The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in The Hague and the Stichting Banjar Suka Duka Nederland, organized a tremendous day of activities called One Day in Bali and Beyond, showcasing the rich culture of the island of Bali. The event took place on the lawns of the residence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia H.E. Mr. I Gusti A. Wesaka Puja. The date was 15 April 2017. The program included cultural presentations- and performances of dozens of artists, followed by a lunch buffet. On particular element on the program was the ceremony of Galungan Kuningan in which scores of persons participated. A very diverse crowd consisting of Ambassadors, diplomats. Dutch officials both current and past and the Indonesian diaspora who came from all over Europe. The activities went on until the evening. It has been a fabulous day, brimming over with Indonesian hospitality.

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Photography by Anton Lutter.

H.E. Konstantine Surguladze, Ambassador of the Republic of Georgia and State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration,  H.E. Victor Dolidze. By Roy Lie A Tjam. On the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Relations between Georgia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration H.E. Victor Dolidze delivered a captivating lecture on the theme, Georgia’s European Way which was followed by the exhibition of the Dutch Photographer Thomas Vahé, Georgia through Dutchman’s Eye. The venue chosen for the event was appropriate, Het Huis van Europa (House of Europe) The Hague. The date was 21 April 2017. H.E. Victor Dolidze, the State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration is a very eloquent speaker. His delivery Georgia’s European Way has been very revealing. Dolidze developed his expose on the changes brought about during the past 25 years of Georgia’s membership of the EU. Minister Victor Dolidze, has been in the Netherlands for some days. He met with the authorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MP’s, NGO’s and other institutions. Before going into the material Dolidze express his condolences to the French Government and people in connection with the loss of live in the recent terrorist attack in Paris. Georgia, Minister Dolidze stated, is experiencing a new epoch, security is high on the agenda, hence membership of the NATO and the EU are important. Even so is State building. Georgian soldier are involved in fighting terrorism in different parts of the world. Afghanistan is one example. Russia has to understand says Minister Dolidze that a stable Georgia means stability in the region Information center are scattered all over Georgia, in order to inform the population about Georgia’s relationship with NATO and the EU. Georgia and the Netherland have several joined projects; one of them is the Erasmus education program. There is convincing evidence that Georgia is on the right track, success is imperative. In the Q&A session that followed Minister Dolidze took questions from the audience including those posed by the Ambassador of Austria, Armenia, and Iraq. The Georgia success story Minister Dolidze is due to transforming the economy, the creation of sufficient SME’s. Diversifying the economy in other words. The Schengen(Biometric visa) has made it easier for the Georgian businessman to visit his business partners in the EU. The construction of a new airport is underway; this will further enhance the position of Georgia. The country will become an important Hub in the region.

Minister Dolidze admits there are challenges ahead: occupation, Russia, migration, and poverty are all challenges. Asked about the Georgian diaspora, Dolidze responded, they are concentrated in Greece, Spain and Germany. Minister Dolidze is appealing to his countrymen to return home and assist in the construction of the new Georgia. Furthermore, tourism is a sector contributing to the economy of Georgia.

A reception with Georgian snacks and wine concluded the informative afternoon. —– Photography by the Embassy of Georgia in The Hague.  

 H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Ambassador of Bangaldesh to the Netherlands. On 15 April 2017, a diverse group of approximately five-hundred persons responded favorably to a call of the Embassy of the Republic of Bangladesh to come and celebrate this year’s feast of lent, the UNESCO recognized Mangal Shovajatra (new year) at Bangladesh House. For additional Hester Dijkstra’pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157682875800765

Locals and expatriate Bangladeshis have highlighted the theme of the celebration i.e. Culture for Peace through the Peace Rally. The performance of local and guest artists enthralled the audience where Deputy Mayor of the Hague Mr. Rabin Baldewsing, Foreign Ministry officials, Ambassadors of India, Sri-lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Yemen were in the audience. In addition to local NRBs in the Netherlands, Bangladeshis from Belgium, Sweden, Germany, UK among others, also participated in this mega celebration. The residence of Bangladesh Ambassador known as Bangladesh House in Wassenaar was beautifully decorated with motifs, balloons, festoons, posters, banners to beam an aura of Bengali culture befitting the day.

All Bangladeshis on this spring morning adorned themselves indistinct colorful Bengali dress while ladies drew mehendi tattoos and children roamed with paints in their faces. Mr. Rabin Baldewsing, Deputy Mayor of The Hague highly appreciated the initiatives of the Embassy of Bangladesh. In his speech Deputy Mayor stressed on the necessity of diversity and inclusion.

Ambassador of Bangladesh in the Netherlands Sheikh Mohammed Belal introduced the celebration as the most universal and secular festivals of Bangladesh. He referred to the recognition of Mangal Shovajatra by UNESCO and termed it as a big achievement. Ambassador Belal urged the non-resident Bangladeshis to follow the best practices of the developed world and introduce in Bangladesh for making a prosperous Bangladesh. In the cultural programme, performance of the children was appreciated by all. Performance of the expatriate Bangladeshi artists has made the audience spell-bound. Performance of the local band Trimatrik drew lot of appreciation from the audience. As usual the crowd especially children with colorful dress and painted faces did not miss the opportunity to dance with the music.

Local vendors put up stalls to serve Bangladeshi cakes and other cuisine to the visiting participants. Lunch, stuffed with Baishaki menu, was served to all the audience. Sweets of different kinds, cakes, pithas etc. were also served to the guests.

As the significant presence of the Dutch society in traditional Bangla dress was an attraction, everybody chanted the slogan of solidarity and peace throughout the day.    

On the picture Mr. Robert Kingman,  Acting USA Deputy Chief of Mission and  Mr. Jons van Dooren, President of SHAK. By John Dunkelgrün. Yearly on the 19th of April the U.S. Embassy jointly with OAR (Overseas Americans Remember) host a reception at the Residence to mark Dutch-American Friendship Day. This special day was established in 1982 by a special law HJ 410 which was passed by both houses of Congress and signed by President Reagan. The initiative for this law was taken by “Americans Overseas Remember” and the law was drafted on the kitchen table of the indefatigable Roberta Enschede, who also initiated events like the “ Presidents Breakfast” in the Kurhaus, the Martin Luther King Dinner and the special Thanksgiving Service in the Pieterskerk, in Leiden.

Why is there a Dutch-American Friendship Day? This was explained by Mrs. Enschede and by Mr. Robert Kingman,  Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, who stood in for Mr. Crowley, who was unwell. Warren, an ASH senior read the text of the law. The Netherlands is not only the country with the longest diplomatic ties to The United States, but it was also the first one to recognise the new republic. John Adams was the first ambassador to The Dutch Republic in 1782 and the house he bought in The Hague was the very first Embassy the U.S. owned. It is tradition that on this day the U.S. Embassy hands a certificate of appreciation to a person or organisation that has significantly promoted Dutch-American Friendship. This year the honour went to the “Foundation of the Commemoration of the American Christmas 1944” (SHAK). In the bitterly cold winter of 1944 American troops from various units of the 9th Army were bivouaced near the Southern city of Maastricht. Brothers of the Immaculate Conception Order wanted to make the men, who were mostly very young, feel at home.

They organised a Christmas Mass with coffee and doughnuts. In order to make the service safe and without interruptions by air raid alarms, the service was held in a deep cave, called the Schark. After the service, the soldiers wrote their names in charcoal of the walls of this cave. Shortly thereafter most of them were sent to the Ardennes to join the Battle of the Bulge. Many never made it home. Mr. Jons van Dooren, President of SHAK gave a moving speech in which he explained that the Foundation organises a yearly commemorative Christmas Mass and makes a major effort to locate and inform the families of the soldiers who were present in 1944. For more information you may go to www.shak.org The reception was an animated affair with some 150 Dutch, American and Dutch-American participants.

Dutch Argentinian wines importers during the Malbec International Day 2017. By A. Rangarajan. Nearly 160 years ago Argentineans embraced a French grape variety and made it their own. Today the Malbec is an inseparable part of the Argentinean heritage. Malbec adapted well to the climate and soil of Argentina. Today one can find thriving, hardy Malbecs all over Argentina, each with its own distinct personality and charm. The grape and the wine bearing this name has now come of age, as part of Argentina’s food landscape. For additional picture, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157680756530871 Since 2011, in the month of April, Argentina celebrates World Malbec Day with much gaiety. It is also the moment when trade missions of Argentina’s embassies worldwide get busy trying to support its wine industry and help enlarge their commercial profile across the globe. In keeping with that endeavour, this year on the 10th of April Argentina’s embassy to the Netherlands organised the Malbec Day celebrations in Rotterdam in the Gauchos restaurant. The theme was, ‘Malbec, the Heart of Argentina’.

It brought together a wide variety of people involved in the Wine trade together and it all started with a wine tasting session. Martin Rijxman of the Dutch wine enthusiasts group Wijngilde Midden Holland had many positive things to say about the Malbec. He called it a very structured wine and a great food companion, depending on the course one was having. Ernst Bik, the wines departmental manager of the large Dutch food stores chain, Sligro too felt that there is great potential for Malbec in the Dutch market. Though European wines still dominate the market, the Malbec slice could grow, he pointed out. Jose Belgerette, wine grower, whose wineyards in Argentina produced Organic wines- Solandes, was cautious and confident as he was pleasing, on the mark Argentinean organic wines could make in the Dutch market. He was producing some distinct tasting wine.

Martin Cabado a match maker between European wine traders and Argentinean wine producers pointed to the price factors that are still coming in the way of a greater share for Malbec in Europe. Inflation locally and currency instabilities do play a role, he pointed out. Fransbert Schermer who conducted the master class pointed to the innovations like concrete eggs that are increasingly being adopted by Argentinean wine makers as part of a new commitment to professionalism in Argentina’s wine industry. There was a mini barbeque session in the lawns of Gauchos lake side where guests could taste the food accompaniment of various Malbec wines and the day ended with a Tango dance performance which the guests enjoyed. H.E. Hector Horacio Salvador, Ambassador of Argentina hosted the Malbec World Day in the Netherlands. —— Photography courtesy of the Embassy of Argentina in The Hague.    

Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja during the ceremony. 

Galungan- Kuningan celebration at the Indonesian ambassadors residence

By Anton Lutter. Ambassador H.E. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja hosted the Balinese celebration of Galungan- Kuningan at his residence last saturday. The ambassador himself from Bali, participated in the hindu prayer ceremony which was attended by balinese from all over Europe. The ancient tradition of Galungan- Kuningan symbolizes the victory of dharma over adharma, or good against evil. Afterwards a variety of cultural actvities where performed at the garden of the residence. This included traditional dance and gamelan music from Bali aswell as an acting performance. The day was considered a huge success by the attendants who also enjoyed the Balinese dishes specially prepared for this celebration. Photography by A. Lutter.