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 2017By 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:
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.
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
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.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
Volume IV (2016) of the Ibero-American Journal of International Criminal Law (Anuario Iberoameriano de Derecho Internacional Penal – ANIDIP) is available for download:
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:
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 !
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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 Haguea.beelaerts@planet.nl
If you ever saw her, even just once, you would never forget this elegant lady in great silky broader dresses; she often uses roses in her shiny black hair or patterned into the designs of her clothes. With the serenity of a master, she enters the stage and sings and plays like an angel; and of course, after all that you may be led to believe a famous artist is visiting The Hague.
Of course this is all true but the lady on the stage beside the Ambassador of Bangladesh, is in fact his wife, Dr Dilruba Nasrin, an epidemiologist and a medical doctor involved in teaching and scientific research in Asia and Africa, as a faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the United States.
Since 2006, Dr Nasrin has been coordinating an epidemiological study of the diarrhoeal disease burden in Asia and Africa, in coordination with the University of Maryland, and supported by the Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation. She frequently travels to the United States but also to Mali, Kenya, Gambia, Mozambique, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, she has been working for children health throughout her professional life.
Her work has been published extensively since 1999 in international medical reviews, mainly concerning the use and resistance of antibiotics, children pulmonary diseases and the diarrhoeal epidemic; the microorganism, spread, treatment and immunological response.
Dr Nasrin’s passionate career and her duty beside her husband are more than a little demanding; H.E. Sheik Mohammed Belal said: “She is an amazing woman and I consider myself extremely lucky to have her on my side.”
What are your long-term goals?
I guess, I can summarize my short-term, long-term or my life-time goal into one word and it is “happiness”. I like to spread happiness around me within my limited capacity. I know happiness is not something ready-made; one has to work hard to achieve it. I have quite a few passions, so I try to balance my time between my family and my passions. But if you ask me if I can single out my main passion, it would be working with children. Being a researcher in child health, most of my professional life I worked with children, a major part of my work part is devoted to children in developing countries.
At work in Bamako,. Mali.
I grew up in Bangladesh, therefore I am aware of the challenges that a child may face in developing countries to enjoy the basic childhood needs. I believe that every child should have the opportunity to grow up healthy. In order to see that happen I have been engaged in programs to improve the health and wellbeing of children. I believe a multi-sector partnership approach that includes health, education and social services that could make a difference.
How do you combine your professional career with being the spouse of an ambassador?
It is not easy to maintain a full time job while being a spouse with lot of ceremonial demands. But you can do that as long as you are passionate about them. I learnt to combine many different roles early on in life, I had my daughter in the midst of tough study in medical school. Then I started my PhD in Epidemiology with my 8 month old son. If there is a challenge I don’t like to complain, instead I like to take it on board. I continued my study, my profession, and my family life without compromising the best care for my children.
Dr Nasrin, hospital in Bamako, Mali. Photographer Adama Mamby Keita.
Currently, I am a full-time research professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. I am fortunate that I could manage remote work arrangements for my job, but I still have to travel frequently to Africa, Asia and USA, but being wife of an Ambassador is not less than a full time job! I stand by my husband to organize all the national events, participate in the other diplomatic events in the Netherlands, and also be an active member of Ambassador’s Spouse Association.
If my time permits, I also participate in the events organized by the International Women Club, The Hague. I try to organize my calendar long ahead to help me doing all those jobs. On the top of everything I do, I am a proud mother of two beautiful children, who are studying in the USA. I am a passionate Mother when it comes to anything related to my children.
What events do you organise or participate in with the diaspora or the diplomatic community?
I take part in organizing all the Bangladesh national events including International Mothers Language Day, National Day, Bengali New Year Day, Children’s Day and Victory Day. In every event I always make sure that there is a part devoted to the children. The reason is our children, who are growing up abroad, may not have the environment to practice our mother tongue and culture. I try to inspire our mother tongue at home, so that our children will continue our heritage. In every country we lived in I engaged myself in children’s forum for language, music and dance. We invite other countries to participate in our programs as I believe in the concept of universal community.
Dr Dilruba Nasrin.
Would you please elaborate on what you mean by universal community?
In this globalised world any violation of rights in one part of the world is bound to be felt in another part. As a working health activist, when I visit developing countries I could almost see it with my eyes how deprivation in one part of the world is hampering peace and development in other parts of the world. Had the developed world invested enough for more vigorous researches in diseases, which mostly affect the developing world, like diarrohea, malaria, typhoid, etc, we could have saved thousands, if not millions, of lives. This realisation made me convinced to work for a universal community where we will work as a member of this globalised world.
How advanced are your investigations?
My current study is vaccine impact on diarrhoea in Africa, which started a year ago and it has two more years to go. This study represents an extension of our previous study named Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS). GEMS is the largest study of the diarrhoeal disease in children ever conducted in developing country settings. As you may know many different bacteria, viruses and other pathogens cause diarrhoeal disease. The objective of GEMS was to prioritize and target interventions to reduce the global burden of diarrhoeal diseases. Key findings from GEMS were published in the Lancet in May 2013.
The study identified only four out of ~40 pathogens that were responsible for the majority of diarrhoea cases. The leading pathogen of diarrhoea was rotavirus in young children. Vaccine against rotavirus recently rolled out in developing countries. Our ongoing study aims to assess the impact of a rotavirus vaccine introduction on the epidemiology of diarrhoea, and the adverse consequences of diarrhoea, like death and malnutrition in children.
I would like to hear your views on supporting your country with your husband and how your work will benefit Bangladesh and the developing world.
My husband considers his tenure in the Netherlands as a “water pilgrimage” and I strongly support his view. Bangladesh has many common aspects with the Netherlands, especially when it comes to water, as both are delta countries. My country progressed over the years and made a huge success with regards to women in education, lower infant and maternal mortality. However because of the geographical location of the country in between world’s three largest river systems (Ganges-Brahmaputra, Meghna), my country is still struggling with flooding every year.
The Netherlands made it possible to make their own country flood free for many years. There are many things to learn from the Netherlands, including preventing flood and natural disasters, land reclamation etc.
I hardly miss any opportunity to accompany my husband when he traverses this country, in search of clues for innovations and creativity that could be replicated in Bangladesh. I try to complement his effort, as he is trying to develop his Embassy as a virtual bridge for knowledge transfer between our two countries and businesses.
One aspect, I wish to emphasize though is how impressed I am with the academic quality and quantum of academic activities in the Netherlands. This is why, I wonder, at times, how we could best connect our educational institutions with that of the Netherlands. So, I am always there, along with my husband, to make this academic connectivity the best we can. I believe, of all the hats I wear, the one of an academic charm must be increased.
As we live in this beautiful country and among all these beautiful people, it is easy to forget that there are still far too many children, mostly in the developing world, who do not have access to the essential health services they need to merely survive. So, whenever, I get opportunity I try to engage in discussion with our friends to create awareness. Given the monumental advances that have been made in public health, most of these diseases are preventable and curable.
If we could do little bit more to give all children the chance they deserve. Let me quote Bono to conclude: “Where you live should not determine whether you live”. I wish I could do more but, at the end of the day, I am also a woman from developing world. This is not my excuse, but my resolve.
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Photography by Marian van Noort for Diplomat Magazine.
By Duke Michael of Mecklenburg.Get ready for the third edition: The Grand Tulipsball is coming again in 2017!After two successful balls in the first halves of 2015 and 2016, now the Tulipsball Committee announced the third edition of the only Dutch Ball in the Netherlands, besides the Austrian Wiener Ball. However, the 2017 edition will be again in a different city of the Netherlands. This time the Dutch capital Amsterdam was chosen to be the place for the Tulips festivities. The ball weekend starts on Friday 31st of March 2017 and closes on Sunday the 2nd of April 2017. As all Grand Ball Weekends it starts with the Eintanzen, the pre-party to get all your dancing steps fine-tuned. The word Eintanzen literally means warm-up-dancing. This introduction will be at the Koninklijke Industrieele Groote Club. Of course, the evening is also meant to get to know one another, as this ball is truly international.Furthermore, on Saturday until 14 o’clock the Dutch culture will be experienced by the traditional casual sightseeing tour by boat through the Amsterdam canals and a lunch at Café de Jaren, classic amongst Amsterdam’s cafés. Then it is already time to get slowly ready for the ball guests, as at 18 o’clock the ball evening starts at the Grand location, the Koepelkerk. A little less than an hour later, the Grand Tulipsball is finally opened by Clemens van Steijn, the head of the Ball Committee. Then the dinner starts after which the dance floor is opened and the guests can enjoy dancing. And of course the tulips will not be missing!On the last day, Sunday 2nd of April, the guests have the private opportunity to visit the Holy Mass at the Kruitberg Kerk. Later during the day, last but not least there is the Bubble Brunch at the Museum van Loon to reflect on the weekend and continue the conversations of the days before. During the brunch Clemens van Steijn will officially close the Grand Tulipsball weekend.
By Anton Lutter.On Wednesday 15 March 2017 new parliamentary elections will be held in The Netherlands. The formal election cycle begins earlier and is supervised by the Electoral Board. The day of formal entry of parties who are part of the elections is 19 December and the entry of candidates will take place on 30 January 2017. Prior to this, observers will notice the usual escalation in political tensions in parliament, due to members wanting to enhance the profiles of their parties and themselves. Campaigning will begin after the state opening of parliament with all its pomp and pageantry on 3 September. The debates in parliament about the the state budget (Rijksbegroting) will be more vigorous than usual, as political parties seek to differentiate themselves and carve out their own political space. The question of who will be the number one man or woman for each party in the elections will be decided at the parties’ respective national conferences. So far, the SP, D’66, CDA, Groen Links and VVD parties have already decided who their frontrunner (lijsttrekker) will be in the forthcoming elections; as yet, there has been no change in leadership. Governmening parties PVDA and VVD will soon make their own selections. In this series, I will profile the party leaders of the larger parties in order of their election.The first to be chosen as his party’s frontrunner is Gert-Jan Segers of the Christen Unie, a traditional Christian party with five seats in the lower house (Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal) and three seats in the upper house (Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal). Mr Segers, born in Lisse (province of Zuid-Holland) in 1969, studied politicology at Leiden University. He later earned a Master degree at the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University in Washington DC, specializing in Western-Islamic relations. Before entering parliament, Mr. Segers worked for the Evangelische Omroep, the evangelical televison and radio corporation, and from 2000 to 2007 was coordinator of a Christian organization in Egypt. Since 20 September 2012 he is a Tweede Kamerlid and since 10 November 2015 Chairman of the Christen Unie party in parliament. On 23 April he was selected by his party as frontrunner. Mr Segers is married with 3 children.Jesse Klaver of leftwing party Groen Links was elected on the same day. The Netherlands’ youngest political frontrunner, born in 1986, was elected uncontested. He has been a member of parliament since the 2010 elections, and Chair of his parliamentary group since 2015. CDA (Christen Democratisch Appel) parliamentary leader Sybrand van Haersa Buma comes from a distinguished family of public servants. He was elected leader of his part on 4 June. Mr. Buma was born in Workum (Province of Frisia) in 1965 and studied law at Groningen University. Since 2002 he has been a member of parliament and became the leader of the CDA group in 2010, which then consisted of 13 members. The CDA is an amalgamation of the CHU, ARP (both parties of a Protestant persuasion) and the KVP (the Catholic party). The CDA and its predecessors were continously in government until 1994. After heavy losses, the CDA subsequently became an opposition party, but recovered in 2002 to again become the largest party in parliament. At present, the CDA is in opposition. Mr van Haersma Buma, whose father and grandfather where both mayors, is married and has two children.Alexander Pechtold is the frontrunner of the D’66 liberal party. Selected on 14 September he is a long-serving member of parliament. He has been involved in politics since 1994; first as a city councillor and alderman in the city of Leiden (province Zuid-Holland) and later as Mayor of Wageningen (province Gelderland) from 2003. Two years later, he became Minister of Internal Affairs, a post he left after his party withdrew support for the government resulting in elections on 2 November 2006 at which D’66 lost heavily. He returned to parliament though, where he has remained. Mr Pechtold is known for his interest in art, having studied art history and archeology at Leiden University.The left wing Socialist Party (SP) has also chosen its current leader, Emile Roemer, as it frontrunner for the coming elections. Mr. Roemer – a teacher by profession – has been a member of parliament since 2006, and leader of the SP parliamentary group since 2010. As with Mr Pechtold, he began his political career as a city councillor in 1994. After the city council elections in 2002 he became alderman in Boxmeer (Province Noord-Brabant) before entering parliament. He was elected as his party frontrunner the 24 of June. The leader of largest opposition party in parliament, Geert Wilders, is the uncontested leader of his party. He has been in parliament since August 1998, with a short break from 2002 to 2004, as a member of the VVD (liberal) group. In 2006 he founded the Party for Freedom (PVV) and leads it today. He is well known for his anti-Islamic stance and role as producer of the film ‘Fitna’ in 2008. His direct way of debating has earned him accolades from sections of the public and media.In the next article, we will discuss some of the new and smaller parties, alongside the largest governing party led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the second governing party (PVDA) which has just started its leadership contest.
By H.E. Nourredine Ayadi, Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.
Algeria commemorates, at the beginning of this November, a particularly important date of its contemporary History. It is indeed the first of November 1954 that the Algerian people decided to take in hand its fate and to turn over the darkest page of its long history; that of 132 years of colonization and domination.
It is the day on which the Algerian people decided to make all sacrifices, including the ultimate sacrifice, the self-giving, in order to achieve its aspiration to freedom and dignity. Almost one million and a half martyrs was the price of this freedom. More than an armed uprising, the war of liberation that has begun that day was a real revolution against the colonial system, a revolution that shaped the personality of the Algerian people and forged its values and principles, which guided its moving forward. The notions of freedom, independence, self-determination of people and solidarity are immanent values for the Algerian people.
The solidarity that the fighting Algeria benefited from Brother countries, neighboring countries and friend countries is binding the independent Algeria. It is naturally that it constitutes the cornerstone of its foreign policy, mainly the African one. It is in this solidarity that there is good reason to draw out the foundations of the commitment of Algeria to support the striking people for their freedom and self-determination. It is also in this solidarity that one can draw out the foundations of Algeria’s contribution to the resolution of the conflicts, often wished and requested, in Africa and Sahel. It was the case in Eritrea, Guinea, Niger, Mauritania and more recently in Mali, where the implication of Algeria was concluded by the signature of the Agreement of peace and reconciliation of 2015.
To reach this result, Algeria had succeeded, under the impetus of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to create a dynamic of peace, to establish a serious, methodical and well-made dialogue between the actors of the Malian crisis, and, especially, to involve in this process all the external actors and partners of Mali, mainly the neighboring countries as well as other States and international organizations.
And in this respect, I would like to invoke the eloquent testimony of Mr. Bert Koenders, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, who declared during the dinner offered in his honor, on June 9th, 2016, by the Council of Arab Ambassadors in The Hague: “Two years ago, I celebrated Ramadhan every evening in Algeria with a good friend of mine, the Algerian Ambassador who is in this room. This was when I was working as the special representative for the Secretary General of the United Nations in Mali. And what I really enjoyed was the solidarity, the warmth and strength of people fasting together and of course at that time in Mali, Algeria was of the intelligence to organize also peace meeting during Ramadan. It created spirit of togetherness. Sitting together, the government and other forces, instead of fighting each other, talking about the northern part of Mali.”
What does appear, in fine, from this declaration and that I would like to highlight, is the full implication of Mr. Koenders and the Netherlands in the quest of peace and stability in Mali and in the Sahel Region. Mr. Koenders brought, thanks to his personal commitment and high qualities, a decisive contribution in the implementation and the deployment of the MINUSMA, and thus to the stabilization of the situation in Mali, in a particularly complex and difficult context. In this vein, the Netherlands supplied a significant assistance through military staff and logistics, mainly air assets, with the provision of helicopters, a contribution that was so precious for the realization of the objectives of United Nations. This commitment of Mr. Koenders and the Netherlands are clearly compatible with their consciousness that the peace and stability in this region have a direct impact on the Security of Europe, even in terms of migration, an issue that dominates the political debate today.
Algeria and the Netherlands decided to build on this friendly and sincere cooperation in favor of the peace in Mali and the Sahel region, in order to undertake a re-energization of the bilateral relations, which were moreover always good, since their establishment in 1604.
Within two years, Mr. Ramtane LAMAMRA, the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has paid two visits to The Hague, while Mr. Koenders, in his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs, has visited Algiers followed by the visits of Mrs Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, and Mr. Henk KAMP, Minister of Economic Affairs. During this period, three cooperation agreements were signed in the sectors of agriculture, renewable energies and harbor activities. The bilateral cooperation took a new dimension and is diversifying more and more. The second Algerian-Dutch mixed-commission, held in The Hague, on March 9th, 2016, was an occasion for both parties to boost the bilateral cooperation, on the basis of an ambitious road map aiming at the consolidation of the economic and technological cooperation in diverse sectors in particular agriculture, industry, Water resources, harbour activities, energy …
The current challenge consists in the strengthening of these relations and expanding the commercial dynamism, while realizing a diversification and an extension of sectors concerned by this cooperation, dominated at present by hydrocarbons. In 2015, the Netherlands were the 5th customer of Algeria and its 12th supplier, with around 5 billion dollars of exchanges.
More than being a reliable supplier in energy products for Europe and the Netherlands, Algeria is also an important economic partner due to the dynamic potential of the Algerian market and the opportunities offered for investors and Dutch products. In the same time, Algeria works hardly to diversify its economy and finds in the Netherlands a partner of choice to develop its agriculture, hydraulic sector and transport network.
Algeria, which has gone through a tragic period and has lonely faced a wave of large-scale terrorism, did not wait for the last events to alert against the danger of terrorism and the security problems related to it. Algeria did not stop pleading to achieve a cooperation with good faith and a coordination of international efforts in the struggle against this transnational phenomenon.
Algeria who succeeded in curbing this phenomenon and in restoring peace and security in the country through the national reconciliation policy, initiated by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, has since undertaken the implementation of a scope of structural reforms that have deeply transformed the institutional and political landscape, and metamorphosed the economic and social situation of the country.
These structural reforms have enabled Algeria to reach all the Millennium Development Goals. According to the latest ranking of the UNDP, it is a country with a high human development index. It ranks 88th worldwide and 3rd in Africa.
The country looks nowadays as a pole of peace and stability and a real bastion against terrorism which threatens the region and the rest of the world. Algeria’s natural resources and the dynamism of its economy offer real potentialities of growth, development and investment.
For several countries, including the Netherlands, Algeria is definitely a reliable partner.
By Patrick I. Gomes, Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States.
Cotonou, the capital of the Republic of Benin, hosted the historic event on 23 June 2000 at which the 20-year Agreement was signed between 79 developing countries of Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions and the European Union (EU).
This unique international treaty in the geo-political space of four continents, referred to as the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA), comprises more than fifty percent of the 193 countries of the UN with 48 from sub-Sahara Africa, 16 from the Caribbean, 15 island-states of the Pacific and 28 from the EU.
The ACP-EU partnership serves 1 billion citizens, poor and rich, in both advanced industrialised and predominantly small, agro-based economies, which also possess extensive natural resources. Through the Cotonou Agreement, ACP-EU trade and investments have been mainly in extractive mining sectors, exporting primary agricultural commodities, and tourism. In addition to trade, the CPA allows for grants and loans through “aid” programmes under the European Development Fund (EDF), financed from contributions of EU member states. Political dialogue between parties to the Agreement, individually or as a Group, enables exchanges on human rights and rule of law, tied to incentives or sanctions on accessing EDF resources.
Achievements and Challenges
Improved socio-economic status of several ACP countries is evident from macro-economic data and UNDP’s Human Development Index. For instance, “in … 2000 a total of 44 ACP states were Low Income Countries (LICs), 30 were Middle Income Countries (MICs) and 1 was a High Income country (HIC). By 2015 they were 26 LICs, 43 MICs and 7 HICs,” but only empirical data can confirm to what extent such economic growth is attributable to ACP-EU cooperation.[1] Despite growth in ACP countries and ongoing attraction of investment from both developed and emerging economies, poverty eradication and substantial integration into the global economy – twin objectives of the CPA- remain elusive.
This is unsurprising as Illicit Financial Flows from the African continent are estimated at €60 billion annually, far more than the €45 billion received in aid over the last five years. More disturbing is widespread violence, crime, drugs and corruption, largely engendered over conflicts to control and reap the spoils from exploiting natural resources, at the expense of peace, security and jobs for women and youth.
In today’s world of acute and growing inequality between and within countries, the ACP Group is engaged in a process of strategic reflection to re-invent and restructure. This will inform a new, qualitatively enhanced partnership with the EU beyond 2020. Principles of subsidiarity and complementarity will enable deeper economic, social, cultural and political Intra-ACP relations as well as more structured ties to Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the African Union. A reconfigured ACP Group will also deepen partnerships across the Global South through South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
Let me briefly share key parameters of the ACP’s strategy for consolidation and fundamental change.
The ACP Group as a single entity:
The ACP Group as a unique tri-continental, inter-governmental organisation has preserved a common identity as a single geo-political entity, over the last four decades since its establishment in 1975. As this unified entity, the ACP Group will negotiate a successor to the Cotonou Agreement with the EU in 2020, taking account of regional specificities.
A legally binding contractual agreement.
The successor agreement should maintain a legally binding character. This unique and fundamental principle of ACP-EU relations is an added value of global significance attributing rights, responsibilities and obligations that mitigate asymmetrical relations between geopolitical groupings, and enable inclusivity and mutual accountability.
Agenda 2030 and the SDGs’ Framework
ACP and EU negotiated and adopted a joint position on the post-2015 Development Agenda to address mutual interests on global challenges. Now we can identify specific SDGs to join forces in addressing issues of global governance. This was remarkably demonstrated in the ACP-EU joint action for the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. ACP intends to examine scope for common positions with the EU on SDGs on oceans and marine resources; access to justice for all; and the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, amongst others.
Trade, Investment and Services.
The ACP Committee of Ambassadors advocates a sharp focus on trade and investment, infrastructure, energy and services as mutually reinforcing themes under which to implement the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. We envisage intra-ACP activities under the EDF (2014-2020), with co-financing from additional resources that will address policy analysis and advocacy, capacity building, information sharing and exchange of experiences for structural transformation of ACP economies.
There is growing recognition of the ACP Group’s added-value and substantial expertise in the design, management and assessment of development cooperation, mainly derived from its experience this unique North-South model of ACP-EU relations. While addressing weaknesses, the ACP Group as a hub of South-South and Triangular cooperation will aim to assist in implementing the SDGs of Agenda 2030.
Reinforcing unity and solidarity, while respecting diversity, the ACP Group looks forward to a qualitatively different post-Cotonou agreement to promote economic justice and poverty eradication in the Global South.
[1] See German Development Institute (DIE), “Towards a new partnership between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries after 2020” by Niels Keijzer, Mark Furness, Christine Hackenesch,, Svea Koch Bonn, December 2015, 16pp.
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Photography by Josephine Latu-Sanft/ACP Secretariat
By HE AmbassadorShiaan Ahmed, Head of Mission to St James’s Court (UK), the EU, the Benelux and Nordic countries.Last week, the Commonwealth family lost another of its members – the third one in the past years. The Maldives took the extremely difficult but inevitable decision to withdraw from the organisation after 34 years of continuous and active participation. People rightfully have wondered, how come a constructive and fully engaged member such as the Maldives, has decided to separate from the Commonwealth family. Perhaps, our story offers a window into why this organisation requires fundamental reform – reform it needs more than ever in the post-Brexit era.Ever since joining in 1982, the Commonwealth of Nations was seen as the start of a new era in which the member countries would work together, in partnership and as equals, towards a shared future. As a small nation committed to the core Commonwealth principles, the Maldives had always regarded this organisation as an invaluable platform to engage with an international community of like-minded states on the important issues facing the global community; as an organisation that helps its member-States in democratic consolidation, in building institutions, in developing the rule of law, and above all, in achieving sustainable and inclusive growth. The Maldives, being the leading advocate and voice on climate change gave Commonwealth prominence on climate change.It comes as no surprise that we, one of the smallest nations, had high hopes and expectations to see the Commonwealth serving its role as a champion of small states advocating for their special needs. But as an association born in the twilight of the empire, the Commonwealth has shown surprisingly little empathy towards the struggles of post-colonial states. No one can deny that the Maldives has faced challenges in recent years, like many other Commonwealth countries. As a new democracy, we are always looking to increase capacity, knowledge and professionalism within our institutions. In doing so, the Government has worked closely with its international partners and we look forward to their continued support in consolidating democracy and to further strengthen our young institutions. And yes, our judiciary, parliament and civil society need further professional development. But this is not unusual. From Asia to Africa and the South Pacific to the Caribbean, these challenges are universal. Many members have also witnessed civil conflict and political upheaval. Regrettably, and despite the Government’s efforts to give maximum cooperation, show maximum transparency, and engage with the Commonwealth at the highest levels, the Commonwealth decided to intrusively take political stances in the domestic political developments of a member state, against its own Charter. Since 2012, when the former President resigned, the Commonwealth has sought to question the domestic developments rather than putting an effort to know the issues. Furthermore, it has turned a blind eye to the progress made in cultivating a culture of democracy in the country and in building and strengthening democratic institutions. For example, Commonwealth has conveniently disregarded that the Government has enacted a total of 110 pieces of legislation in the last three years, 94 of which were directly related to the core values set out in the Commonwealth Charter. 69 were specifically designed to promote human rights, strengthen democratic governance, and to reinforce the separation of powers. Further, Maldives has per capita more journalists and media outlets (majority being run by the Opposition) than any other Commonwealth country. All political parties including the Opposition parties are paid by the State; a system that not only sustains the opposition but also a provision that very few countries can boast about. Sadly these achievements are below the bar set for Maldives by the Commonwealth. Sadly this ostentatious behaviour is symptomatic of the modern era Commonwealth. Its budget has shrunk year-on-year, meaning development and institutional building projects have fallen by the wayside. Without the resources to fully look into the issues of the Commonwealth countries, the work of improving governance or increasing development has been replaced by the ever more active and ideological Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), along with the Secretariat, has become embedded in the political discourse of smaller member states. This has helped the Commonwealth leverage its way into international diplomacy. But the organisation’s desperate need to remain relevant should not mean it morphs into an unaccountable global police force. If the Commonwealth really wanted to engage, it would see progress is being made on our islands. It was within this context that the Maldives became sceptical of the benefits conferred to small nations by Commonwealth membership. It is hoped that the decision to leave the Commonwealth spurs a reassessment of its role in the 21st century. The Commonwealth has always prided itself on being an organisation in which all nations are committed to working together in partnership and, most importantly, as equals. Equality and inclusivity within the Commonwealth family are vital in ensuring that it remains an organisation that represents the values embedded in the Commonwealth Charter. The Maldives believes that these founding principles should be resurrected. Let there be no doubt though. The Maldives is not closing its doors to its friends in the Commonwealth. It aims to improve bilateral relations with Commonwealth members, especially with the United Kingdom, and work to reform the Commonwealth from the outside; to make the organisation that is fit for purpose; is value for money; and more importantly serves the aspirations of the member states.The Maldives takes pride in the active and useful role it plays on international level. Despite our size, our voice is strong and clear. The Maldives reassures that its international engagement will continue both bilaterally and multilaterally.
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On Saturday 3 September 2016, the free-accessible Embassy Festival took place at the Lange Voorhout in The Hague. Forty-three Embassies participated in this year’s festival, bringing a vibrant and versatile programme to the city, 35.000 people visited the festival.
More and more Embassies have found their way to the Embassy Festival, offering a diverse programme that grows every year.
For additional Roy Strik’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157675051434175
On three outdoor stages a variety of international acts performed. The musical programme of the fourth edition of the Embassy Festival was outstanding to say the least. The Australian ‘most celebrated Hammond artist’ Lachy Doley (AUS) has been compared to Jimi Hendrix in his home country and was one of the bands that performed on the Contemporary stage. Akua Naru (USA) whom critics compared to some of the greats, such as Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu was one of the highlights of the day. Other acts such as; Hudson Taylor (IRL), Shishani (NAM) and Sindicato Sonico (MEX), a unique combination of Orsi Burján the Pálinkálom with the Zoli Soós Vinsky Project (HON) completed the line-up of the Contemporary Stage.
Every year, the programme on the classical stage surprises the audience with breath-taking performances. Opera, flamenco, piano recitals, baroque music, it was all there. Embassy Festival’s Classical Stage brought classical music to the ears of anyone ready to listen. Acclaimed by the New York Times for her ‘expressive, poignant, clear voice and admirable stylistic facility’, soprano Elodie Fonnard (FRA) brought classical pieces from the Baroque scene. Anna Stegmann (DUI) presented music of Eyck’s’s Der Fluyten Lushof, one of the richest collections from the 17th century. The rest of the classical programme included; Paula Perez (violin) and Alma Barroca (ESP, ITA, NLD), Aldona Bartnik (POL), Susanne Herre (DUI), Maria Marin (ESP) and pianist Eva Szalai (HON).
The International Market of the Embassy Festival offered visitors a variety of culinary delights and cultural surprises presented in the various country pavilions. Visitors enjoyed the wealth of typical and delicious international cuisine and beverages. Phad Tai from Thailand, dates from Saudi Arabia, Raspao from Panama, Bauyirsak from Kazakhstan and much more. With this cultural richness concentrated on 500 metres, the festival set an important social statement; cultural diversity brings atmosphere and togetherness.
The fifth annual Embassy Festival will take place next year on Saturday, 2 September. Participation in the Embassy Festival is very rewarding and easy to arrange. If your embassy is interested in getting involved, please let us know by contacting Carly Dutton at 070-3606033 or embassyfestival@prooost.nl.
Embassies involved in the 2016 edition of the Embassy Festival: Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Peru, Ukraine, Palestinian Mission, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Vietnam, South Africa.
Diplomat Magazine is honored of having sponsored this magnificent event, we are looking forward to see you again in 2017.
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.
I hardly miss any opportunity to accompany my husband when he traverses this country, in search of clues for innovations and creativity that could be replicated in Bangladesh. I try to complement his effort, as he is trying to develop his Embassy as a virtual bridge for knowledge transfer between our two countries and businesses.
One aspect, I wish to emphasize though is how impressed I am with the academic quality and quantum of academic activities in the Netherlands. This is why, I wonder, at times, how we could best connect our educational institutions with that of the Netherlands. So, I am always there, along with my husband, to make this academic connectivity the best we can. I believe, of all the hats I wear, the one of an academic charm must be increased.
As we live in this beautiful country and among all these beautiful people, it is easy to forget that there are still far too many children, mostly in the developing world, who do not have access to the essential health services they need to merely survive. So, whenever, I get opportunity I try to engage in discussion with our friends to create awareness. Given the monumental advances that have been made in public health, most of these diseases are preventable and curable.
If we could do little bit more to give all children the chance they deserve. Let me quote Bono to conclude: “Where you live should not determine whether you live”. I wish I could do more but, at the end of the day, I am also a woman from developing world. This is not my excuse, but my resolve.
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Photography by Marian van Noort for Diplomat Magazine.
On three outdoor stages a variety of international acts performed. The musical programme of the fourth edition of the Embassy Festival was outstanding to say the least. The Australian ‘most celebrated Hammond artist’ Lachy Doley (AUS) has been compared to Jimi Hendrix in his home country and was one of the bands that performed on the Contemporary stage. Akua Naru (USA) whom critics compared to some of the greats, such as Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu was one of the highlights of the day. Other acts such as; Hudson Taylor (IRL), Shishani (NAM) and Sindicato Sonico (MEX), a unique combination of Orsi Burján the Pálinkálom with the Zoli Soós Vinsky Project (HON) completed the line-up of the Contemporary Stage.
Every year, the programme on the classical stage surprises the audience with breath-taking performances. Opera, flamenco, piano recitals, baroque music, it was all there. Embassy Festival’s Classical Stage brought classical music to the ears of anyone ready to listen. Acclaimed by the New York Times for her ‘expressive, poignant, clear voice and admirable stylistic facility’, soprano Elodie Fonnard (FRA) brought classical pieces from the Baroque scene. Anna Stegmann (DUI) presented music of Eyck’s’s Der Fluyten Lushof, one of the richest collections from the 17th century. The rest of the classical programme included; Paula Perez (violin) and Alma Barroca (ESP, ITA, NLD), Aldona Bartnik (POL), Susanne Herre (DUI), Maria Marin (ESP) and pianist Eva Szalai (HON).
The International Market of the Embassy Festival offered visitors a variety of culinary delights and cultural surprises presented in the various country pavilions. Visitors enjoyed the wealth of typical and delicious international cuisine and beverages. Phad Tai from Thailand, dates from Saudi Arabia, Raspao from Panama, Bauyirsak from Kazakhstan and much more. With this cultural richness concentrated on 500 metres, the festival set an important social statement; cultural diversity brings atmosphere and togetherness.
The fifth annual Embassy Festival will take place next year on Saturday, 2 September. Participation in the Embassy Festival is very rewarding and easy to arrange. If your embassy is interested in getting involved, please let us know by contacting Carly Dutton at 070-3606033 or 
Diplomat Magazine is honored of having sponsored this magnificent event, we are looking forward to see you again in 2017.