On the picture H.E. Moses Mosé Ambassador of Solomon Islands, Permanent Representative Peter Javorčík from Slovakia to the EU and Director for Migration and Mobility, Belinda Pyke.By Henri Estramant.Friday, 7 October 2016, Brussels: On behalf of the Solomon Islands, HE Ambassador Moses Kouni Mosé, signed an agreement for a short-stay visa waiver programme with the Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the EU, HE Ambassador Peter Javorčík (rotating presidency of the European Council) and the Director for Migration and Mobility, Belinda Pyke at the Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs. The visa waiver regime provides for visa-free travel for EU citizens when travelling to the territory of the Solomon Islands, and reciprocally for Solomon Islanders when travelling to the EU for a period of stay of 90 days in any 180-day period.Solomon Islands thus joins the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, the Independent State of Samoa, the Kingdom of Tonga, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of Kiribati and Tuvalu for the visa-free travel to the EU.H.E. Moses Mosé Ambassador of Solomon Islands, Permanent Representative Peter Javorčík from Slovakia to the EU and Director for Migration and Mobility, Belinda Pyke.The Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom are not be subject to the application of the agreement, in accordance with the protocols annexed to the EU treaties. Therefore the visa regime to these member states remains subject to their national legislation.
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Photography by the EU.
President Meron delivers a lecture at an ICRC Regional IHL Course for Arab Diplomats in Abu DhabiThe Hague, 13 October – The President of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT), Judge Theodor Meron, on Wednesday, 12 October 2016, delivered a lecture on the Criminal Repression of International Humanitarian Law Violations: Lessons from the International Criminal Justice Mechanisms at the Regional International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Course for Arab Diplomats, in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. The Course, co-organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, gathered international legal experts and regional Arab diplomats to discuss the role and application of international humanitarian law.
President Meron highlighted the key role played by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in strengthening the understanding of IHL principles and norms in the context of international proceedings by helping to “elucidate the contours and character of that law in meaningful ways—ways that resonate far beyond the proceedings and even the courts directly at issue”.
President Meron further emphasized the contribution of the two Tribunals not only to the repression of violations of IHL, but also to compliance with IHL and noted that “the ICTY and ICTR have been at the forefront of articulating and clarifying the elements of crimes and the various modes of individual criminal responsibility. In doing so, they have strengthened the protections afforded by IHL by helping to make the parameters of responsibility and duty clearer”.
In closing, President Meron reflected upon the importance of upholding the principles of individual criminal responsibility and respect for the rule of law in the global effort towards replacing a culture of impunity with a culture of accountability. He further underscored that “[e]very effort should be made to support courts—whether national, regional or international—seeking to ensure individual accountability for violations of IHL”.
The event was part of an annual series of courses, convened by the ICRC, with
Her Excellency Mirsada Čolaković was appointed as Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and permanent representative to the OPCW in 2016, she presented her letters of credentials to His Majesty Willem Alexander, King of the Netherlands, on the 5th of October 2016.
Mirsada Čolaković is a native speaker of Bosnian,
Croatian and Serbian, speaks English fluently and has working knowledge of
German and Russian.
Her Excellency graduated from her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and
Sociology at the University of Sarajevo in 1980, following up with a Master of
Arts in Philosophy at the University of Belgrade. She went on to complete
post-graduate studies in EU Institutions and Lobbying at the Institute for
European Studies (IES) in Brussels.
In the 1990’s, Mirsada Čolaković served various roles for the Bosnian
government. She started out in 1994 as Advisor for Multilateral Relations at
the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Benelux – liaison Mission to NATO
and the EU in Brussels. She then assumed the same role for the Presidency of
Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
From 1999 to 2000, H.E. Ms Čolaković was Acting Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the Office of the Deputy Foreign Minister in Sarajevo.
From 2000 and for the next two years, Mirsada Čolaković moved to Greece
as Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Athens.
Before her post in The Netherlands, Her Excellency had a long career in
the United States. First, as the Head of Political Department and Deputy Chief
of Mission at the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Washington, DC. Then, as
Deputy Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN from 2005,
moving up to Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2012 to
2016.
Action against an organised criminal group involved in thefts of luxury carsOn 11 October, a joint action day run by French and German police authorities, and supported by Eurojust with a coordination centre, succeeded in stopping an international organised criminal group (OCG) involved in thefts of luxury cars.The modus operandi of the OCG shows that the suspects broke into car owners’ private homes to steal their car keys. The suspects played different roles in the OCG, ranging from stealing the cars, forging identity documents, and driving the vehicles to Germany.The investigation started in June 2016, when a Roma camp was dismantled in northern France. The investigation revealed links to other cases in which the French authorities of the Tribunal de Grande Instance (TGI) Le Havre investigated two car thefts, and discovered that the cars were stolen in France and sold to customers in Germany for low prices. Between 2012 and 2015, 17 car thefts were under investigation by JIRS Lille, France. The OCG is allegedly involved in the theft of an estimated 100 cars meant for resale in Germany.Eurojust provided support at various stages of the investigation, offering the opportunity for France and Germany to discuss and elaborate a common judicial strategy and find the most efficient response. Two coordination meetings were organised by and held at Eurojust in 2016. A joint investigation team (JIT) was formed between France and Germany in January 2016, with Eurojust providing funding for the JIT, enabling long-term cooperation and coordinated covert operations, which eventually led to the planning of the joint action day. Europol supported the action day by being present in Germany and France.Eurojust’s support proved crucial in dismantling the OCG, speeding up the entire operation and facilitating information exchange between the authorities involved.Figures at a glance:
By Joe Ray.Food, music and the autumn sunshine were enjoyed by thousands on 3 September as the annual Embassy Festival returned to Laange Voorhout in The Hague. For additional Roy Strik’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157675051434175Ambassador of Russia, H.E. Alexander Shulgin, Ambassador of Vietnam, H.E. Nguyên Vãn Doàn, H.E. Ittiporn Boonpracong, Ambassador of Thailand, H.E. Willys Delvalle, Ambassador of Panama, H.E. Dziunik Aghajanian, Ambassador of Armenia, the Ambassador of Japan H.E. Hiroshi Inomata, EH.E. Dr. Brett Manson, Ambassador of Australia, the Ambassador of Burundi, H.E. Vestine Nahimana, Judge Alexander Belaers, H.E. Tony Aidoo, Ambassador of Ghana, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Abdulaziz Abohaimed and Deputy Mayor Ms Ingrid van Engelshoven.The 2016 edition of this vibrant international event was bigger and more animated than ever. The festival strives to bring a wave of global culture to The Hague, and this year’s festivities did not disappoint.Video by Mirza Kamram:
Forty-three embassies participated, each proudly showcasing the best of their national cuisine and culture. More than 50 artists performed across three stages, while dozens of national costumes formed a moving patchwork of colour beneath the trees.
Throughout the day, the famous boulevard heaved with visitors – some 35,000 came to enjoy the occasion.
Crowds thronged cheerily from stand to stand, enjoying ice cream from the Philippines or pausing to sample wine from Azerbaijan.
Hundreds gathered to appreciate an energetic display of traditional Rwandan dancing, while visitors to the Russian stand were treated to authentic pastila sweets from a traditional recipe unchanged for centuries.
In the afternoon, ambassadors and dignitaries gathered in a function room of the splendid Des Indes Hotel for a reception.
His Excellency Dr Brett Mason, Ambassador of Australia.
His Excellency Dr Brett Mason, Ambassador of Australia to the Netherlands, delivered a short address to guests in which he highlighted ‘Aussie Oktober’ – an embassy initiative which celebrates the close Australian-Dutch relationship and marks 400 years since Dirk Hartog became the first European to land on the West Australian coast.
The Ambassador added that Australians and Dutch enjoy shared futures and dreams, and that the countries’ bilateral relationship is strong and enduring.
Deputy Mayor of The Hague Ingrid van Engelshoven observed in her remarks that the Embassy Festival continues to grow each year. As well as providing entertainment, she explained, the festival helps promote The Hague’s ideals of peace and justice, which begin with people getting to know each other.
Mrs Ingrid van Engelshoven, Deputy Mayor of The Hague.
Following the reception, invitees returned to the Laange Voorhout where the festival continued into the evening.
This October, the Australian Embassy is bringing Down Under to the Lowlands!
AussieOktober will be a month of events in The Netherlands commemorating and celebrating Australia’s historic links to The Netherlands and marking 400 years since the Dutch Skipper, Dirk Hartog, and his crew become the first Europeans to make a recorded landfall on the West Australian coast.
You Join upcoming events around The Netherlands in October!
For information please contact:austemb_thehague@dfat.gov.au
Consul Pascal Van Dieren, Ambassador Claude-France Arnould, Mayor Bart de Wever.
Friday, 23 September 2016, Flanders: France’s novel Honorary Consul in Antwerp, Mr Pascal Van Dieren, presented his exequatur at a reception in his honour at Antwerp’s City Hall.
Antwerp’s mayor Bart De Wever delivered an allocution in the French language highlighting the importance of the Port of Antwerp for France, even wittily stating that the latter is “France’s chief port”. HE Ambassador Claude-France Arnould reciprocated with a grateful speech held in Dutch, a language she masters after living for the last fifteen years in Belgium and being an educated in Germanic studies.
Reception for Honorary Consul Pascal Van Dieren at Antwerp’s City Hall.
Ms Marie-Christine Butel, General Consul of France headquartered in Brussels as well as Mr Philippe Cordery, French’s MP in the Benelux, were equally present during the reception.
For more information:
French consulates in Belgium: http://www.consulfrance-bruxelles.org/Consuls-honoraires-653
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Pictures by French Embassy of France to Belgium.
From left to right: Mr. Philippe Courard, President of the Parliament of the Federation Wallonia-Brussels, Ms. Ankie Broekers-Knol, President of the Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal (Senate), Mr. Marc Clairbois, Wallonia-Brussels Delegate in The Netherlands.The Day of Wallonia and of the Federation Wallonia-Brussels was celebrated in The Hague. At the invitation of the Wallonia-Brussels Delegate in The Netherlands, Marc Clairbois, and his spouse, a reception was held on the 29th of September in the Hotel des Indes. Among the guests figured members of the corps diplomatique, representatives of several Ministries, Dutch partner-associations and numerous Belgians working and living in The Netherlands.Speech by Mr. Philippe Courard.Mister Philippe Courard, President of the Parliament of the Federation Wallonia-Brussels, exceptionally honoured the reception with his presence.In his speech, Marc Clairbois underlined several success stories in the cooperation between The Netherlands and French-speaking Belgium.Earlier this year for example, the Minsters of Culture of The Netherlands and the Walloon-Brussels Federation signed a coproduction agreement for films. Cinematographic productions of Walloon and Brussels film directors are already well represented in the main festivals in The Netherlands.Wallonia and Federation Wallonia-Brussels’ Day in The Hague.Marc Clairbois, also mentioned exchange programmes aimed at youngsters and students. Each year, several Dutch language assistants are sent to Wallonia and Brussels, whereas French language assistants come in from Belgium. Scholarships are offered to foreign excellent researchers in the key economic sectors of Wallonia. In 2016, a group of young legal experts benefitted for the first time from scholarships for the “Summer Course in International Private and Public Law” organised by the Hague Academy of International Law. The promotion of the French language remains one of the main objectives. For this matter, a Group of Francophone Ambassadors was created in 2014. This Group was presided during two years by Belgium and the Federation Wallonia-Brussels.As a closing remark, Marc Clairbois also mentioned the upcoming state visit of the Belgian royal couple to The Netherlands in November 2016. The Regions and Communities of Belgium are actively involved in the preparations of this visit, most specifically in the economic, academic and cultural activities that will take place.The presence of a jazz band and several regional products from Wallonia ensured a festive atmosphere. The musicians paid a special tribute to the lately deceased Belgian jazz musician Toots Thielemans.
Taipei, ROC: President Tsai Ing-wen called on China to engage in constructive talks, pledging to maintain peace with the island’s giant neighbour in spite of a near five-month impasse after Beijing halted official communications with the self-ruled island. The utterances came during the president’s National Day address. The full text to her National Day address can be read at: http://english.president.gov.tw/Default.aspx?tabid=491&itemid=38133&rmid=2355——
President Tsai Ing-wen – Picture by Office of the President of the ROC (Taiwan)
Crowds thronged cheerily from stand to stand, enjoying ice cream from the Philippines or pausing to sample wine from Azerbaijan.
Hundreds gathered to appreciate an energetic display of traditional Rwandan dancing, while visitors to the Russian stand were treated to authentic pastila sweets from a traditional recipe unchanged for centuries.
In the afternoon, ambassadors and dignitaries gathered in a function room of the splendid Des Indes Hotel for a reception.
Deputy Mayor of The Hague Ingrid van Engelshoven observed in her remarks that the Embassy Festival continues to grow each year. As well as providing entertainment, she explained, the festival helps promote The Hague’s ideals of peace and justice, which begin with people getting to know each other.
