On the picture Dr Qu Xing and Didier Reynders.Thursday, 28 September 2018, Embassy of the PRC to the Kingdom of Belgium: The People’s Republic of China’s bilateral ambassador to Belgium, Dr. Qu Xing, hosted a traditional Chinese reception to mark 45 years of diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Belgium as well as the 67th anniversary of the foundation of the PRC. Third from left to right Andre Flahaut former speaker of the chamber of representatives picture by didierreynders-be.Special guest and key speaker was Belgium’s Vice-Premier Didier Reynders, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Former Speaker of the Federal Parliament and erstwhile Minister of Defence, André Flahaut as well as a plethora of Belgian officials and ambassadors accredited to Belgium were in attendance as were representative of Chinese media with bureaux in Brussels such as Xinhua, the Beijing Daily or Phoenix News. Ambassador Dr. Qu Xing and FM Didier Reynders – Picture by didierreynders.beOfficially diplomatic relations began on 25 October 1971, although the late Queen Dowager Elisabeth of Belgium paid an unofficial eye-brow raising visit to the PRC in 1961 with the support of the civilian organisation Belgium-China Association. Between 20-28 June 2015, The VII King of the Belgians and his Queen Mathilde paid a state visit to the PRC with stopovers in Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Shenzhen. The visit was arranged one year after President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan were on a state visit in Belgium. For further information:Allocution of HE Ambassador Dr. Qu Xing: http://be.china-embassy.org/eng/sghd/t1402770.htmBelgium-China Association: http://www.belchin.be/qui-sommes-nous/historique/———- Photography by didierreynders-be.
On the picture His Excellency Minister of Finance Mr. Abul Maal A. Muhith together with the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Belal, his wife Dr Dilruba Nasrin and Mr Anwar Shawkat Afser.By Roy Lie A Tjam.
The Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DBCCI), in conjunction with the Embassy of the Republic of Bangladesh in The Hague, organized the DUTCH-BANGLA EXPO 2016 (the first single country / joint trade show between the Netherlands and Bangladesh) on 28-29 September.
The objective of the fair was to demonstrate Bangladesh businesses’ investment potentials, and much more, to the world – particularly in the Netherlands and the Benelux.
This prestigious event took place at the RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority – in active collaboration with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.
For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157671357843184Mr Anwar Shawkat Afser, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Minister of Finance Mr. Abul Maal A. Muhith and Mr. Guido Landheer.
Many individuals attended the inauguration ceremony to listen to the indefatigable Bengali veteran politician, Finance Minister Mr. Abul Maal A. Muhith, who was vehemently at the helm of the struggle for the liberation of Bangladesh. Representatives from the Dutch Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassadors from countries like Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka – just to name a few – as well as diplomats of other countries were also present.
Below is the breakdown of the inaugural program:
Welcome by Mr. Anwar Shawkat Afser DBCCI President (ag)
H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Ambassador of Bangladesh in the Netherlands
The Honorable Finance Minister Mr. Abul Maal A. Muhith
Mr. Guido Landheer, Deputy Director General Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Representing Minister Lilianne Plumen who is in Bangladesh)
A vote of thanks by Mr. Shahriar Taha (DBCCI)
Bangladesh’s Finance Minister, Hon. Mr. Abul Maal A. Muhith inaugurated the fair as the guest of honor. The exhibitors who were showcasing their products and services were from across various sectors including Ready Made Garment (RMG), leather, textiles, jute, water and ICT.
His Excellency, Mr. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Ambassador of Indonesia, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mr. Adam Maznavee Jaufer Sadiq , the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz Abdullah Abohaimed and Deputy Mayor of The Hague, Mr Rabin Baldewsingh.
In his invigorative keynote address, the Finance Minister Abul Maal A. Muhith commenced by stating how overwhelmed he was by what he saw. He thanked the government of the Netherlands, the Embassies and all the stakeholders for the efforts they had made. Muhith considered the trade fair to be a clear picture of the Bangladesh economy.
Minister Muhith cordially invited Dutch investors and businesses to Bangladesh, as necessary conditions for the take-off of the Bangladesh economy have been created. Never before was Bangladesh so well-prepared to absorb talent, technology and investment from outside; never before was the country as investment-hungry as it is today.
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Belal and Minister of Finance Mr. Abul Maal A. Muhith.
A strategic geographic location in the vicinity of two major economies of the world – India and China – along with its low cost labor makes Bangladesh a potentially attractive destination for foreign direct investment. Bangladesh offers the most liberal FDI regime in South Asia, allowing 100 percent foreign equity with unrestricted exit policy, easy remittance of royalty, and repatriation of profit and incomes. Moreover, the Foreign Private Investment Act provides legal protection from nationalization an expropriation
The government of Bangladesh hosts development projects that include ports development, new export processing zones, special economic zones and initiatives under “Digital Bangladesh 2021”.
The Minister continued, ‘I have no doubt that the Dutch-Bangla Expo 2016 will give all potential investors from the Netherlands, as well as from the greater Benelux region, an opportunity to know, in greater depth and dimension, the investment prospects in Bangladesh. With these words, I urge all potential investors from the Netherlands to invest, in whatever form that suits you best, in this fast growing prospective market. I assure you of my personal care in making your dreams a reality. Let’s step together to shape the future of our country!.’
One of the take-aways of this trade fair was that the cooperation between the Netherlands and Bangladesh be taken to a more elevated level.
A seminar, focusing on business and investment opportunities in Bangladesh, took place subsequent to the official closure of the fair.
By Steven van Hoogstraten, Member of the Comite d’Initiatives.
This years’ celebration of the UN Day, 24 October 2016, will be marked by a solo performance of the well known argentine pianist Miguel Angel Estrella in the Great Hall of Justice of the Peace Palace.
Miguel Estrella is the founder of the “Orchestra pour la Paix” which visited the Hague in December 2014 for a tour of 2 concerts. Now Miguel Estrella will play “seul-en-scene” for a mixed audience of diplomats, international judges, other dignitaries and young students and even refugees.
His first concert on the Sunday 23 October will be a public event and it will take place in the Eglise Wallone at Noordeinde at 14.30 hours . Tickets can be obtained at the doors of the Church one hour in advance at 10,- euro a piece.
The background of Miguel Estrella , borne in 1936 and a long time human rights activist , is to a large degree determined by the period that he was in captivity during the reign of the argentine Junta. He was badly treated by this dictatorship, during the prison years his hands were ruined. Later he was a refugee in France, and – after the restoration of democracy in Argentina – he became his country’s ambassador to UNESCO in Paris (2003-2015) .
But he is first and foremost a highly talented piano player who was originally formed at the conservatoire of Buenos Aires. The concert is organized by a Comite d’Initiatives which comprises inter alia Human Rights prof. (em.) Theo van Boven, STL Head of Defence Office Francois Roux and his spouse Evelyne , ICJ Registrar Philippe Couvreur and the ambassador of Argentina Hector Horacio Salvador. The City of the Hague offers valuable support, and the coordination of the event is in the hands of the Carnegie Foundation, Erik de Baedts.
Miguel Estrella comes to life in the following quote from the Nouvel Observateur, the French weekly
“ Estrella n’est pas chaleureux, il est brûlant. Il déborde d’amour , ne concoit pas de relation humaine qui ne soit amour. On peut puiser en lui comme une fortune sans limite: il continuera de donner de lui meme, de sa musique, de son temps, de son eloquence…”
Both the concerts in the Peace Palace and in the Eglise Wallone will be unique experiences, with music from Wolfgang A Mozart ( Rondo en Re majeur) and Franz Liszt ( Sonate en si mineur) on the menu.
On the picture Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.
There has never been in modern history a system of coercive, unilateral measures from one country against another that has lasted as long as the one imposed by the government of the United States of America against Cuba since the early 1960s.
At that time, the U.S. government could not accept that a group of Cuban men and women led a radical revolution that ended their neocolonial domination that violated the sovereignty and independence of a country that was proud of its origins.
The United States started to use all kinds of strategies to overthrow the triumphant Revolution: the economic, commercial and financial war was one of them. It created a complex situation for the Cuban economy, which has had to face all kind of difficulties and looks for the most innovative ways to move forward.
In all these years, the Cuban people have suffered the impact of the U.S. blockade and have suffered immeasurable human and material losses. The blockade, in one way or another, affects multiple aspects of the life of Cuban citizens.
It has been proved that the blockade is the main hurdle in Cuba’s development and the economic damage caused during almost six decades of implementation amounts to USD$ 753,688 billion, if we consider the devaluation of the dollar against the gold.
Even though Cuba and the United States reestablished diplomatic relations in the summer of 2015 and despite all the modifications introduced in the implementation of the blockade by the government of President Barack Obama and his calling on the Congress to lift it, there are several key elements of this policy that remain in force, thus hindering the advances towards the normalization of the relations between the two countries.
Contradictorily to what has been done, the prosecution to the international financial transactions to Cuba has increased under Obama’s administration and the retaliations against sovereign States and companies worldwide that maintain trade relations with Cuba have also escalated significantly.
Recently, the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, presented to the international press the report on the Resolution 70/5 of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA), in which he offered up-to-date information on the losses caused to Cuba by the unilateral siege established by Washington. It is expected that, as every year, this report will be voted in the multilateral forum, at the end of October.
The U.S. blockade against Cuba violated the International Law and it is a massive, blatant and systematic violation of the human rights of the people in the Caribbean country that must end immediately, without conditions or pressure of any kind.
In 2015, 191 member States voted against that policy that seeks to exterminate an entire people. The blockade was only supported by two countries: the United States and Israel.
The U.S. “no” vote is shown with the results of the vote on the annual draft resolution calling for an end to the U.S.-led five-decade embargo against the Caribbean nation, in the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. The resolution condemning the U.S. embargo against Cuba has won overwhelming approval, with only the United States and Israel voting against it. Tuesday’s vote had the highest ever number of countries voting to condemn the embargo 191. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Cuba and its people trust they will continue to count on the support of the international community and their rightful demand to end the economic, financial and commercial blockade that has been unfairly and unilaterally imposed by the government of the United States of America.
From 13 October 2016 to 5 March 2017, The Hague
The Beelden aan Zee Museum in The Hague will present this fall “Picasso aan Zee, ceramics and sculpture”. The exhibition will provide an exciting image of the time he spent on the French Riviera, a vital period of his rich oeuvre in which he rediscovered ceramics, creating more than 4.000 works of different materials.
Beelden aan Zee will exhibit some unique pieces in ceramics and sculptures from the best Picasso collections in Europe, some of which will be on show for the first time.
More information can be found at the website of the Beelden aan Zee Museum.
On Monday Sept 26, Foreign Minister Bert Koenders witnessed the official signing of the peace agreement between the Colombian government and FARC rebels. The ceremony took place in the port city of Cartagena and was attended by several heads of state, heads of government and other dignitaries.
The peace agreement is meant to end more than 50 years of armed conflict, which has cost more than 220,000 lives and displaced over 6 million people. During the traumatic conflict around 360,000 Colombians fled their country, a neighbour of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Colombian government had invited Mr Koenders to attend the signing ceremony. At the beginning of the ceremony he said, ‘It’s very important for me to be here. This agreement is a crucial step towards peace in Colombia and stability in the region. It is an historic milestone. It has demanded great effort, courage, patience and trust from all sides: the Colombian government, the FARC and international parties involved. I have deep respect for all these parties and the outcome they have achieved together.’‘I also want to express my support to all the Colombians who have suffered from this conflict,’ Mr Koenders continued. ‘Through it all, the Netherlands has always believed in a good ending and has backed the Colombian government’s efforts from the start.’
Today Sunday October 2, Colombians will vote on the peace deal in a referendum. ‘This will be a key moment, because the conflict has caused great hardship and mistrust,’ the minister said. ‘Everyone must have a chance to cast their vote. That’s why observers of the Organization for American States will be monitoring the referendum. And why the Netherlands is supporting the observation mission financially.’
The Netherlands has also pledged €3 million to a 5-year EU fund on implementing the peace agreement, primarily through rural development in regions where FARC rebels have been active. Because there are many landmines in these areas, the Netherlands is also providing €1.3 million to a mine clearance project and is investigating opportunities for contributing to land registration and transitional justice.
‘A new era is dawning for Colombia, but the future also holds challenges,’ Mr Koenders observed. ‘One of these is the negotiation process with the National Liberation Army – the ELN – the other guerrilla movement in Colombia. Peace talks with the ELN were officially announced on 30 March this year, but the first round has yet to begin.’
On the picture H.E. Emilian Brenici, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova.
His Excellency Mr. Emilian Brenici, Ambassador of Moldova invited fellow Ambassadors, officials and other honorable guests to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Moldova. The reception took place at Kasteel De Wittenburg in Wassenaar on 22 September 2016.
In his welcome remarks Ambassador Brenici touched on the investment opportunities Moldova has to offer. A brief quotation of the Ambassador’s address follows.
”Twenty-five years ago, the Republic of Moldova declared its independence from the Soviet Union. That day my country made one of its most significant historic choices: it became an independent country, a fully fledged member of the international community.I am glad that Moldova has managed to make some crucial steps towards its goal of integration into the European Union by achieving a visa-free regime for its citizen travelling to EU, by signing and implementation of the Association Agreement, including establishment of free trade area, with the European Union.Moldova is a European country, a convenient and safe place to travel to and to invest. I hope that those of you, who have never had the chance to visit my country, will use today’s opportunity to know it better.”In his speech, Ambassador Brenici noted that the Kingdom of Netherlands is one of the top trading and investment partners with the Republic of Moldova and expressed gratitude for its valuable assistance offered for Moldova’s integration into the European Union.
On the picture the Moldovan Embassy’s staff with guests.
The attending guests were offered a rich program consisting of a reception with incredible traditional meal and wines, accompanied by a concert given by the renowned pan-flute virtuoso Mr. Constantin Moscovici who played Moldovan legendary melodies.
Furthermore, an exhibition of paintings made from red wine, signed by Mr. Vasile Botnaru, was inaugurated as well.
By H.E. Mr Selim Yenel, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the European Union.
I have been in Brussels since December 2011, as Turkey’s Permanent Delegate to the EU. When I first came I saw my job as to prevent the relationship from sliding any further backwards. This was the case until summer of 2015. However the last year was totally different as the migration crisis was an opportunity for improving relations.
Accession to the EU is still considered as the central pillar of Turkey-EU relations. To date, only 16 Chapters out of the 35 are opened. The process is politically stalled, mainly because of the Cyprus issue. I remain optimistic that a resolution to this long standing conflict is in sight.
Without diminishing its significance, I have to underline that Turkey-EU relations encompass more than accession. Turkey and the EU are vital partners in political and economic spheres. We have established High Level Political, Economic and Energy Dialogues. Work is underway to start upgrading the Customs Union next year. EU remains Turkey’s primary trade partner, constituting around 50% of our foreign trade volume. The Netherlands is among the top foreign investors in Turkey.
Regarding recent events the migration crisis instigated the unprecedented three Turkey-EU Summits in just 4 months. Despite many skeptical voices, the Agreement curbed the irregular flow of migrants (mainly from Syria) to the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. The numbers prove it. Whereas in October 2015 average daily crossings were 7.000, after the 18 March Agreement it drastically reduced to an average of 50 per day. Even in the aftermath of the 15 July coup attempt in Turkey, which was a shocking and unprecedented event with potential catastrophic consequences for Turkish democracy, the Turkish Coast Guard did not falter in its operations and saved more than 2.000 lives at sea. Most importantly the death toll decreased.
Turkey has lived up to its end of the deal. It is only fair that EU also delivers on its commitments, including visa liberalization for Turkish citizens. Among the remaining benchmarks for visa liberalization, the most contentious one is changing the anti-terror law. Given Turkey’s ongoing fight against terror groups such as PKK, DAESH and FETÖ, any change which would weaken Turkey’s fighting capacity is not possible. However, Turkey has not closed the door on the issue and we are willing to work together for a mutually agreeable solution.
The European Union has been hard hit with crisis after crisis. It still has not fully recovered from the Euro crisis. Brexit is looming. Schengen is in danger. All its past successes, such as the enlargement, are being tested. The EU cannot continue business as usual. Considering the many challenges in our immediate neighborhood and beyond, we need a strong EU. And the EU needs a strong and ever-closer Turkey.
We will be celebrating the 93rd anniversary of our Republic on 29 October. I sincerely hope that before our 100th Anniversary, we’ll witness a much more deepened Turkey-EU partnership, whichever form it takes.
By H.E. Ms Marvelyne Wiels, Minister Plenipotentiary of Curacao, Government of Curaçao, Ministry of General Affairs.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands has one of the most dynamic state structures of the 21st century. While sometimes explained as ‘One Kingdom, Four Countries’, its structure is far more complex than what initially meets the eye. The Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was amended in 2010, with the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles, and the establishment of Curaçao and St. Maarten, which, along with Aruba, are now semi-autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Under this new statute, foreign affairs, defense, and nationality remain Kingdom affairs, while domestic policies are determined on individual country-level.
Each of the Caribbean countries within the Kingdom enhanced Aruba House, Curaçao House and St. Maarten House, their permanent representation in The Hague. Along with catering to the needs of the large diasporas, the ‘Houses’ also became home to the new Cabinets of the Ministers Plenipotentiary.
The Minister Plenipotentiary has a unique status; while not considered a minister within the Cabinet, the Minister Plenipotentiary can be considered an extension of the Cabinet, falling under the purview of the Prime Minister.
The Minister Plenipotentiary is primarily tasked with representing his or her respective country in the Kingdom Council of Ministers, based on instructions received from the capital. The Kingdom Council of Ministers is an enlarged variant of the Dutch Council of Ministers, including the three Ministers Plenipotentiary, that meets regularly to discuss Kingdom affairs.
The current Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao, Ms. Marvelyne Wiels, is therefore an extension of Curaçao’s sitting Cabinet, and falls under the current Prime Minister of Curaçao, Dr. Bernard Whiteman of Pueblo Soberano or the Sovereign People’s Party.
Despite the Statute adopted in 2010, several grey areas remain. In large part, the new relationship is a balancing act – not just between the 16.8 million people who reside in the Netherlands and the 250,000 that live in the Caribbean countries, but because each country, as expected, has its own set of interests and challenges. Curaçao, for example, has a multi-sectoral economy that is primarily based on building relations in the region.
Although each of the countries within the Kingdom is allowed to enter into certain agreements on a country-level, in various fora, the Kingdom of the Netherlands remains the recognized partner, with King Willem Alexander as Head of State. “This complex structure has its advantages, namely the fact that we are able to build bridges and relationships in different ways, be it bilaterally, or multilaterally, as four countries or as a Kingdom.” (Minister Plenipotentiary Wiels, 2016)
Foreign policy development therefore requires intra-Kingdom cooperation on a policy-level, ensuring coherence and understanding for deviating interests and concerns.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands officially made its ‘One Kingdom, Four Countries’ debut in 2014, as the lobby for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council intensified. Together, the Kingdom built a multi-faceted lobby titled: ‘Your Partner for Peace, Justice and Development.’
The lobby highlighted so many different aspects of foreign policy, some that had a larger impact on the Netherlands like ‘Enhancing Security and Stability,’ and others, like ‘Advancing Inclusive Sustainable Growth’ that directly linked to the interests of Curaçao.
And the other Caribbean countries.
“…I kindly ask that you take a moment and think of the unique position of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with influence and ties to two very distinct regions: Europe and the Caribbean…Think about the potential that we possess to represent a truly international point of view, with two very different historical perspectives and diverging priorities.” (Prime Minister Whiteman, November 2015)
Since today most pressing issues transcend political boundaries, it is clear that within the Kingdom, all of our sails need to point in the same direction, especially when the tides continuously turn. The search for common ground must go on.
As we continue to prepare for a seat in the UN Security Council, and as the dynamic world of international relations continues to transform, the truth remains that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is stronger because of the joint lobby for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council. Reflecting on the lobby, it is clear that developing foreign policy priorities based on common ground will allow the Kingdom of the Netherlands to be a truly dynamic and relatable partner.
Despite the complexities of the Kingdom, the whole proved, once and for all, to be far greater than the sum of its parts.
As the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we remain, your partner for peace, justice and development.
——-
Photography by Paco Nunez.
By Dr.Obaidullah Obaid, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Following the Warsaw NATO Summit which was held in July and which was related to the security of Afghanistan, on 5th October the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan together with the European Union will host the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan.
Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, High Representative Federica Mogherini and Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for Development Cooperation, will represent the European Union. President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah will represent Afghanistan.
This event will provide a platform for the Government of Afghanistan to set out its vision and track record on reform in the so called Transformation Decade. In this ten-year period (2015-2024) the country aims to build well-functioning institutions with a sustainable economy, while becoming less reliant on aid. For the international community it will be the opportunity to signal sustained political and financial support to peace, state-building and development and to reaffirm its commitment to its future peace, stability and prosperity by keeping support at or near current levels.
It will be the civilian counterpart to the Warsaw Summit, dedicated to the support of the progress in the country by securing commitments until 2020, and will be attended by representatives from 70 countries and 30 international organizations and agencies. There will also be bilateral meetings on the sideline of the Conference, as well as two special side events on 4th October that will focus on the topics of Gender and Regional Economic Cooperation respectively.
Since 2001, Afghanistan and its partners have made significant investments and booked lots of achievements, but there are still a lot more that needs to be done. There are significant political, security and economic challenges. Strong partnerships are required to make sure that the current reforms take hold and that Afghanistan will reach its goal of achieving self-reliance in the Transformation Decade. Strong commitments from our international partners are needed to ensure that we root out terrorism and violent extremism; and that we build strong institutions that are able to deliver quality basic services to all citizens.
The achievements of the Warsaw NATO Summit of last July will become complete with an equally strong expression of support in Brussels: security and development go hand in hand – one cannot exist without the other.
——-
Photography MH Siddiqi .
One of the take-aways of this trade fair was that the cooperation between the Netherlands and Bangladesh be taken to a more elevated level.
A seminar, focusing on business and investment opportunities in Bangladesh, took place subsequent to the official closure of the fair. 
Each of the Caribbean countries within the Kingdom enhanced Aruba House, Curaçao House and St. Maarten House, their permanent representation in The Hague. Along with catering to the needs of the large diasporas, the ‘Houses’ also became home to the new Cabinets of the Ministers Plenipotentiary.
The Minister Plenipotentiary has a unique status; while not considered a minister within the Cabinet, the Minister Plenipotentiary can be considered an extension of the Cabinet, falling under the purview of the Prime Minister.
The Minister Plenipotentiary is primarily tasked with representing his or her respective country in the Kingdom Council of Ministers, based on instructions received from the capital. The Kingdom Council of Ministers is an enlarged variant of the Dutch Council of Ministers, including the three Ministers Plenipotentiary, that meets regularly to discuss Kingdom affairs.
The current Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao, Ms. Marvelyne Wiels, is therefore an extension of Curaçao’s sitting Cabinet, and falls under the current Prime Minister of Curaçao, Dr. Bernard Whiteman of Pueblo Soberano or the Sovereign People’s Party.
Despite the Statute adopted in 2010, several grey areas remain. In large part, the new relationship is a balancing act – not just between the 16.8 million people who reside in the Netherlands and the 250,000 that live in the Caribbean countries, but because each country, as expected, has its own set of interests and challenges. Curaçao, for example, has a multi-sectoral economy that is primarily based on building relations in the region.
Although each of the countries within the Kingdom is allowed to enter into certain agreements on a country-level, in various fora, the Kingdom of the Netherlands remains the recognized partner, with King Willem Alexander as Head of State. “This complex structure has its advantages, namely the fact that we are able to build bridges and relationships in different ways, be it bilaterally, or multilaterally, as four countries or as a Kingdom.” (Minister Plenipotentiary Wiels, 2016)
Foreign policy development therefore requires intra-Kingdom cooperation on a policy-level, ensuring coherence and understanding for deviating interests and concerns.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands officially made its ‘One Kingdom, Four Countries’ debut in 2014, as the lobby for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council intensified. Together, the Kingdom built a multi-faceted lobby titled: ‘Your Partner for Peace, Justice and Development.’
The lobby highlighted so many different aspects of foreign policy, some that had a larger impact on the Netherlands like ‘Enhancing Security and Stability,’ and others, like ‘Advancing Inclusive Sustainable Growth’ that directly linked to the interests of Curaçao.
And the other Caribbean countries.
“…I kindly ask that you take a moment and think of the unique position of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with influence and ties to two very distinct regions: Europe and the Caribbean…Think about the potential that we possess to represent a truly international point of view, with two very different historical perspectives and diverging priorities.” (Prime Minister Whiteman, November 2015)
Since today most pressing issues transcend political boundaries, it is clear that within the Kingdom, all of our sails need to point in the same direction, especially when the tides continuously turn. The search for common ground must go on.
As we continue to prepare for a seat in the UN Security Council, and as the dynamic world of international relations continues to transform, the truth remains that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is stronger because of the joint lobby for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council. Reflecting on the lobby, it is clear that developing foreign policy priorities based on common ground will allow the Kingdom of the Netherlands to be a truly dynamic and relatable partner.
Despite the complexities of the Kingdom, the whole proved, once and for all, to be far greater than the sum of its parts.
As the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we remain, your partner for peace, justice and development.
——-
Photography by Paco Nunez.
It will be the civilian counterpart to the Warsaw Summit, dedicated to the support of the progress in the country by securing commitments until 2020, and will be attended by representatives from 70 countries and 30 international organizations and agencies. There will also be bilateral meetings on the sideline of the Conference, as well as two special side events on 4th October that will focus on the topics of Gender and Regional Economic Cooperation respectively.
Since 2001, Afghanistan and its partners have made significant investments and booked lots of achievements, but there are still a lot more that needs to be done. There are significant political, security and economic challenges. Strong partnerships are required to make sure that the current reforms take hold and that Afghanistan will reach its goal of achieving self-reliance in the Transformation Decade. Strong commitments from our international partners are needed to ensure that we root out terrorism and violent extremism; and that we build strong institutions that are able to deliver quality basic services to all citizens.
The achievements of the Warsaw NATO Summit of last July will become complete with an equally strong expression of support in Brussels: security and development go hand in hand – one cannot exist without the other.
——-
Photography MH Siddiqi .