Pictured H.E. Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al Khulaifi, Ambassador of Qatar.   By Henri Estramant. State of Qatar to the EU: HE Ambassador Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al Khulaifi presented credentials as head of mission to the EU on Friday, 7 April 2017, to President Donald Tusk. Previous to this ambassadorship, he was head of mission of Qatar to Germany and non-resident to Lithuania. http://www.qatarembassy.be

Republic of Chile to the EU: HE Ambassador Raúl Fernández Daza was accredited on 7 April 2017. Previously he held an ambassadorship to Haiti. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raúl_Fernández_Daza    /    http://chile.gob.cl/belgica/en/  

Mongolia to the EU: HE Ambassador Od Och before coming to Brussels was permanent representative of his homeland to the UN in New York. http://theubpost.mn/2016/11/18/new-mongolian-ambassadors-appointed/  

Republic of El Salvador to the EU: HE Ambassador Julia Vallatoro Tario holds for the very first time an ambassadorship. Previously she was Chargée d’affaires a.i. in Brussels with the rank of Minister-Counsellor; a diplomatic rank she also held at the Salvadoran mission in Vienna accredited to Austria, the UN organisations with seat in Vienna and other further accredited to Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Romania.   

Republic of Burkina Faso to the EU: HE Ambassador Jacqueline Zaba-Nikiema was accredited with President Tusk on 7 April 2017. Prior to her ambassadorship in Brussels, Ms Zaba-Nikiema was Special Representative of the President of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).  http://www.ambassadeduburkina.be   /   http://www.ecowas.int/profile-of-jacqueline-zaba/ ————– Photography by European Union (EU)       

Pakistan Embassy celebrated its National Day reception at the Hilton Hotel in The Hague on 23^rd March 2017.

The Ambassador of Pakistan, Ms. Iffat Imran Gardezi delivered the following message on this occasion: ‘It was 77 years ago, that Muslim leaders from all over Indian Sub-Continent gathered in Lahore on 23 March 1940 in the annual session of All India Muslim League, and passed a resolution demanding the British Government at that time, to create a separate homeland for Muslims of sub-continent where they could live in accordance with their aspirations. In only seven years, the dream came through when Pakistan got its independence on 14 August 1947.   

Ever since our independence, Pakistan has come a long way.  Starting as a country which had little infrastructure and whose very survival was questioned by some, today’s Pakistan is one of the most vibrant economies of the world.  Located in South Asia, Pakistan is a doorway to central Asia, and West Asia.  It borders two most populous countries of the world.  We have in the last couple of years with the help and support of our Chinese friends, started China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The project when completed, will link Pakistan with the biggest market of the world through world class and state of the art infrastructure. Pakistan’s aim is to become hub of regional trade and commerce by linking Central Asia, West Asia and South Asia and bring peace and prosperity to the region. This is one of the most important pillars of Pakistan’s Foreign policy. Pakistan’s economic fundamentals continue to improve day by day. All the major International Credit Rating companies have acknowledged this fact and improved Pakistan’s credit ratings. Karachi stock exchange which was trading around 32,000 benchmark a year back, has now jumped to 49,000, a return of 57% on annual basis, which shows the increased confidence of foreign and local investors in Pakistan’s economy and its future. Pakistan’s Stock Exchange is one of the best performing stock exchanges of the world. Pakistan is also a country which has produced Nobel laureates like Dr. Abdus Salam and Malala Yousafzai.

Pakistan stands for global peace and prosperity. It is to implement this vision that Pakistan continues to be one of the leading contributors for the UN Peacekeeping operations.  Despite our limited resources, we continue to give refuge to millions of Afghans for the last four decades.  It is our vision for global peace and prosperity that Pakistani nation, the government and its armed forces have joined hands in defeating the terrorists which had entered our territory from our neighboring countries. Over 60 thousand Pakistani Armed Forces Officers and soldiers and civilians have sacrificed their lives to make the world a better and safe place to live. The government, people and Armed Forces of Pakistan are determined to take this war towards its logical end and will not succumb to any pressure.  Pakistan desires friendly relations with all its neighbors and wants to resolve all outstanding issues with our neighbours amicably. The resolution of Jammu and Kashmir issue as per the aspirations of Kashmiri people and in the light of United Nations resolutions is the key to regional security and peace. Pakistanis are a progressive nation and one example of our commitment to progressive agenda is the inclusion of women in all spheres of public life. Miss. Fatima Jinnah sister of our founding father Mohammad Ali Jannah, played a very important role in our independence struggle. All of you have also heard the name of Benazir Bhutto from Pakistan, who was the first female Prime Minister in any Muslim country in 1988. Sharmeen Obaid Chinoi, yet another Pakistani lady has won two Oscars on her world acclaimed documentaries. Females in Pakistan are serving in our armed forces and as well as our Ambassadors in various countries. Recently, Government has appointed the first female Foreign Secretary of Pakistan. Pakistan’s First Ambassador to the Netherlands, Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan, was also a lady. The government has established a separate Women’s Bank and Business Women’s Chamber to promote the female entrepreneurs and their businesses.

 Pakistan is a land which is home to two of the oldest civilizations of the world. The Indus Valley and Gandhara Civilizations. It is a country which is the founding place of Budhist Religion. For many centuries, Hinduism was the dominant religion of this region. Now, most of the citizens of Pakistan are the followers of Islam. Pakistan is also the birth place of Sikh religion. Message of Islam in Pakistan spread over the years through the work of Sufi Saints. These Sufis were the torch bearer of message of love, peace, tolerance and compassion. The followings of these Sufi Saints have immense imprint on Pakistan’s culture and its people’s outlook. We are the nation who believes and works for building bridges between various faiths and civilizations. We are a country that would stand between the clash of civilizations. Pakistan and the Netherlands enjoy friendly relations and these relations are gaining further strength day by day. Major Dutch companies have their businesses in Pakistan.  Friesland Campina, one of the leading Dairy companies of the world, has recently invested USD 450 million in Pakistan. Similarly, VimpelCom, another telecom giant, has also made significant strategic investments in Pakistan during the last one year. Vopak – Shell – Akzo-Nobel – Nutritia – Philips – and Unilever are already working in Pakistan since ages. Our bilateral trade has already crossed US 1 billion and continues to grow at a steady pace. Queen Maxima of The Netherlands, visited Pakistan last year as Special Envoy of UN Secretary General on Inclusive Finance.  People of Pakistan and The Netherlands share common human values and the desire to make this world a better place to live, besides sharing passion for the Field Hockey and Cricket. We will continue to work with our Dutch partners to further cement our ties in the days ahead. Long Live Pakistan Netherlands relationship.’

On the picture H.E. Mrs. Brânduşa Predescu,  Ambassador of Romania, H.E. Mr. Bert Koenders, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affaires and H.E.Mr. Rumen Alexandrov, Ambassador of Bulgaria. By Roy Lie A Tjam. On the bright spring morning of April 10th 2017 the Ambassador of Romania to the Netherlands, H.E. Mrs.Bert Koenders  Brânduşa Predescu, along with H.E.Mr. Rumen Alexandrov, Ambassador of Bulgaria, organized a reception. The reception was to mark Romania and Bulgaria accession to the European Union 10 years ago. Ambassador Brânduşa Predescu, observed there was a chill in the air, despite the chill she said, it was still spring and it was going to be a joyous occasion. However, Ambassador Brânduşa Predescu, paused at the recent carnage caused by terrorist in London and Stockholm. For additional Marian van Noort’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157679350976003

The venue chosen for the festivities was Pavilion Malieveld, Laan van Europa.A resume of Ambassador Predescu, welcome remarks is here to attached. It is a pleasure to join my friend and colleague Rumen Alexandrov, Ambassador of Bulgaria in warmly welcoming you at this special event marking a decade since our two countries joined the EU. We gather here in a symbolic place in The Hague, the Laan van Europa, where lime trees have been planted by the Ambassadors of all EU Member States as an expression of their countries’ membership and commitment to Europe. For this wonderful initiative the credit and our thanks go to the wethouders of The Hague. They made it possible that we, member states have all grown roots in this lovely European city. At the same time, this is an opportunity to celebrate the friendship and partnership of our countries with the Netherlands. And we are particularly honored to express our heartfelt thanks to you, Minister Koenders, for having so graciously accepted to fit this event into your busy agenda. My country is preparing for taking over for the first time the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In 2019 – which will be 30 years after the fall of communism, Romania intends to bring its own positive, constructive and result-oriented contribution to the European construction. And a profound European approach rooted in a tradition that goes back centuries.

Romania and Romanians believe in Europe. It always has. Because of their history, because of the drama of separation, because of geo-political instinct. It believes in Europe out of necessity. But, above all, it believes in Europe out of genuine conviction. Because, dear friends, there is no other better place to be today, in spite of everything, than here, in our Europe. Let us remember that every single day. And act accordingly. End of quote. The next speaker on the bright spring morning of April 10th 2017 was the Ambassador of Bulgaria H.E Mr.Rumen Alexandrov. On January 1st, 2007, Bulgaria and Romania became Member States of the European Union. Today we mark the 10th anniversary of that momentous event and prepare for the first Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The accession to the EU made Bulgaria to become a part of the world’s biggest trade block – the Single Market of 500 million European citizens. Billions worth of EU funding have been invested in the modernization of Bulgaria’s regions and infrastructure. The stability and predictability of the EU rules and standards has created favourable conditions for a considerable increase of the foreign investments in our economy, as well as a steady progress in economic growth and jobs creation. Joining the European Union was certainly not ‘the end of the road’ for either of our countries, it was the beginning of it and we still have a long way to go. Today we, the Bulgarians are proud of our EU membership and look forward with self-confidence to the European future of our country.

Subsequently, the Netherlands Foreign Minister Mr. Bert Koenders made his remarks. He vividly recalls the pre-EU era of Romania. He was pleased to seeing Bulgarian and Romanian ships sailing into the EU port..Koenders remembers the skeptical stand of the media in those days. The media was wondering whether the two countries were in a position to make the grade, given their level of development. Here we are, 10 years later, Sofia will be taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2018 and Romania in 2019. Congratulations Romania and Bulgaria.                              

H.E. Mr. Abdelouahab Bellouki, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, H.E. Ambassador Shamlan Al Roomi of Kuwait and H.E. Mr. Taher Farahat, Ambassador  of the Arab Republic of Egypt. By Shirley Cottaar. Every year aside from their National Day, Kuwait also celebrates it’s Liberation Day. This official public holiday is celebrated in honor of the country’s independence from Iraq after the first Gulf War. This day is celebrated by the whole country with pride and salutation as the country was able to make a stand and run on it’s own. On 22 February 2017 H.E. Ambassador Shamlan Al Roomi of Kuwait hosted a reception celebrating the 56 National and 26 Liberation Day of Kuwait in the Grand Hotel Amrâth Kurhaus. During this special evening full of hospitality and a delicious buffet with typical Kuwait dishes, Diplomat Magazine got an insight in the relation between the two countries. For additional Roy Strik’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157679260694424

 How did the political relations between the countries developed during the years? We maintain direct contact through annual political consultations in the frame of the Memorandum of Understanding on Political consultations signed in Kuwait in 2013 by our Ministers of Foreign Affairs. For example in 2014 our countries celebrated 50 years of bilateral relations. In May 2014 His Excellency Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs paid an official visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of Minister Frans Timmermans.

  The Minister was accompanied by an economic delegation from Kuwait Investment Authority an Kuwait Petroleum Corporation ( KPC ). In the same year Henk Kamp, Minister of Economic Affairs of The Netherlands, paid an official visit to Kuwait at the invitation of Dr Ali Al-Omair, Minister of Oil. Mr Kamp was accompanied by a trade mission of approximately 20 businesses and knowledge institutions from the infrastructure and energy sectors. Kuwait is very pleased with the good longstanding relations between our two friendly countries which is an excellent foundation for further strengthening and opening wider horizons of cooperation at all levels. We share similar perceptions and positions on many international issues such as development, food security, world peace and security.

How is the commercial exchange between the two countries and how about the energy projects? We have good trade relations with the Netherlands. We are currently working to set up a Joint Committee and the Netherlands is being promoted as an investment country and we are pleased with the fact that the Netherlands is the major trade partner of our country within the EU. In fact the value of our exports to the Netherlands – which is about 2.5 billion Euros (2015) – represents nearly 50% of our total exports to the EU. Exports value to the Netherlands is 1.9 billion Euros (Mainly fuels) and Imports value from the Netherlands is 627 Millions (Food products, animal, mach and elec, chemicals and vegetable). Kuwait runs an impressive investment programme. It has earmarked around $108 billion over the next few years for energy projects and improvements to its infrastructure. Plans include a deep-sea port, renovation and expansion of the airport, a new railway and metro line and construction of several hospitals and a new university. These government projects present outstanding opportunities for the Dutch business community. In the past few years, several trade missions have visited Kuwait to promote Dutch businesses as participants in these projects.

One of the most important megaprojects is the construction of a new deep seaport on Boubyan Island, which will have an expected annual capacity of 2.5 million containers. There are opportunities here for Dutch dredging companies and, at a later stage, Dutch suppliers. Dutch engineering firms are also working on projects to expand the capacity of Kuwait’s ports and airports. In 2016 the Dutch company Van Oord successfully executed the impressive ground improvement project for client Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC). The project, which started in 2014, involved the reclamation of 65million cubic meters of sand and extensive soil improvement. The reclamation area exceeds 1,320 ha and is intended for one of the largest oil refining plants in the Middle East

Upon completion, the Al-Zour Refinery will produce 615,000 barrels per day and has a strategic goal of supplying low-sulphur fuel. The refinery will be constructed on the reclaimed land in a ‘sabkha area’, a salt plain near the coast, 30 kilometres north of the Saudi border. The reclamation project, executed by Van Oord, was the first phase of KNPC’s investment programme for this new refinery.

Van Oord continues its work in Kuwait as subcontractor on KNPC Package 5 project. The project comprises land reclamation for the construction of a port and the first phase of a LNG import facility. In December 2016, a strong delegation consisting of 17 Dutch companies specialized in serving the oil & gas industry visited Kuwait to explore new business opportunities and enhance collaborations in the field of oil and gas The delegation was headed by Dutch Ambassador Potuyt, and held meetings with the subsidiaries of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), to name PIC, KNPC, KOC, KGOC, and KUFPEC. The Dutch companies presented their unique products, decades of knowledge, and innovative techniques during fruitful meetings with senior officials and specialists.

There is a group of Kuwaiti students in the Netherlands, in which areas are they studying and how many? I can say that Kuwait is very keen to deepen relations in the field of education with the Netherlands. In the frame of enhancing mutual cultural and educational cooperation, we are convinced that such cooperation shall contribute to the development of our relations and improve mutual understanding and friendship. In 2013 the Kuwaiti Ministry of Higher Education accredited all courses offered by Dutch universities for this scheme. There are approximately 40 Kuwaiti students in the Netherlands (Medicine, Agricultural Engineering and Business management ) Kuwait is considering sending more students to the Netherlands to pursue their higher education in the Netherlands.      

Ambassador Alexander Shulgin and TASS correspondent, Mr. Vitaliy Chugin. By A. Rangarajan. It has been customary for Russia to celebrate the 10th of February as the Diplomat’s Day. And on this day the Russian Diplomatic Worker is honoured and Diplomats who have passed away are remembered and their services are gratefully acknowledged. This has been a tradition from 2002. In keeping with it, this year too, the Embassy of Russia in the Netherlands celebrated the occasion and a reception was hosted in their Den Haag Embassy premises. H.E Ambassador Alexander Shulgin welcomed the guests and presented a brief history of Russian diplomatic missions since the time of the founding of the “Posolsky Prikaz” or the Ambassadorial Department in1549. He chose the occasion to give a brief summary of the current state of international relations.

The Ambassador emphasized the importance of the work of diplomats in a modern world that is going through some troubled times and he further mentioned that as long as diplomats remain engaged and are talking, conflicts are avoided. Ambassador Shulgin expressed confidence that using diplomacy and following the principles of equality, non-interference in sovereign affairs, mutual respect and by mutual accommodation of each other’s interests, countries will be able to find common solutions to the global problems Ambassador Shulgin pointed out, in his speech, that Russian diplomacy plays a significant role within the UN, G20 and various other international and regional forums. Its main goal is to promote ties of friendship and cooperation with other States. Referring to the special importance Russia attaches to its relations with Netherlands, Ambassador Shulgin said, “For me personally, it was a great pleasure to begin my work in the Netherlands as Ambassador of the Russian Federation. Our countries are united not only by common history and culture, but also by profound ties of friendship. The fact was marked by making 2013 a year of friendship between Russia and the Netherlands, which was unprecedented in the history of our relations. More than 300 political, economic and cultural events were organized in the two countries.” He referred to a special joint chapter from the history of the two countries, when both Russia and The Netherlands jointly celebrated the 200th wedding day anniversary of the Grand Duchess Anna Pavlona to the Dutch Crown Prince of Orange, who became the King of Netherlands in 1840 and was known as William II. Representatives of Dutch ministries and agencies, international legal organisations, the diplomatic corps, the OPCW, special Russian guests and journalists had been invited to the event. In all, about 60 guests attended the celebration of the Diplomat’s Day. By way of commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Russian revolution a special photo exhibition titled, “Ambassadors of the Russian Empire to the Netherlands from XVII century to 1917” was opened in the Embassy.

Visitors had the opportunity to see the portraits and learn about Russian Ambassadors to the Kingdom of Netherlands since the establishment of the diplomatic relations under Emperor Peter the Great.    

H.E. Elpidoforos Economou, Ambassador of Cyprus. By Roy Lie A Tjam. The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in The Hague organized a reception to mark the inauguration of the art exhibition “Home& Identity” by Toula Liasi. A diverse group of people, such Ambassadors from Cuba, Greece, chargé d’affaires from Lebanon, and Uruguay; also, representatives from the Embassy of Panama, the Russian Federation and the diaspora, responded favorably to the cordial invitation to attend the inauguration of the exposition. The art exhibition is unique as it contains works by students of two high schools in Cyprus and an expose by Toula Liasi (research). Toula Liasi started her expose with the screening of a video, featuring her trip from the airport in Nicosia to her village of Agia Triada. One point that stood out in Toula’s expose was the phenomena “Home” Where is home ? is it simply geographical, is it a sentiment within us, or is home where we are now?

Toula Liasi referred to Dr. Dennis Atkinson’s vision on identity. Atkonson is Professor Emeritus at the Goldsmiths University of London. Tula further expressed her gratitude vis-a-vis H.E. Elpidoforos Economou, Ambassador of Cyprus, Mr. Argyrides Nicos and Humanity House. A resume of H.E.Mr Elpidoforos Economou introduction and speech follows:  ‘I express my appreciation to the Humanity House for hosting the exhibition. This is the second exhibition we host here after the “Famagusta: A European Ghost City” exhibition last June. I am confident that the cooperation with the Humanity House will continue since the Republic of Cyprus shares the values of this Museum and educational platform.’

Economou continued, ‘I cordially express my appreciation to the curator of this exhibition, Mrs Toula Liasi, one of the most prominent members of the small community of Cypriots in The Netherlands. Toula has a first-hand knowledge of the consequences of the military occupation of more than one third of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, including her village, Agia Triada in the Karpasia peninsula, one of the most beautiful areas of Cyprus. Her only brother, 21-year old Giannis, was a missing person since the Turkish invasion of 1974. Only in 2014 the family had the opportunity to offer him a decent burial after the identification of his remains by the Committee of Missing Persons in Cyprus.’ ‘He was the first and only -so far- Greek Cypriot missing person who after his identification was buried in the occupied part of Cyprus, due to the fact that his parents remained enclaved in their village. Toula herself lived under the occupation regime for one year before leaving Cyprus to study art first in Athens and then in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague. For decades, the occupation regime refused her to visit her village and she could only meet her parents in the government-controlled areas with the help of the Red Cross. Famagusta clearly depict how living closed to a “ghost city” directly affects their sentimental world of the students. Toula will explain to us more about her research project at the school, but from a political point of view allow me to reiterate that the situation of Famagusta, the once most prosperous city of Cyprus that is today fenced-off under the control of a garrison of the Turkish army with its buildings and structures abandoned to the elements of nature and the ravages of time, is absolutely unacceptable.’ Ambassador Economou further indicated that one of the positive steps that followed the 2001 Judgement of the European Court of Human Rights was the reopening of the Rizokarpaso High School in 2004. ‘For about 30 years there was no secondary education for the Greek Cypriot enclaved, a fact which forced either the separation of members of the enclaved families or the transfer of all their members to the government-controlled areas with no possibility of return. The fact that Toula Liasi was not allowed to contact her project at the Rizokarpaso High School herself but had to rely on the cooperation of a teacher at the School is another proof of the serious and unreasonable restrictions that the occupation regime imposes to the schools. However, I am sure that you will agree with me that at least the drawings of the Rizokarpaso students presented in this exhibition can offer us a glimmer of hope.’ End quote. It might be added that, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says a deal on reunifying Cyprus is “very close”, but cautioned against hopes of a “quick fix”. Speaking after the first round of peace talks in Geneva, he said a settlement was within reach if the “instruments” were there to implement it.