On the picture King of the Belgians greeting foreign heads of missions including Dr Bahiya Al Jishi, Bahrain, to his left-, Chargé d’affairs Matthew Lussenhop, USA, Omar Said, Djibouti, behind the king, to his left Spain’s Ambassador Cecilia Yuste Rojas in conversation with Panamanian Ambassador Dario Chirú. Thursday, 20 April 2017: Their Majesties the VII King of the Belgians and Queen Mathilde hosted a private reception and tour of the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken located in the gardens of Laeken Castle, their residence.  The reception was attended by foreign ambassadors and chargés d’affaires accredited to the Kingdom of Belgium, and it was meant to promoting the international image of Belgium. Albeit the greenhouses enjoy an international reputation, they are mostly not accessible to the public except for about three weeks annually in April and till the first week of May. This year from 14 April till 5 May 2017. 

For further information:  https://www.monarchie.be/nl/agenda/opening-van-de-koninklijke-serres-van-laken-2017 ————- Picture by the Belgian Monarchy     

Pictured The King of the Belgians and H.E. Raúl Fernández Daza (Chile to Belgium and Luxemboug, to the EU). Republic of Chile: HE Ambassador Raúl Fernández Daza presented credentials to the Kingdom of Belgium on Wednesday, 17 April 2017 at the Royal Palace Brussels. He is also concurrently head of mission to the EU and Luxembourg.  Previously Ambassador Fernández Daza held an ambassadorship to Haiti.  https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raúl_Fernández_Daza http://chile.gob.cl/belgica/en

Kingdom of Swaziland: HE Ambassador Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu presented credentials and greetings from HM King Mswati III of Swaziland to HM The VII King of the Belgians on 17 April 2017.  This is Ambassador Mngomezulu’s first ambassadorship. Before he came to Brussels, he held the rank of Counsellor/Deputy Head of Mission/Acting High Commissioner at the High Commission of Swaziland to Malaysia.  The Swazi mission is accredited to the three Benelux countries, Germany, the EU as well as the OPCW and the ACP Group of States.  http://swaziembassy.be/2017/03/his-excellency-ambassador-sibusisiwe-mngomezulu-was-today-introduced-to-the-acp-committee-of-ambassadors/  

Commonwealth of Bahamas: HE Ambassador Rhoda Jackson has a seat in Geneva, Switzerland, as Permanent Representative to the UN and the other international organisations based there. She is concurrently accredited to the EU and Belgium from Geneva. 

Mongolia: HE Ambassador Od Och presented credentials on 17 April 2017 before King Philippus of the Belgians.  Before coming to Brussels Ambassador Och 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: HE Ambassador Julia Vallatoro Tario was accredited to Belgium on 17 April 2017. The Salvadoran mission is co-accredited to the EU and Luxembourg.  Ambassador 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. ————— Picture by the Belgian Monarchy 

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.