numerous guests, the teams from the eleven NRW Berlinale films were also the focus of the evening. Andreas Dresen and the cast from his new film were there, among others. Dresen’s contribution “In Love, Your Hilde” (Pandora Film), supported by the Film Foundation, celebrated its acclaimed world premiere on Saturday, February 17th. Also the teams of the competition entries by Matthias Glasner, “Die” (Port au Prince) with Corinna Harfouch and Lars Eidinger in the main roles and “Des Teufels Bad” (Heimatfilm) by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala with, among others, Anja Plaschg celebrated in the state representation.
Monday, 19 February 2024, Bavaria’s Minister of European Affairs Eric Beißwenger, together with the Head of the Bavarian State Chancellery, State Minister Dr. Florian Herrmann, welcomed the consular corps to a New Year’s reception in the dome hall of the Bavarian State Chancellery.
State Chancellery Minister Dr. Florian Herrmann said about the ocassion: “The wide range of consular representations in Bavaria shows: We are at home in the world and the world in Bavaria. The consular location is the largest outside of Berlin and represents the diversity of our country . We value the consuls as the first point of contact for the many bilateral issues that concern us. It is the excellent cooperation that creates the special spirit in Bavaria. Thanks to the consulates, which are indispensable bridgeheads from Bavaria to the whole world .”
French General Consul, Corinne Pereira da Silva, Minister Eric Beiswenger. Picture by Bavarian State Chancellery.
Each consulate is headed by a consul. They represent the interests of the citizens of the sending state, carry out official acts and maintain contact with the host country Bavaria in the political, economic and cultural areas.
There are 44 general and 72 honorary consulates in Bavaria. With 116 consular representations, the Free State is the largest consular location in Germany.
The entirety of all consular representatives is referred to as the consular corps. It is headed by a Doyen and a Secretary General.
On February 14, 2024, the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Kingdom of Belgium and The Hague Conference on Private International Law jointly organized a Roundtable event titled “Building Bridges: Roundtable on Democratic Transformations in Uzbekistan” in The Hague.
The event was organised as part of the visit of an Uzbek delegation headed by Mrs Svetlana Artykova, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to the Netherlands.
The conference was held at the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH and was attended by a diverse group of individuals including politicians, parliamentarians, businesspersons, lawmakers, public servants and the representatives of media.
Mrs Svetlana Artykova, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Dr Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General of the HCCH.
Dr Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General of the HCCH, moderated and co-hosted the Round table, delivering a captivating introduction.
Dr Bernasconi briefed the audience on the outcomes of his several visits to Uzbekistan in recent years and the transformations he had witnessed during his participation as an international observer in the parliamentary and presidential elections in 2019-2023, as well as the nationwide referendum last year.
The keynote speakers included Mrs Svetlana Artykova, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr Kairat Abdrakhmanov, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Mr Jahongir Abdurasulov, Member of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, Mr Ali Marossi, Managing Partner of the Hague Centre for Law and Arbitration (HCLA), Mr Gayrat Fazilov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the Kingdom of Belgium and others.
The participants of the event were informed about the key directions of the “New Uzbekistan“ reform strategy, the core and significance of the updated Constitution and the Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy, as well as the priorities of the multifaceted mutually beneficial cooperation with the European Union, in particular with the Netherlands.
The head of the Uzbek delegationMrs. Svetlana Artykova in her speech paid special attention to disclosing the main directions of large-scale reforms aimed at ensuring human rights and freedoms, transparency of public administration, gender equality, development and strengthening of civil society institutions.
Roundtable on Democratic Transformations in Uzbekistan at the HCCH.
Mrs. Artykova provided a detailed overview of the legal and social transformations in the country, steps taken to establish a robust, independent judicial system, and emphasized Uzbekistan’s commitment to consistently pursue irreversible democratic reforms.
Mr. Kairat Abdrakhmanov, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, welcomed the transformational processes taking place in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and expressed confidence that they would further enhance the well-being of society and strengthen social cohesion in the country and beyond.
“Uzbekistan has created conducive environment for all and equal opportunities for the effective participation of people in public life. During my last visit to Uzbekistan, I witnessed how the commitment of the Uzbek authorities to OSCE principles and values is bringing tangible results in the area of social cohesion and diversity within the country” stressed OSCE High Commissioner.
Mr. Jakhongir Abdurasulov, Member of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in his speech elaborated on budget reforms in Uzbekistan with the active participation of the public.
The participants were particularly interested in the launch of the Open Budget project, which represents a unique experience in allocating budget funds based on the real needs of the population.
Mr. Ali Marossi, Managing Partner of The Hague Centre for Law and Arbitration (HCLA), delivered a presentation on “New Horizons: How Uzbekistan’s Legal Reforms are Shaping Business Excellence. He analysed in detail the global significance of legal reforms in Uzbekistan. It was emphasised that the country’s evolving legal framework is strategically aimed at encouraging business innovation and attracting investment, creating fertile ground for economic growth.
The speaker noted that since 2016, the President of Uzbekistan has initiated a number of large-scale judicial, economic and arbitration reforms that have fundamentally changed the business environment in the country and laid the foundation for the active attraction of foreign investment.
According to Mr. Marossi, the Law on Investments of 2020 and the Law on International Commercial Arbitration of 2021, adopted in Uzbekistan, encouraged the attraction of foreign direct investment, provided better protection for investors, strengthened the arbitration system and brought the national legislation in line with international standards.
Uzbekistan Democratic Reforms round table at HCCH in The Hague.
Ambassador Gayrat Fazilov underlined that the implementation of large-scale reforms and democratic transformations in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev contributed to the intensification of country’s ties with European countries and the EU.
The Ambassador noted that the European Union supports the good-neighbourly regional strategy of Uzbekistan and the principles of independent, open, pragmatic and peace-loving foreign policy of the New Uzbekistan.
It was noted that the EU is a priority and reliable partner of Uzbekistan in promoting irreversible reforms and strengthening state institutions and civil society. Ambassador Fazilov emphasized that the Leadership of Uzbekistan is pursuing a course of rapprochement of the country and the region with the EU in all spheres from trade, investment and transport to cultural and humanitarian ties, mobility and people-to-people contacts.
It was emphasized that in recent years the relations between Uzbekistan and the EU have acquired a special dynamic and reached an unprecedented high level. The Ambassador informed the participants on the intensive bilateral and regional exchanges at the highest and high level between Uzbekistan and the EU in recent years.
The Uzbek delegation also touched upon the agenda of the Uzbek-European cooperation, as well as expressed hope for the early signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Uzbekistan and the EU, and the successful holding of the first ever EU-Central Asia summit in Uzbekistan in 2024.
The Building Bridges: Round Table on Democratic Transformations in Uzbekistan has been a success.
7 February 2024, Erfurt, Free State of Thuringia, Germany: Thuringia’s Premier Bodo Ramelow received for bilateral conversation, the Cuban Ambassador in Germany, Juana Martínez González, in office since 7 April 2022.
Ramelow belongs to the Left parliamentary group, which has spoken out in favor of more trade and scientific cooperation with Cuba. The export volume between the Free State and Cuba has fallen from around 5 million euros in 2012 to 586,000 euros in 2021.
There are already initial collaborations in the field of medicine and biotechnology between the TU Ilmenau and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena with universities in Cuba. In the sports and tourism industry, however, there has so far been no exchange.
In the cultural sector, there have been repeated performances by Cuban musicians at the Rudolstadt Festival in the past. According to the data, Cuban students rarely go to Thuringia – only one to three were enrolled at a Thuringian university between the winter semester 2012/2013 and the winter semester 2021/2022.
The Hague 5 February 2024, venue, the Embassy of Kosovo. “It was an honour to host the opening of the photo exhibition ‘The Netherlands through the eyes of Dutch Kosovars’ of the artists Arijan Zymeraj and Miranda Gashi, curated by Bardhi Haliti.”
The photos displayed the daily life of the Netherlands through urban views and human portraits.
Kosovar artists Arijan Zymeraj and Miranda Gashi.
The guests were welcomed by Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Mr. Arif Kaçandolli. A particular thanks goes to H.E. Ms. Carin Lobbezzoo, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Kosovo, for attending the event and for her insightful words. As part of the programme, the pianist Mirsa Adami played three melodies from the Albanian and Dutch musical traditions.
Reception at the Embassy of Kosovo, photo exhibition ‘The Netherlands through the eyes of Dutch Kosovars’.
The event was attended by representatives of the Dutch institutions and international organisations based in The Hague, as well as members of the Kosovar diaspora.
This is part of a series of activities organised by the Embassy in the framework of the celebrations of Independence Day and contributes to further strengthening the cultural and artistic relations between the Netherlands and Kosovo.
A superb selection of Kosovar dishes by Xhevat Ilazi from Catering Bollenstreek was presented to the guests as delightful small bites.
Reception photo exhibition ‘The Netherlands through the eyes of Dutch Kosovars’
Monday, 12 February 2024, Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany: Premier Dr. Reiner Haseloff received the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye, HE Ahmet Başar Şen, for his inaugural visit to Magdeburg.
The studied political scientist Ahmet Başar Şen joined his country’s diplomatic service in 1996. His first posting abroad was at the embassy in Berlin from 2001 to 2003, before he moved to the representation in Minsk. From 2006 to 2010 he worked at the New York Consulate General. In 2016 he became ambassador to Uzbekistan. He has been ambassador in Berlin since September 2021. Şen is married and has two children. He was accredited in Germany on 1 September 2021 after a ceremony before Germany’s Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
The good cooperation between Saxony-Anhalt and Turkey in various areas was, among other things, a topic in the exchange between Saxony-Anhalt’s Premier Haseloff and Ambassador Şen. The mutual interest in further intensifying bilateral relations was also discussed, for example with regard to possible investments by Turkish companies in Saxony-Anhalt or with regard to deepening scientific cooperation in the university sector.
