On the picture  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bert Koenders, Monika Sie, Director of Clingendael and Rob e Wijk director of HCSS.   By Anton Lutter. Tuesday at the “Glazen Zaal” in The Hague both the Netherlands Institute of International Relations “Clingendael” and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies have presented their Strategic Monitors for 2017 to the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Bert Koenders. The annual reports give an inside to future global political developments and thus the challenges that lay ahead of us. Both reports objection is to provide a better evidentiary base to help the Dutch government improve its strategic anticipatory ability. Many experts have contributed to these analyses and helps us – as Mr. Koenders remarked – to better forecast the Climate (long term) instead of the Weather (short term), which is impossible considering the volatile world we currently live in.

H.E. Mr Peep Jahilo, Ambassador of Estonia and Counsellor Mr. Mr Mati Murd. Estonia’s  99th Independence Day celebrated in The Hague By Roy Lie A Tjam. Estonia a cozy little secret, this how NORDICA, Estonia’s national Airline refers to Estonia. H.E Mr. Peep Jahilo, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia in The Netherlands organized  a reception to celebrate Estonia’s 99th Independence anniversary. The reception took place on Wednesday 22 February 2017. For additional Marian van Noort’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157678569080182

Among the attendees were Ambassadors, their representatives from  all continents:  from Cameroon to Ukraine, Panama to Belgium, Indonesia to Lebanon. Furthermore, Dutch dignitaries, friends, business acquaintances, NGO’s  and members of the diaspora. There are busy times ahead for Estonia, the country will be holding the Presidency of the EU Council for the first time in the second half of 2017. The preparations for the presidency are in full swing. It has been a well attended and very pleasant lunchtime reception.

EU Commissioner Günter Oettinger (Budget and Human Resources) and the Minister for Justice and European Affairs of the German Land of Baden-Württemberg, Guido Wolf . Monday, 6 February 2017, Representation of Baden-Württemberg to the EU: Ca. 700 guests attended the reception hosted by the government of Baden-Württemberg to fête the beginning of the year 2017, and present typical products from Baden-Württemberg to the high-level guests from European institutions, and regional representations headquartered in Brussels.

The Premier of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, was represented at the function by the Minister of Justice and European Affairs, Mr Guido Wolf as well as the Minister of Economy, Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut. The incumbent German Commissioner, Günther Oettinger, who hails from the same Bundesland, also attended the event as did the German Ambassador to Belgium, Rüdiger Lüdeking. Minister Wolf, who labels himself a “convinced European“, called the attention of the audience to the European position of the day, the fact that the “debt crisis might cause new conflicts. Moreover the Brexit puts the European Union in a unique situation as to the question in which manner a member state may leave the union. Not of less importance is the menace of populist movement in some European member states”.

For further information: Representation of Baden-Württemberg to the EU (Director Johannes Jung): https://www.baden-wuerttemberg.de/de/regierung/baden-wuerttemberg-in-europa-und-der-welt/landesvertretung-in-bruessel/ Premier Winfried Kretschmann: https://www.baden-wuerttemberg.de/en/government/minister-president/ Minister Guido Wolf: https://www.baden-wuerttemberg.de/en/government/the-state-government/members-of-the-state-government/guido-wolf/ ——– Photography by “FK / PH”/Bundesland Baden-Württemberg

By Joe Ray. The Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association hosted a Chinese New Year celebration on 9 February at the splendid headquarters of the Sociëteit De Witte  in The Hague. Guests from the fields of business, diplomacy, academia and beyond joined Mr Hans Poulis, Chairman of the Association, and Ms Shirley Lam, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, for an evening of networking and traditional music to usher in the Chinese Year of the Rooster. For additional Robert Huiberts’ pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157680901464076/with/33190615116/

In her welcoming remarks, Ms Lam highlighted the close relationship that exists between the Netherlands and Hong Kong. “We are both relatively small and externally-oriented economies,” she explained, “yet we both form an important gateway to our hinterland, and are strong on infrastructure, logistics and business services.” Ms Lam continued: “Hong Kong’s ties with the Netherlands go back a long way, since the first Dutch Consul in Hong Kong took up his duties in 1857. Today, our bilateral relations continue to flourish. There are at least 200 Dutch companies with their offices established in Hong Kong, and around 6,000 Dutch nationals reside in our city. Trade between us is strong; the Netherlands is our third largest trading partner among the EU member states, and Dutch exports to Hong Kong cover a wide range of merchandise. The Netherlands is also one of Hong Kong’s biggest investors.”

There are frequent high-level exchanges between Hong Kong and the Netherlands, and Ms Lam remarked that several high-profile bilateral visits had been made in 2016. “We look forward to further strengthening our ties with the Netherlands on all fronts in the year ahead,” she concluded.

A particular highlight of the evening for the many guests in attendance was a barnstorming performance from the Hong Kong Drum Ensemble, a percussion group of international acclaim who were visiting The Hague as part of a European tour. Led by master percussionist Mr Ronald Chin, the group displayed extraordinary vibrancy and masterful choreography in their performance, which combined a variety of drums with other traditional Chinese instruments.

Following the opening speeches and the Ensemble’s well-received performance, guests enjoyed a cocktail reception and Chinese buffet.

Ambassador Eduardo Ibarrola and Mexican artist Moza Saracho. By Sheila Turabaz. The vibrant artworks of Mexican artist Moza Saracho, were showcased at the Embassy of Mexico on Thursday February 16 during the opening of the exhibition “TULIPA: As simple as Tulips”. Art aficionados were invited to attend the opening of the exhibition, which comprised 15 paintings, while being served traditional Mexican appetizers along with tequila and wine produced in Mexico. For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157677160311503

Moza, is a contemporary artist specialized in abstract art and born in Mexico City. She earned her academic credentials at New York University, Istituto Europeo di Design in Rome and École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. She focuses on “the intersection of space, reflection and color”. The artworks represent Moza’s daily life in Amsterdam viewed from her Mexican perspective and are also referred to as “molecular art”: images are deconstructed into molecules of which new abstract images are created, reflecting the essence of the original image.

Through her art, Moza aims to encourage the public to be “the author of its own compositions by imagining a group of tulips in a molecular and colorful world”. H.E. Mr. Eduardo Ibarrola Nicolín, Ambassador of Mexico to the Netherlands, opened the exhibition in the gallery of the embassy with a few words mentioning in particular the many talented and diverse artists that Mexico has to offer. Moza gave a brief introduction about the exhibition (which has been set up with the assistance of Sandra Lopez, cultural attaché at the embassy) and how it came about: “ I wanted to combine the concepts of molecular abstractions and the representation of the tulip, which (I think) is strong, with the colours of Mexico”. An evening of art gazing with a glass of tasteful Mexican wine in the hand followed. The exhibition will be displayed at the embassy until 31 March 2017. Embassy of Mexico, Nassauplein 28, 2585 EC, The Hague.

Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg, Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Minister Pierre Gramegna. 14-15 February 2017, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman: Their Royal Highnesses The Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Guillaume and Stéphanie as well as the Minister of Finance, Pierre Gramegna, paid a visit to enhance bilateral economic ties with the Sultanate of Oman.

At the highest level they met with the Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers, His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said. Pierre Gramegna held a working meeting with the Omani Vice-Minister of Finance, HE Mr Nasser Khamis Al Jashmi and the Governor of the Central Bank of Oman, HE Mr Hamood bin Sangour Al Zadjali. Additionally he met with the CEO of Oman Sovereign Wealth Fund, HE Mr Abdulsalam Al Murshidi, to discuss the possibilities to further develop investments in Luxembourg.

The fund is indeed already present in Luxembourg through a representative office as well as several direct and indirect investments.  Minister Gramegna also met the management of the Oman Chamber of Commerce to study further economic exchanges between the two countries. Meanwhile the Hereditary Grand Ducal Couple toured the Oman National Museum. The latter’s Director General Jamal Al-Moosawi was in charge of the princely tour. For further information: https://www.gouvernement.lu/6735311/16-gramegna-oman

H.E.  Pablo Grinsoun, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic. By Henri Estramant. Argentine Republic: HE Ambassador Pablo Grinspun was accredited on Wednesday, 8 February 2017 at the Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg City.  Previous to his  appointment to Belgium and Luxembourg, he was Undersecretary for Latin American Economic Integration and Mercosur.

Turkmenistan: HE Ambassador Ata Serdarov presented his credentials on 8 February 2017. His chancery is based in Brussels. Ambassador Serdarov was previously ambassador to Turkey and Armenia.  

Republic of Poland: HE Ambassador Piotr Wojtczak is a resident ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Before this appointment he was Permanent Representative of Poland to the EU. http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/news/piotr_wojtczak_appointed_poland_s_new_ambassador_to_the_grand_duchy_of_Luxembourg

  For further information: http://www.monarchie.lu/fr/actualites/evenements/2017/02/08022017-creances/index.html   © Cour grand-ducale / Tous droits réservés