Queen Ana of Romania. By the Press Office of HM King Mihai I of Romania. Queen Ana of Romania died on 1 August 2016 at the hospital in Morges (Swiss Confederation) at 1.45 p.m. Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu, Princess Elena, Princess Sophie and Princess Marie were at the Queen’s bedside. His Majesty King Mihai I was with the Queen at the hospital every day of the last week. Father Charlemagne, vicar of the Catholic Parish of Morges, administered the last rites to the late Queen. According to the tradition of the Romanian royal funerals, the late Queen will lie in state for a day in the Hall of Honour of Peles Castle, then for a day in the Throne Room of the Royal Palace in Bucharest. The burial will take place in the New Cathedral of Curtea de Argeș.  The last royal funeral in Romania was Queen Marie’s, which took place on 24 July 1938. According to the wishes of His Majesty King Mihai I, Queen Ana’s funeral will respect the tradition of her predecessors. Books of condolence are opened at Peleș Castle, the Royal Palace (in Calea Victoriei) and Elisabeta Palace. They will be available to the public for the next 40 days. Online condolences may be sent to http://www.familiaregala.ro/mesaje/ All those who wish to bring flowers or lay wreaths are invited to do so at the Royal Palace in Calea Victoriei, in front of the main entrance. The Romanian Government declared 13 August 2016 as Day of National Mourning. On this day, all institutions, central and local public authorities, will fly the flag at half mast.  Flags will also be flown at half mast at the headquarters of political parties, trade unions, employers organizations, schools of all degrees, cultural institutions and all diplomatic missions of Romania abroad, border crossing units, airports, ports, railway stations, as well as ships under Romanian Pavilion. The same obligation applies to private persons flying the Government of Romania flag at their private residence. On the recommendation of the Government, the National Radio and National Television, as well as cultural institutions, will adapt their programmes accordingly. For further information:  Romanian Royal House: http://familiaregala.ro Communiqué of the French Embassy to Romania on the passing of Queen Ana of Romania: http://www.ambafrance-ro.org/Message-de-condoleances-suite-au-deces-de-la-reine-Anne-de-Roumanie News on the passing: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/08/01/queen-anne-of-romania–obituary/ http://wtop.com/world/2016/08/romania-declares-day-of-mourning-for-wife-of-deposed-king/  Photography by  familiaregala.ro.  

By Baron Henri Estramant. 28 July 2016, Lima, Republic of Peru: HE President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski was inaugurated as  Head of the Peruvian State and the Supreme Commander of the Peruvian Armed Forces. He was the candidate of the party he founded in 2014, namely Peruanos por el Kambio (Peruvians for Change). The intentional spelling “Kambio” au lieu of “Cambio” (“change” in Spanish) was meant to make the party hold the same initials as its leader. Kuczynski won 21 % of the popular vote in Peru’s general elections on April 10 to qualify for a runoff wherein he triumphed with 50,12 % of the cast ballots. At the age of 23 Kuczynski was hired by the World Bank. Later, however, he returned to Peru to work for the country’s central bank. In 1980, he was named energy and mining minister by then President Fernando Belaund. Likewise he served as economy and mining minister twice, from 2001 to 2002 and again from 2004 to 2005. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski is a centre-right politician who believes in the free market. He aspires to create a more equal society and fight against corruption. On the international stage, he wishes to improve relations with neighbouring Chile, which have at times been tense owing to a dispute over their maritime borders. The country has two missions in the Benelux countries: one accredited to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg with seat in Brussels and led by HE Ambassador Cristina Ronquillo de Blödorn. In The Netherlands there is one mission accredited to the latter country as well as to the OPCW and headed by HE Ambassador Carlos Herrera Rodríguez. For further information: Presidency of the Republic of Peru: http://www.presidencia.gob.pe Peruanos por el Kambio: http://ppk.pe  

Statement from the OPCW Director-General on Recent Media Reports of Chemical Weapons Use in Syria Recent media reports have highlighted the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria. These reports are of great concern. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) continues to examine any credible reports it receives including pertinent information that might be shared by States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Director-General of the OPCW recalled, “States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention deem the use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances as reprehensible and wholly contrary to the legal norms established by the international community”.