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.

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. —– 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 Court’s 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. “Improving 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 regard”, said ICC President, Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi.  

On the picture Co-president Kyriakos Pachoulides of Award winner AHDR, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Bert Koeders, Co-president Alev Tugberk of Award winner AHDR. The Hague – The Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR), a Cyprus-based non-governmental organisation, has been awarded the Max van der Stoel Award 2016 for its work on history teaching as a tool for reconciliation in Cyprus. The association was presented the award by Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Bert Koenders during a ceremony in the Academy Hall of the Peace Palace in The Hague on October 24th. For additional pictures please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157675822243235

The Max van der Stoel Award is given every two years to an individual or organization in recognition of extraordinary and outstanding achievements in improving the position of communities in the OSCE area. It consists of a donation of 50,000 euros by the Government of the Netherlands to the winner. The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities chairs the jury that chooses the winner. As Director and Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Henrik Villadsen said: “The Max van der Stoel Award enables us to give credit where credit is due by promoting the hard work of courageous and dedicated individuals and organizations which spearhead and practise dialogue among communities and help to build a common future”.

Speaking out in support of AHDR as the 2016 winner of the award, Chairperson of the jury and former High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors stated: “From the outset, AHDR has demonstrated its sustained commitment to building a multicultural and multi-faith society, promoting mutual respect and diversity, and including all of the communities of Cyprus.” Explaining the added value of the winner, she said: “AHDR provides access to learning opportunities for individuals from different ethnic, religious, cultural and social backgrounds including teacher training sessions, cultural excursions, seminars and conferences. It developed a range of supplementary teaching materials in order to help inter alia to address the legacies of a violent past.” Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Kingdom of The Netherlands, H.E. Mr Elpidoforos Economou congratulated AHDR and stated: “The Ministry of Education and Culture remains committed to an educational system that promotes peaceful co-existence, tolerance and understanding amongst the people of Cyprus and cooperates with the Association.” Before presenting the Award to AHDR, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Bert Koenders emphasised the importance of the work of the organisation: “The success of the AHDR demonstrates the power that communities themselves have to shape their relations. It serves as a shining example to other countries where relations between communities are strained.” ADHR Co-presidents Kyriakos Pachoulides, a Greek Cypriot, and Alev Tuğberk, a Turkish Cypriot, jointly accepted the Award and spoke alternately, saying that “this award is shared with all those in Cyprus, whose work promoted, over the last decades, inter-communal co-operation, mutual respect and understanding as the foundations for a sustainable, peaceful re-united Cyprus.” —– Photography by OSCE/Arnaud Roelofsz        

Boudewijn Martens, General Manager Crown Plaza, OPCW Director-General H.E. Mr Ahmet Üzümcü, Diplomat Magazine Editor Roy Lie and Diplomatic Card General Manager, Manolis Arvanitis. By Joe Ray. The end of the summer and the welcome return of the diplomatic community to town was celebrated on Monday, October 3. The 3rd Diplomats’ After-Summer Drink was organised by Diplomat Magazine in collaboration with Crown Plaza Hotel – Promenade, Diplomatic Card, the Embassy of Argentina and the Embassy of Italy. A live Jazz band from Pavlov, led by Daniel Nicolas, serenaded the many diplomatic guests in attendance, which included the Ambassador of Italy H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini and his wife. Attendees also enjoyed a special collection of wines, generously provided by the Argentinean and Italian Embassies. For additional Kim Vermaart’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157672231866974

Message from the Embassy of Argentina: “In the year of the Bicentennial of Argentina’s Independence, the Embassy of the Argentine Republic is pleased to share its world-famous high quality wine, which has become one of the flagship products of the country. Over the course of five centuries, Argentina has developed an extraordinary wine industry. The altitude, the wide range of temperatures, the local know-how, the new technologies and a deeply-rooted popular wine culture lend Argentinean wines their unique identity and quality.” Message from the Embassy of Italy: “The Embassy of Italy is proud tonight to share with you some of its most renowned top-quality wines. As many already know, Italy is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Italian wines are known worldwide for their broad variety. Since time immemorial, Italy has developed an extraordinary wine production which has become an important industrial sector. We have currently more than one million vineyards under cultivation.  In Italy wine means lifestyle, passion, history and innovation (as well as the best food to enjoy it with), while sitting down, surrounded by stunning landscapes.”

   

On the picture Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa.   Royal Bridges, a fine arts movement founded by Bahrain’s most prominent artist, Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Honorary President of Bahrain Arts Society and Managing Director Henri Estramant (moreover Diplomatic Adviser for Diplomat Magazine) is due to host its first global functions at the end of November 2016. More precisely, the opening of an international exhibition entitled “Convergence” is to be held for VIPs on 29 November 2016 at the Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Financial Center, followed the next day by a charity gala wherein the participating artists and patrons are auctioning one selected artwork for an international charity.

Convergence brings together for the first time in history of art, an exceptional mélange of royal, princely and noble artists from around the world celebrating and displaying contemporary art in Dubai, UAE. Itself featuring a plethora of paintings, sculptures, jewellery  designs as well as musical performances listed as UNESCO intangible world heritage. Fostering a culture of giving and philanthropy,  the movement will host a gala dinner whose auction proceeds shall be donated to the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP). The auction thereto is to be managed by Christie’s, which is fêting 250 years of existence as an auction house. In addition to our artists, several patrons of the arts are donating objets d’art as Sovereign Guests/Friends of Royal Bridges to benefit the UNWFP. These special guests are members of sovereign houses worldwide and include HM Queen Mother Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck of Bhutan and her daughter HRH Princess Eeuphelma Choden Wangchuck of Bhutan (Bhutanese Court Textiles), HRH Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark (traditional Greek artisanship), HRH Princess Norodom Veasna Diva of Cambodia (Court artefacts), and HRH Princess Tessy of Luxembourg and Nassau (haute couture dress donated by designer Marcin Lobacz). For additional information: Royal Bridges: http://royalbridges.org/home/      

with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ladies Association, Malaysia (PERWAKILAN) & ASEAN Ladies Circle (ALC), The Hague

On Saturday 15th October 2016 Mrs Linda Zin, spouse of Malaysian Ambassador together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ladies Association, Malaysia (PERWAKILAN) & ASEAN Ladies Circle (ALC), The Hague took the initiative to organize a morning of Zumba dance and a talk by Dr. Dirulba Nasrin, spouse of Bangladesh Ambassador, an Epidemiologist and a full time faculty member at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. For additional pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157674613573110

Dr. Dirulba gave an enlightening and inspirational talk to the participants and reminded them on the importance of paying extra attention of the risk factors and what they can do to minimise the risks of breast cancer. All the 20 participants were later took to sweat out in a 90-min Zumba session, led by an energetic instructor Mrs Maria del Mar Bravo from Venezuela.   The event was concluded by a hearty lunch and a demonstration of cold-pressed fruit juice making by Mrs Linda Zin. This event was voluntarily organised with no intention of raising any fund. The associations felt that it is important to spread the message of awareness of breast cancer and also to inspire their members to live a healthy lifestyle.This is in the true spirit of PINK October campaign that suggests, “hope is living with courage and confidence, not fear”.