By Dimitris Iliopoulos. “The Hague has undeniably earned over time the title of “the capital of peace and justice” by becoming the hub of a number of important International Organisations such as the Nobel Peace prize winner Organisation for the prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the Permanent Court of Arbitration and a number of Courts pertaining to specific country situations. It has also become the seat of a number of Regional organisations such as EUROPOL, EUROJUST, a.o. Therefore, one cannot be surprised by the big number of diplomatic missions residing there or being accredited in parallel from neighbouring countries, a clear manifestation of diplomatic importance in tandem with the political and economic importance of the host country, the Netherlands. The Treaty of Lisbon, which entered into force on 1 December 2009, has introduced a novelty aiming at ensuring the continuity and coherence of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP). In this light, the European External Action Service (EEAS) has been created along the model of a classical Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by the High Representative/Vice President of the European Commission to serve the goals of the CFSP/CSDP and to enhance their visibility and effectiveness. Former Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini is the HRVP since 2014. The EEAS is currently composed by 139 EU Delegations including those that are accredited to International Organisations and Agencies. For reasons pertaining to the organisational and budgetary circumstances prevailing at the time of the creation of the EEAS, no EU Delegation has been established in The Hague to represent the EU to the resident International Organisations. However, as important diplomatic and other international developments unfolded there, the need for an enhanced EU presence has become more than apparent. Relevant action to face this lacuna had been repeatedly voiced by EU Member States that missed the support of the EEAS as in other capitals around the world, the Secretariats and Administration of the International Organisations (especially those to which the EU is making significant voluntary contributions), by non-EU states that requested more interaction and last but not least by Academia and think-tanks. An example in point are the two publications by the esteemed Clingendael Institute, the second one bearing the creative title: “The cavalry has arrived”.

At some point and responding to the requirements of the OPCW due to the Syrian crisis, the EEAS hierarchy has decided in 2013 to start deploying an EU official (the undersigned) on a regular basis and by decision of HRVP Mogherini since 2015 on a permanent basis to follow and report on developments, to interact with the OPCW, EU and non-EU stakeholders and to prepare the basis for the opening of an appropriate permanent delegation whenever the budgetary and other circumstances will allow it. The level of ambition is to incrementally extend the cooperation to the Courts which the EU is generously supporting. The results of the enhanced presence have been very encouraging from the beginning. The level of cooperation with all stakeholders has reached new standards, in particular with OPCW during the critical period of the Syrian chemical weapons removal and destruction and beyond. The visibility of the EU relevant policies and action has become more tangible to non-EU diplomatic missions and the flow of information has been significantly reinforced. The EU Representative now participates in the rich programme of all mainstream diplomatic or state activities. The endeavour has been generously supported by the Dutch Authorities, including the Gemeenten and in particular the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which merits a loud expression of appreciation. The endeavour has the backing of the HRVP, who did not miss any opportunity to participate in important events in The Hague and to promote the visibility and supportive role of the EU. The work of the EU Representative to the OPCW is definitely complicated considering that the size of the task is simply enormous, especially in recent months where some interaction has started with other international or regional entities. Several positive steps can be recorded such as the fact that the EU Representative now has an office, collocated with the European Commission and the European Parliament in the famous Huis van Europa situated in Korte Vijverberg 6, near the Binnenhof. The EU Representative has also been granted Privileges and Immunities according to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Diplomatic accreditation with the organisations will be pursued. Of course the ultimate goal is the opening of a full-fledged EU Delegation whenever the circumstances will allow it. Only then the EU MS states, the International Organisations, the diplomatic community in The Hague and the EEAS itself will be able to take full advantage of the EU potential and interaction to the benefit of international peace, security and cooperation.”   “Dimitris Iliopoulos is Principal Advisor at the Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Arms export control Division (SEC POL 1) of the European External Action Service (EEAS). Before joining the EEAS he has served as Greek diplomat in ex-Yugoslavia, Turkey, Geneva (UN) and as Greek Ambassador to the UAE, Albania, Brussels (Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU). He was appointed as Head of the Geneva Liaison Office of the Council of the EU in 2008 and Deputy Head of the EU Delegation (UN) in Geneva (heading the disarmament section) in 2011. Since his return to the EEAS HQs in Brussels in 2012 he has dealt with various disarmament issues (notably Chemical weapons, the Syrian CW operation, etc) and since May 2015 he is the EU Representative to the Organisation of Chemical Weapons, while following the work of the other International Organisations in The Hague as well.”

By Barend ter Haar. Russia and the West are confronted with the same fundamental challenges: a relative decline of their geo-political position, global threats that require more international cooperation and internal pressures to withdraw from that. Because the countries of the West, Russia and Japan were the first to industrialize, they reached a level of development that gave them an enormous advantage on other countries and provided them with the opportunity to extend their power over the rest of the world. This period is now coming to an end. The countries of the South are catching up and the relative position of the countries of the North is declining. The USSR used to be one of the two global superpowers. The Russian Federation remains very important, but not necessarily more important than China, India or Brazil. Even the relative power of the United States is declining. The relative position of the countries of Western Europe is in continuous decline. Take for example the Netherlands. Between 1945 and 1975 it lost more than 97% of its territory. In 1962 it was one of the founding members of the G10, the group of ten most important Western industrialized countries, but in 1999 it did not receive an invitation to become a member of the global group of twenty countries, the G20. The war in Syria gives the impression that the world is still basically an anarchy. However, a comparison with the situation a century ago makes clear that it is an exception to the global trend in the direction of a rule-based global order. The wobbly international order that is slowly developing might to a large extent be an accidental result of globalisation rather than the consequence of a common vision of countries, but that makes it no less real. As technological and economical developments proceed, countries have no choice but to accept a growing acquis of rules, encompassing inter alia communication, international finance, trade, scientific standards, public health and environmental protection. Possibly the toughest challenge for both most Western countries and Russia is to engage in intensive international cooperation to deal with global challenges, while an important part of their population wants to go in opposite direction. What the movements that seek refuge in isolation have in common is that they blame “foreigners” for everything that goes wrong and therefore want to have as little as possible to do with the outside world. Typical examples are the Dutch referendum against an association agreement with Ukraine, the Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom and the rise of Donald Trump in the United States. Although blaming the outside world for everything that goes wrong is not a very fruitful long-term strategy, governments are tempted to sing to the tune of these groups, as they comprise a sizable part of the electorate. Both Russia and the West are tempted to seek refuge in antagonistic isolation instead of constructive engagement to adapt to a changing world order. However, in the longer run the only alternative for cooperation is self-mutilation.  

By Liu Po-liang, Commissioner, Criminal Investigation Bureau, Republic of China (Taiwan). Growing internationalization underlines the urgent need for Taiwan’s involvement in the global fight against transnational crime. The 2016 InterNations Expat Insider survey of more than 14,000 expatriates globally ranked Taiwan as the best destination in the world. About 34 percent of expats in Taiwan are extremely satisfied with their work environment, more than double the average ratio worldwide. With a population of 23 million, Taiwan is a major transportation hub and an important economic and trade center in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2014, it was listed second among the top-10 safest countries of the world. However, in order to sustain a high level of public security at a time when cybercrime and terrorism continue to spread, it is imperative for Taiwan to participate in Interpol and work together with law enforcement agencies worldwide.  Taiwan’s absence in Interpol affects global security. Taiwan became a member of Interpol in 1961 under the name the Republic of China, but was forced to withdraw in 1984 due to political factors. More than 30 years have passed since then, and at present only Taiwan and North Korea are excluded from the organization. However, Taiwan is vastly different from North Korea. The fact that Taiwan enjoys reciprocal visa waiver privileges with more than 100 other countries around the world indicates that the ROC passport might attract the attention of those engaged in transnational crime. Taiwan’s exclusion from Interpol—in effect denying it timely access to key intelligence as well as preventing it from participating in seminars and training workshops—creates a major loophole in the global security and counterterrorism network.  Taiwan requires Interpol assistance, while Interpol requires Taiwan to ensure a comprehensive security network. Taiwan is ready and willing to participate in global police endeavors in fighting crime. Since 2009, Taiwan police agencies have collaborated with counterparts overseas to resolve 235 cases and arrest more than 12,000 suspects involved in organized fraud as well as transnational trafficking of drugs and persons, including children. Although Taiwan police have spared no effort in combating transnational crime, their requests for Interpol assistance have met with little support, as reflected in the fact that a response was received in only 27 of 90 enquiries made in the first nine months of 2016. In a world shaped by globalization, an international security network that does not include Taiwan inevitably leads to higher law enforcement costs for all parties concerned. For example, only after Taiwan police had solved a US$2.2-million ATM heist perpetrated in the country by 22 foreign nationals in July 2016, did they realize that European nations were highly interested in the case when Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau was invited to discuss it at a special meeting convened by the European Police Office. However, Taiwan police were unable to promptly share information they had uncovered on more suspects in the upper echelons of the crime ring; nor were they able to gain access to intelligence they needed. As crime is no longer subject to geographical constraints, Taiwan’s exclusion from Interpol creates a major loophole in the prevention of international crime, becoming a cause of concern for countries worldwide. Politics should not override public security; we urge you to support Taiwan’s participation in Interpol as an observer. Taiwan’s police, as part of the global police community, have the obligation, responsibility, willingness, and capability to participate in Interpol and work jointly with other police forces around the world. So as to avoid sensitive political issues, Taiwan is willing to attend the Interpol General Assembly as an observer. Although participation in this annual event would not lead to direct and prompt exchanges of intelligence with member countries, or access to their crime databases, Taiwan’s attendance at various meetings and events would facilitate interaction and compensate for the current lack of intelligence exchanges. This could serve as an initial step to meet basic needs for transnational law enforcement cooperation, without touching on political issues. Fighting crime is the police’s mission and responsibility. As police officers, we should transcend geographical, ethnic, and political differences, so that the global police community can work in concert to ensure social justice. We urge you to speak up for Taiwan at relevant occasions and support its participation in Interpol.    

By Roy Lie A Tjam. It was on a pleasant autumn morning of early October 2016 when I had the pleasure to conduct a causerie with H.E. Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja under whose leadership the Embassy of Indonesia in The Hague has been since early 2016. As his name indicates, this father of two and husband to Rusdijana Puja, is of Royal descent. Ambassador Wesaka Puja aspires to register and take stock of all pieces of Indonesian arts in the Netherlands. Thereafter, the data collected will be used for issuing a handbook in order to preserve the whole collection for posterity – a truly noble objective. Ambassador Wesaka Puja hopes to see this aspiration, towards which he has already made great strides becoming a reality during his stint in The Hague. This much awaited handbook is already well in the pipeline. The project is funded by the Indonesian Embassy and external patrons. Over and above this burning desire, he envisages sharing Indonesian arts with the world, particularly the Netherlands. Ambassador Wesaka Puja has had a similar experience when he was his country’s envoy in Vienne (Austria) between 2010 and 2013. Upon discovering that the Völken Kunde Museum in Vienna had a great number of artworks from his native island of Bali professionally stored away in their basement and that the public had no access to the works unless with permission of the authorities, Ambassador Wesaka Puja got all of them registered. This resulted in two handsome volumes; one entitled Balinese Art in Transition and the other Maluku: Sharing Cultural Memory – a process which he played an instrumental role in. It must have been gratifying to Ambassador Wesaka Puja to find those humongous works of art. It is understandable why the Embassy of Indonesia in The Hague possesses such a sizeable collection of arts. The entrance of the Embassy is adorned by a picturesque statue of 13th century. Queen Gayatri Rajapatni of East Java It is known of Queen Gayatri Rajapatni that she established a Hindu kingdom in east Java, regardless of being a Buddhist. After her abdication, she retreated into a Buddhist monastery. She was so phenomenal and vigorous that got a Dutch scholar to write about her. Indonesia is made up of over 17000 islands and slightly over 600 of them are inhabited. All produce various types of art, of which an enormous amount ended up right here in the Netherlands. Currently, there are thousands of Indonesian pieces of art in the Netherlands’ musea. The musea and prominent locations where Indonesian arts can be found include: The Indonesian room at Paleis Noordeinde, which is the working office of H.M King Willem-Alexander. When the Indonesian President visited the Netherlands a few months ago, King Willem-Alexander proudly showed him this room containing sculptures and ceramic wares The National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden Museum Nusantara in Delft that closed in 2013 due to a substantial decline in foot traffic. All the Indonesian works of art that were available in this museum have been packed and are ready to be dispatched to Indonesia. Museum Nusantara was founded as an educational institution to train Dutch civil servants for the colony in order to give the prospective civil servants an idea of their future environment. Officials and alumni in Indonesia sent objects from all over the country. These were primarily utensils and samples of crafts. Later on, art objects from individuals and collectors were also donated to Museum Nusantara. Museum Bronbeek in Arnhem. Ambassador Wesaka Puja is evidently an aesthete with a passion for both visual arts and performing arts. However, he modestly refers to himself as a layman with only an avid interest in arts. ‘Just as sport is able to unite people from all walks of life, the art of dance is also capable of uniting,’ he asserted. It is because of this that he has recently made a personal contribution to a Gamelan Concert that was held in Amsterdam and featured the Balinese mask-dance. ‘Dancing is rendering to God,’ he continued. A huge Bali Hindu temple Pairi Daiza in Paradiso Park in Belgium. Mask dance. Tari Topeng dance Pasar Raya Fair, edition 2017, it is envisaged to dedicate part of this event to the Keris the Indonesian Royal dagger. Participation will be open to exhibitors from Indonesia, The 2016 edition focused on wajang dolls. There are a few Royal Kris in Vienna which at some point may have to be returned to their rightful owners in Indonesia. These are the upcoming and past events for 2016: Jazz festival        13 – 14 October Indonesian Week 07 – 10 November at Markthal, Rotterdam Film festival       17 – 20 November at Wolff Catharijn Bioskoop, in Utrecht It was an enormous pleasure meeting the cordial personality of H.E. Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja. We wish him the best of luck with his great undertakings.    

Activities of the Ibero-American Institute of The Hague for Peace, Human Rights and International Justice (IIH) in 2017 By Hector Olasolo Alonso. The activities of the Ibero-American Institute of The Hague for Peace, Human Rights and International Justice in 2017 will be as follows:  

1. The I Polyphonic Day on International Justice will take place on Wednesday June 7, 2017 from 11h00 to 19h30 in the auditorium of The Hague University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands). There will be three round-table discussions with speakers from Sub-saharian Africa, Arabic countries, China, Ibero-America and Russia on the following topics: a) “Pros and Cons of the election of the Permanent Court of Arbitrage as a forum to develop arbitrage between interventionists and states”; (b) “the relation between the concepts of sovereignty and responsibility to protect” and (c) “ the relation between national jurisdictions and international criminal jurisdictions in light of the concepts of sovereignty and the responsibility to protect”. The I Polyphonic Day is organized in partnership with The Hague Peace and Justice Project of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands, The Hague University for Applied Sciences, the Chinese Initiative on International Law (CIIL) and the Center of International and Comparative Law of the Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia). No previous registration is required to attend this event.

 

2. The IV Seminar of Ibero-American Thinking on International Justice will take place in The Hague from June 5-9, 2017. The IV Ibero-American Seminar will consist of the following activities:

Visits to the International Court of Justice, Permanent Court of Arbitration, International Criminal Court, International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as well as presentations from other international organizations with headquarters in The Hague. I Polyphonic Day of International Justice (in English), June 7, 2017 from 11h00 to 19h30 in the auditorium of The Hague University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands). Hague Talks Session on Victims of International Crimes (in English), organized by the Municipality of The Hague and the Academic Coalition of The Hague on Wednesday June 7, 2017 from 20h00 to 21h30 at the Humanity House of the Municipality of The Hague. Round-table Discussions with Ibero-American speakers on International Justice Issues (in Spanish and Portuguese), Tuesday June 6, 2017 from 16h00 to 19h00, and Wednesday June 7, 2017 from 8h30 to 11h00 in the Speakers´ Corner of The Hague University of Applied Sciences(in Spanish and Portuguese). Presentations on June 8 and 9, 2017 by Members of the Interdisciplinary Research Network on Ibero-American Epistemological Perspective of Justice, Coordinated by the Ibero-American Institute of The Hague (in Spanish and Portuguese). The presentation will address issues concerning international justice from different branches of humanities and social sciences (anthropology, economy, international law, international relations, national law, philosophy, political science, psychology, science and technology and theology). Presentations will take place from 8h00 to 20h00 on June 8, 2017, and from 8h00 to 13h00 on June 9, 2017, in the Speakers´ Corner of The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Except for the I Polyphonic Day and Hague Talks Session, Registration is needed to participate in the other activities of the IV Seminar of Ibero-American Thinking on International Justice (open until May 15, 2017). For more information or to register for the event contact: inscripcionesIIH@gmail.com. You can also visit: http://www.iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org/es/actividades/seminario-de-pensamiento-iberoamericano ; and http://www.iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org/es/actividades/dia-polifonico-de-la-justicia-internacional  

3. The III Annual Meeting of the Interdisciplinary Research Network on Ibero-American Epistemological Perspective of Justice will take place Friday, June 9 from 14h30 to 19h00 in The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Participation requires prior invitation.
4. The V ICC Moot Court in Spanish (2017) has the following key dates: (i) publishing of answers to explanatory questions on December 5, 2016 (ii) registration period will be open until April 3, 2017; (iii) deadline for briefs from the Prosecution, Legal Representatives of the Victims and the Defense (until April 12 2012); and (iv) audiences in The Hague, including the final in Courtroom I of the International Criminal Court Chamber (from May 29 to June 2, 2017). To register or request more information, please contact:cpiconcursoiih@gmail.com. The public announcement for the V Edition of the ICC Moot Court in Spanish, the case, the rules of procedure and other relevant documents can be found in following link:

http://www.iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org/es/actividades/concurso-de-simulacion-judicial-sobre-la-cpi

5. VII Ibero-American Week of International Justice will take place in The Hague (The Netherlands) from May 29 until June 9, 2017. The VII Ibero-American Week of International Justice includes among other activities the ones referred to above in 1 to 4. For more information on the VII Ibero-American Week of International Justice contact: info@iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org , or visit the IIH web page:

http://www.iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org/es/actividades/semana-iberoamericana-de-la-justicia-internacional-y-los-derechos-humanos

6. The VI edition (2017) of the Blattmann, Odio Benito and Steiner Essay Competition on International Criminal Law. Essays should deal with topics related to international criminal justice. They should have between 8,000 and 10,000 words. The deadline for the submission of articles will be June 30, 2017. The winner of the essay competition will be invited to present his/her essay at the VIII Ibero-American Week of International Justice (June 2018). Costs of travel and lodging in The Hague will be covered by the organizers of the Essay Competition. Upon the decision of the international jury, finalists’ essays may be published in the VI Volume of ANIDIP. For more information on the essay competition contact: iih.certamensayos@gmail.com. The Public Announcement of the VI Edition of the Essay Competition (2017) can be downloaded from the IIH Web site:

http://www.iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org/es/actividades/certamen-de-ensayos-blattmann-odio-benito-y-steiner

7. The IV Edition of the Internship Program for undergraduate students (2017) at the International Legal Clinic organized by the University of El Rosario (Colombia) and the IIH. Applications are welcome on an ongoing basis. For more information about this program that takes place in Bogota and The Hague, please contact info@iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org, or visit the IIH Web Site:

http://www.iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org/es/actividades/clinica-internacional-sobre-derecho-internacional-penal-y-humanitario

8. The III Edition of the Research Program for university professors, PhD candidates and post-graduate students at the International Legal Clinic (2017). Applications are welcome on an ongoing basis. For more information about this program that takes place in Bogota and The Hague, please contact info@iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org, o visit the IIH Web Site:

http://www.iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org/es/actividades/clinica-internacional-sobre-derecho-internacional-penal-y-humanitario

9. Volume IV (2016) of the Ibero-American Journal of International Criminal Law (Anuario Iberoameriano de Derecho Internacional Penal – ANIDIP) is available for download:

http://www.iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org/es/formacion-e-investigacion/anidip-anuario-ibero-americano-sobre-derecho-internacional-penal/volumenes/anidip-volumen-4-2016 Volume V of ANIDIP should be available in March 2017. Presently we are accepting for Volume VI (to be published in January 2018), articles (8,000 to 10,000 words) until July 31, 2017 on peace, armed conflict, serious violations of human rights and international crimes, international justice (particularly international criminal law) and transitional justice, written from the perspective of any branch of humanities and social sciences. To submit articles or for more information, contact: info@iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org, o visit the IIH web site: http://www.iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org/es/formacion-e-investigacion/anidip-anuario-ibero-americano-sobre-derecho-internacional-penal/convocatorias-y-normas-de-publicacion

10. Finally, we have uploaded a number of conferences from previous editions of the Ibero-American Week of International Justice to the IIH website, that can be used for teaching purposes:

http://www.iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org/es/actividades/materiales-audiovisuales-para-uso-docente ——————– Hector Olasolo Alonso, IIH Chairman, Chair in International Law, El Rosario University (Colombia) Ad Hoc Professor, The Hague University for Applied Sciences, Director, Iberoamerican Journal of International Criminal Law (ANIDIP – Anuario Iberoamericano de Derecho Internacional Penal).    

By Jhr. Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland LL.M.   On September 29th 2016 the well known British human rights organisation REDRESS opened a new office in The Hague. REDRESS was founded in the United Kingdom in 1992 by Keith Carmichael, a British survivor of torture. He was detained without charge and tortured for 857 days in the 1980’s. When he was released, he decided to establish REDRESS to work to eradicate the practice of torture, prosecute torturers and ensure that survivors of torture obtain reparation for all the harm they suffered. This remains REDRESS’ focus till today. REDRESS is a non-governmental organisation (NGO). The Hague, as the epicentre for international justice work, is a natural fit for REDRESS, and builds on REDRESS’ long experience of collaborating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other international justice institutions on issues such as victim participations and reparation in criminal trials. ‘As an internationally focussed organisation it is important for REDRESS to have a base in a city as The Hague and a country like The Netherlands that best exemplifies that outlook’, as REDRESS wrote in a press release. Juergen Schurr, Head Law and Policy at REDRESS: ‘We are delighted by the warm welcome and have been amazed by the degree of professional extensive support and encouragement we have received from the City of The Hague and its partners. It underscores to us that we have made a great decision to join to the vibrant international community in The Hague’. REDRESS has ambitious plans to extend its collaborations with organisations worldwide to address the scourge of torture. Their presence in The Hague will help to strenghten ties with ICC, NGO partners, court officials and the diplomatic, legal and academic community in The Hague. It will also help extend their work with the European Union’s Network of Contact Points on Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes, whose Secretariat is also based in The Hague. The City of The Hague extends a warm welcome to REDRESS ! ——— About the author: Jhr. Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland LL.M. , Justice (Judge) in the (Dutch) Court of Appeal and honorary Special Advisor International Affairs, appointed by the Mayor and Aldermen of The Hague a.beelaerts@planet.nl