Kazakh FM Erlan Idrissov and Slovak FM Miroslav LajÄĂĄk (front row) behind them l.t.r. Ambassador Almaz Khamzayev and Slovak PR Peter Javo.Tuesday, 4 October 2016, Brussels: In the framework of the Brussels Summit on Afghanistan, the Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov met with top EU functionaries as well as his Slovak counterpart Miroslav LajÄĂĄk and the Slovak Permanent Representative to the EU, Peter JavorÄĂk. Slovakia is currently holding the rotating EU presidency of the Council.  Foreign Minister Idrissov was seconded by the Kazakh Head of Mission to the EU, Ambassador Almaz Khamzayev. Kazakh FM Erlan Idrissov and Ambassador Almaz Khamzayev. Picture by EUEU-Kazakhstan relations are draw from the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of energy. Kazakhstan is furthermore a member state of the EU and Central Asia Strategy for a New Partnership.For further information:Mission of Kazakhstan to the EU and NATO, Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg (HE Ambassador Almaz Khamzayev): http://www.kazakhstan-embassy.be/en/
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Pictures by EU. Â
By Kuoyu Tung, Representative, Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium.
Globalization has abetted a rise in cross-border crime. To fight against this, 190 members of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) will meet in Bali Indonesia, from November 7 to 10, to discuss terrorism and other transnational crimes, at the 85th Interpol General Assembly. However, the Republic of China (Taiwan) has long been excluded from the Interpol General Assembly for political reasons.
Taiwan is a major transportation hub in the Asia-Pacific region, with its strategic location connecting Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, Taiwan has not been able to participate in Interpol-related meetings, protocols, or technical activities since 1984. Therefore, Taiwan has often had to obtain international security intelligence indirectly, through bilateral channels with Interpol members, to combat cross-border crime. This, in turn, has not enabled Taiwan to meet the increasing demand for global crime-fighting efforts, which rely on efficiency and quick access to comprehensive intelligence.
Despite this lack of access to Interpolâs information and intelligence, Taiwan remains devoted to international security. For example, in July this year Taiwanese police solved the case of a US$2.2-million ATM heist that was perpetrated in the country by 22 foreign nationals. Taiwanâs Criminal Investigation Bureau was subsequently invited to share their experiences at a special meeting convened by the European Police Office.
Nevertheless, Taiwan particularly needs assistance from Interpol to effectively address cyber and cross-border crime. The Taiwanese police however, have received very little support from it, as reflected in the fact that a response was received to only 27 enquiries out of the 90 that were made in the first 9 months of 2016.
Taiwan urges the international community to facilitate its participation in Interpolâs 85th General Assembly, as an observer and under the title of âChinese Taipeiâ. It is imperative that it takes part in this global information and intelligence-sharing network, so we can collectively combat terrorism and cross-border crime.
On the picture HE Ambassador Deo Saran. By Baron Henri Estramant.
Monday, 10 October 2016, Brussels, ACP House: HE Ambassador Deo Saran hosted a reception to mark the independence of Fiji from British colonial rule that took place on 10 October 1970.
In Fiji and places wherein there is a sizable Fijian minority, the fĂȘte is preceded by a “Fiji Week”.
For additional pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157676116164275Baron Henri Estramant, H.E. Ambassador Deo Aran and Chargee d’affaires ai of Trinidad and Tobago, First Secretary, Joanne T Brooks.Fiji achieved two historical firsts this year that were duly mentioned during the allocation of Ambassador Deo Saran; significantly for the country and for the South Pacific region as a whole is the fact that Fiji takes over the presidency of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly as well as having had won their first gold medal in the Olympics for Rugby Sevens. Fiji’s UN Presidency of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly runs from September 2016 to September 2017 after the Fijian Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Peter Thomson was elected on 13 June 2016. Ambassador of Guyana, H.E. Dr David Hales, Counsellor Mr Nidheridra-pratap Singh. Fiji mission Ambassador, H.E. Haymandoyal Dillum, Mauritius Ambassador, H.E. Teneng Mba Jaiteh and the Gambia Ambassador, H.E. Ms. Teneng Mba Jaiteh.
A traditional kava-kava based drink called grog was served to the guests. It is made by pounding sun-dried kava-kava roots into a fine powder, straining and mixing it with cold water. Traditionally, grog is drunk from the shorn half-shell of a coconut, called a bilo.
For further information:
Mission of Fiji in Europe:Â http://www.fijiembassy.be
Accreditations of the Fijian Mission in Brussels:Â http://www.fijiembassy.be/index.php?page_in=accreditations
Fiji leading the UN General Assembly:Â http://www.un.org/press/en/2016/ga11791.doc.htmTuvalus Ambassador, H.E. Tine Leuelu.
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Photography by Alec Singh/ACP House
On the picture Boudewijn Martens General Manager of Crown Plaza Hotel, H.E. Mr. Nourredine Ayadi, Ambassador of Algeria, Roy Lie A Tjam, Diplomat Magazine’s Editor and General Manager of Diplomatic Card, Manolis Arvanitis. A worthy ending of the Summer in the restaurant âBrasserie Brutâ; The 3rd Diplomat After summer Drink organised by Crowne Plaza Hotel Den Haag â Promenade in cooperation with Diplomat Magazine.The large attendence of Ambassadors and relations made this evening a big succes! The service, live jazz times and beautiful wines made it complete. For a full set of pictures, please open the following link:https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157672231866974Boudewijn Martens and H.E. Vjosa Dobruna, Ambassador of Kosovo.Boudewijn Martens, Crowne Plazaâs General Manager gave  a special thank you  to the Ambassador of Argentina H.E. Horacio Salvador and the Ambassador of Italy, H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini for the excellent wine offer at the event. The evening started with the explanation about the origine of the wines and the evening ended with good conversations and interactions!The Crowne Plaza Den Haag â Promenade had hosted serveral succesvol events for Diplomat Magazine and for the Corps Diplomatique. The upcoming year there are more events on the planning such as  National Days, large conferences and other meetings of official delegations.
H.E. Dr. Kaire Mbuende presented his credentials to the Director-General of the OPCW on 14th of September 2016.
H.E. Dr. Kaire Mbuende presented his credentials to H.E. Mr. Ahmet ĂzĂŒmcĂŒ, Director-General of the OPCW.
H.E. Dr. Kaire Mbuende, newly accredited Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, presented his credentials to H.E. Mr. Ahmet ĂzĂŒmcĂŒ, Director-General of the OPCW, accompanied by Mrs. Loide Latungika Shikwambi, First Secretary and Mr. Cajo Lenaerts, Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Namibia in Brussels.
The OPCW promotes and verifies the adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the utilization of chemical weapons and requires their destruction.
The Republic of Namibia ratified this convention. Namibia is a stable, peaceful and democratic country, which strongly supports the OPCW Convention.
Previously, H.E Ambassador Mbuende served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Namibia to the United Nations from 2006 to 2010. During this tenure at the UN, Ambassador Mbuende chaired important working groups on the reform of the UN.
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Picture from OPCW.
Arusha, 2 November – MICT Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will be in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania between 2 and 4 November, as part of preparations for his regular biannual report to the UN Security Council.
The Prosecutor will meet with Government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Director of Public Prosecutions, to discuss cooperation between the MICT and Tanzania as host state and other issues of mutual interest. He will also meet with representatives of the diplomatic community. Pursuant to UNSC Resolution 1966 (from 2010) the Prosecutor of the Mechanism is required to submit a progress report to the UNSC every six months. It is expected that Prosecutor Brammertz will present his reports to the UNSC in early December.
By Antonia Barthel.
On Wednesday the 14th of September 2016, H.E Kaire Mbuende, Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia to the Benelux countries, presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty Willem-Alexander King of the Netherlands.
Mrs. Latungika Loide Shikwambi, First Secretary of the Namibian Embassy in Brussels, accompanied the Ambassador on this occasion.
During this ceremony, Ambassador Mbuende conveyed the best wishes of the President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E. Dr. Hage Geingob, to His Royal Highness the King of the Netherlands.
The presentation of his credentials also highlights the long-standing relations between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Namibia. The two countries established diplomatic relations on 23 April 1990 after the Republic of the Netherlands attained independence on 21st March 1990.
Ambassador Mbuende characterized the relationship between Namibia and the Netherlands in four ways. Firstly, His Excellency highlighted the bilateral relations between both governments. Secondly, he explained the people to people diplomacy for example in the form of twinning programs.
Additionally, he mentioned the multilateral institutions such as through the ACP and the EU. Lastly, the cooperation of trade and investment was identified as especially important as a good example of the long-standing relationship between both countries.In addition to this, H.E. Ambassador Mbuende presented his Letters of Credence to Grand Duke Henry of Luxembourg on the 19th of October 2016. Similarly to the ceremony in the Netherlands, Ambassador Mbuende utilized this occasion to convey the best wishes of the President of the Republic of Namibia to His Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
H.E. Ambassador Mbuende presented his Letters of Credence to Grand Duke Henry of Luxembourg. Picture from Charles Caratini/Grand)Ducal Court, all rights reserved.
On this occasion Miss Sarti Sisko Lupato, First Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Namibia in Brussels, accompanied H.E. Ambassador Mbuende.
The presentation of the Letters of Credence to both heads of state enables him to begin official engagements with Dutch and Luxembourgish government officials in his capacity as representative of the Namibian government.
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Pictures by Hester Dijisktra.
Following the success of their judicial retreat in Nuremberg in June 2015, the judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have held a second retreat to consider ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Courtâs judicial work.
The retreat was held on Friday 28 October and Saturday 29 October 2016 in Limburg, in the Netherlands.
The retreat programme considered issues related to the preparation and management of trial proceedings, including issues related to evidence, witness testimony and legal representation of victims. It also considered whether further best practices in relation to the preparation of trials could be included in the Chambers Practice Manual.
âImproving efficiency and effectiveness is a top priority for the Court. We have already seen very concrete results from the collective efforts of the judges to expedite and improve judicial proceedings. More than ever, it is important that the Court remains focused on continuing the considerable progress already achieved in this regardâ, said ICC President, Judge Silvia FernĂĄndez de Gurmendi.
On the picture HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan of Jordan and the members of the World Science Forum Steering Committee in Brussels – Picture by Princess Sumaya University for Technology.
Brussels: HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan of Jordan chaired a meeting on October 4th, in Brussels to discuss preparations for the upcoming VIII World Science Forum (WSF), which will be held at the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 2017.
Members of the World Science Forum (WSF) Steering Committee discussed the topic of âScience for Peaceâ and its relevance to the Middle East and global science, according to a statement from the Princess Sumaya University for Technology.
The WSF, labelled as âthe Davos of global scienceâ, is held every two years and will be held for the first time in the Middle East in November 2017 after Jordan won the nomination to host the forum.
âThe event will provide Jordan and its science community with an unprecedented opportunity to showcase Jordanian talent and to focus global attention on challenges facing Jordan and the world, which urgently require scientific solutions,â the statement further elaborated.
Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan addressed the Conference of the International Network for Government Science Advice in Brussels, on the theme of science and policymaking.
Moreover the princess held tĂȘte-Ă -tĂȘte discussions with UNESCO Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences Flavia Schlegel, who is a committee member of WSF 2017.
For further information:Â
Princess Sumaya University for Technology:Â http://www.psut.edu.jo
World Science Forum:Â http://www.sciforum.hu
Previously, H.E Ambassador Mbuende served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Namibia to the United Nations from 2006 to 2010. During this tenure at the UN, Ambassador Mbuende chaired important working groups on the reform of the UN.
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Picture from OPCW.
During this ceremony, Ambassador Mbuende conveyed the best wishes of the President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E. Dr. Hage Geingob, to His Royal Highness the King of the Netherlands.
The presentation of his credentials also highlights the long-standing relations between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Namibia. The two countries established diplomatic relations on 23 April 1990 after the Republic of the Netherlands attained independence on 21st March 1990.
Ambassador Mbuende characterized the relationship between Namibia and the Netherlands in four ways. Firstly, His Excellency highlighted the bilateral relations between both governments. Secondly, he explained the people to people diplomacy for example in the form of twinning programs.
Additionally, he mentioned the multilateral institutions such as through the ACP and the EU. Lastly, the cooperation of trade and investment was identified as especially important as a good example of the long-standing relationship between both countries.
In addition to this, H.E. Ambassador Mbuende presented his Letters of Credence to Grand Duke Henry of Luxembourg on the 19th of October 2016. Similarly to the ceremony in the Netherlands, Ambassador Mbuende utilized this occasion to convey the best wishes of the President of the Republic of Namibia to His Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
