By Sunday Oyinloye, West Africa Editor.
Their list is long and they have many things in common, brutal with low level of human rights records. They dot many countries in Africa where they practically play the role of ‘’slave masters”. They are feared by their people who often pretend that they love them. Can you blame the people for their pretence? After all, they want to live .These Emperors would do anything to retain their seats even if it means using the blood of their people to hang on to power.
Of course, some of them have penchant for spilling blood to retain power, little wonder those who want to live have to fake loyalty to these tin gods in order to remain alive. Some of these leaders make the world to believe that they are committed to eradicating poverty in their countries when in fact; they are plundering the common wealth of the people, treating them as sub- human beings.
Welcome to the world of African sit- tight leaders who never learnt from history and have become maximum rulers in their countries. Men who have practically muscled out opposition and ready to silence whoever questions their authority.
No doubt, these so-called leaders have mastered their local politics, so they get away with anything they do. Robert Mugabe who founded ZANU a resistance movement against the British colonial rule in 1963 and was elected President in 1987 remains a bone in the throat of Zimbabweans. He cannot be swallowed and he cannot be vomited. Ironically, the man who led resistance against colonial rule has continued to rule his people with iron fist. His countrymen practically worship him and his wife, Grace.
Mugabe who was born in February, 21, 1924 has not seen any reason why he should allow a younger person to lead his country out of the woods. The expected change desired by his people has become a mirage, yet Mugabe treats his subjects as if he was not elected by them.
Reputed to be the oldest head of state in the World, Mugabe does not see himself stepping down neither does his wife; Grace sees any reason for the people to try another leader. For the President and the First lady, talking about succession is a taboo as long as the maximum ruler is still breathing.
The madness of what can the people do is not limited to Mugabe, Congo-Brazzaville President, Denis Sassou Nguesso is still hanging unto power after 31 years. No thanks to his controversial referendum in October last year which allowed him to extend his rule. The 72 year- old President in 2015 fired two of his ministers who were publicly opposed to his third-term bid.
He is however not alone in the third-term greed now common to African leaders. President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi who appears not to have learnt from history has thrown his poor country into turmoil due to his third-term ambition. Over 200 people are believed to have lost their lives since April 2015 when protests began against the third-term ambition of Nkurunziza. The armed conflict in his country between 1993 and 2005 when he became the President claimed an estimated 300,000 lives. This should have been enough reason for him to consider the future of his people but like many African leaders, personal ambition overrides national interest. This is probably the reason why some political analysts believe that Nkurunziza has learnt nothing from history. There are many leaders in Africa who do undemocratic things to retain power. A major trait of all of them is suppression of the people and blocking the ways of opposition.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila who succeeded his father Laurent Kabila ten days after his assassination is also toying with the destiny of his country. Kabila has been ruling DR Congo since 2001. He made history as the world’s first head of government born in the 70s. But this record seems not to be enough for him as he has headed for what some described as political suicide with his third-term ambition. But in Africa, anything can happen; it is usually the masses that pay for the greed and blind ambition of their so-called leaders. If Kabila succeeds, it will not be a surprise because Africans are used to paying with their blood for their leaders to cling to power.
Even the much respected former President of Nigeria ,Olusegun Obasanjo also toyed with third-term idea which would have thrown Nigeria into serious crisis. Interestingly, Obasanjo was one the front line of government troops that fought against the Biafran separatists in a civil war that lasted about three years in the late 60s and claimed millions of lives. Cross sections of Nigerians have berated him for the failed idea even with his denial of the ungodly move.
Sudanese President, Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir is another President in Africa who has been hanging on power for long and who continues to rule his people with iron fist. Omar who is wanted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for his alleged role in Darfur crisis has continued to be defiant. Even with the international arrest warrant issued by ICC, he has been traveling out of his country.
Another leader with poor human rights record in Africa is a President with the highest number of titles in the world, Yahya Jammeh of Gambia, a dictator who has held his country by the jugular for 21 years. The controversial “witch doctor” who claims to have cure for Aids recently declared his country an Islamic Republic.
Just like his co-traveler, Mugabe, the Gambian President likes to make uncomplimentary remarks against the west to paint a picture of someone fighting to liberate his people from neo-colonialism when in fact he is suppressing them.
The story is the same in other countries of Africa being ruled by dictators. They pretend to be champions of the people while they indirectly kill them with policies and programmes that further impoverish the people.
As another year begins, the eye of the world is on Africa and its leaders with good democratic credentials. No doubt, the world is also watching African dictators. Will they have a change of heart in the new year? Time and only time will tell.
Mr. Adam Sterling, Deputy Chief of Mission of the USA Embassy.By John Dunkelgrün.
Monday January 18th was the day the United States celebrates as Martin Luther King Day. Overseas Americans Remember organised its 26th! Martin Luther King dinner on January 31st. Almost one hundred people came to commemorate the tremendous courage of this special man, who set into motion the wave that swept away the Ku Klux Klan and all official discrimination of people of color in the U.S. As many of the speakers emphasised though, much still needs to be done.
Most of the speakers were young, middle school boys and girls from all over the country. They were American, or mixed American/Dutch but all had the same message: tell people about equality, teach people that there are things you just don’t do or say, and keep faith that progress will continue. But as the Reverend Hartcourt Klinefelte said this progress will not roll in on the wheels of inevitability. Much work remains to be done.
The keynote speaker was Mr. Adam Sterling, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States, he emphasised that the U.S. is far from static, it is in a real sense a “work in progress”. There has been much improvement and there is hope for further progress and proof that the U.S. can achieve it. He also emphasised that discrimination is not just an American problem and that racism is not a monopoly of white people. We all need leaders who are able to stand down the demagogues without blinking.
Speakers and singers at the dinner.
The evening, which was organised and scripted by the remarkable Roberta Enschede and MC’d by Jessie Rodell featured moving music, sung and played by Gilad Nezer, Katya HyunJung Ji, the “3 Bones” brass trio and many others.
Sergeant Derrick Turner of the U.S. Marines rendered the famous “I have a dream” speech and Lois Mothershed read a deeply touching letter by her sister, who was one of the Little Rock Nine, the first African American children that went to a white school under army protection.
At this time, when many people in Europe and the United States are worried by the tsunami of fugitives and asylum seekers, the message of Dr. Martin Luther King is particularly relevant.
By Robert Kayinamura, Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda.
Rwanda did not have to wait for favorable winds but rather generate her own winds to sail through the difficulty times, in order to change the course of her economic and social history. To reconstruct Rwanda and nurture a shared identity and responsibility, the Government of Rwanda drew on aspects of Rwandan culture and traditional practices and the result was a set of Home Grown Solutions based on culturally owned practices that could help shape sustainable development programs.
In the regard, in the last 20 years Rwanda Government came up with more than 10 innovations that built on values and systems of Rwandan Culture, from Gacaca, our community courts, which has brought restorative justice and reconciliation to a once divided nation; to Ubudehe, which supports rural communities to collectively solve problems related to poverty; to Imihigo, which enables citizens to keep their leaders accountable, to One Cow per Poor Family program also known as Girinka, to Umuganda and many others, have ensured that no one was left behind.
One of the Home Grown solutions that have helped transform people’s lives is Ubudehe. Ubudehe refers to the long-standing Rwandan practice and culture of collective action and mutual support to solve problems within a community. Ubudehe was reintroduced into Rwandan life in 2001 as way to better involve communities in their development by setting up participatory problem solving mechanisms. The program was seen as a way to strengthen democratic processes and good governance through greater community involvement in decision making.
Ubudehe creates opportunities for people at all levels of society, especially the village level, to interact with one another, share ideas, create institutions and make decisions for their collective development. Today Ubudehe is one of Rwanda’s best known Home Grown Solution because of its participatory development approach to poverty reduction. In 2008, the program won the United Nations Public Service Award for excellence in service delivery.
On the other hand, Girinka was initiated in response to the alarmingly high rate of childhood malnutrition and as a way to accelerate poverty reduction and integrate livestock and crop farming. The program is based on the premise that providing a dairy cow to poor households helps to improve their livelihood as a result of a more nutritious and balanced diet from milk, increased agricultural output through better soil fertility as well as greater incomes by commercializing dairy products.
Another Home Grown aspect is Imihigo. Imihigo is the plural Kinyarwanda word of Umuhigo, which means to vow to deliver. In the modern day Rwanda, Imihigo practice was adopted as a means of planning to accelerate the progress towards economic development and poverty reduction. Imihigo has had a strong focus on results which has made it an invaluable tool in the planning, accountability and monitoring and evaluation processes. In 2006, Imihigo (known also as performance contracts) was introduced to address this need. Since its introduction, Imihigo has been credited with improving accountability and quickening the pace of citizen centred development activities and programs. The practice of Imihigo has now been extended to ministries, embassies and public service staff.
Another home grown solution is a community service called Umuganda. The word Umuganda can be translated as ‘coming together in common purpose to achieve an outcome. The day is called umunsi w’umuganda, meaning “contribution made by the community which is designed to be a day of contribution and building the country by citizens themselves. Modern day Umuganda can be described as community work. On the last Saturday of each month, communities come together to do a variety of public works. This often includes infrastructure development and environmental protection. Rwandans between 18 and 65 are obliged to participate in Umuganda. Expatriates living in Rwanda are encouraged to take part.
In justice, Rwanda reconsidered both Gacaca and Abunzi seen as a hybrid form of justice combining traditional with modern methods of conflict resolution. In 2002, Gacaca courts were revived as a way to process the millions of criminal cases that arose following the genocide. Contemporary Gacaca draws inspiration from the traditional model by replicating a local community-based justice system with the aim of restoring the social fabric of society.
In total, 1,958,634 genocide related cases were tried through Gacaca. The courts are credited with laying the foundation for peace, reconciliation and unity in Rwanda. The reintroduction of the Abunzi system in 2004 was motivated in part by the desire to reduce the backlog of court cases, as well as to decentralise justice and make it more affordable and accessible for citizens seeking to resolve conflict without the cost of going to court .
This conflict resolution mechanism rooted in Rwandan culture was perceived as more accessible, less threatening and therefore more intimate and human. Consequently, the Abunzi started receiving trainings on mediating domestic conflicts, as well as logistical support from both governmental and non-governmental organisations, to improve the quality of their mediation services.
On inclusiveness, in Umushyikirano the governed directly engage with their leaders, and in so doing, Rwandans feel part of the decision making that affects their lives. Umushyikirano also serves as a forum for Rwandans to hold their leaders and government to account. The main achievements of Umushyikirano are considered to be the participation of Rwandans in national decision making and the fast-tracking of government programs and citizen priorities based on the resolutions tabled each year.
The event is attended by members of the Cabinet and Parliament, representatives of the Rwandan community abroad, local government, media, the diplomatic community and others invited by the President. Those unable to attend in person at Rwanda’s parliament building can participate via telephone, SMS, Twitter and Facebook as well as follow the debate live on television and radio
Information: http://www.netherlands.embassy.gov.rw/
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On the picture His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam with the newly appointed encoys of Brunei Darussalam, Dato Paduka Haji Serbini bin Haji Ali (left) and Haji Na’aim bin Md Salleh (right).By Baron Henri Estramant.State of Brunei Darussalam: HE Ambassador Dato’ Paduka Haji Serbini binti Haji Ali former ambassador to the Benelux countries and the EU left his Brussels base mid-January 2016.
His Majesty The Sultan and Yang-diPertuan Negare Brunei Darussalam appointed him on 24 January 2016 as head of mission to the USA.
http://bruneiembassy.beAmbassador Juan José Gómez Camacho – Picture by UN Headquarters Genève.United States of Mexico: HE Ambassador Juan José Gómez Camacho left his post on 5 February 2016 as head of mission to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg. He returns to head the mission to the UN.
http://embamex.sre.gob.mx/belgica/H.E. Nopadol Gunavibool, Head of the Thai Mission to the EU and Mr. José Manuel Barroso (right)Kingdom of Thailand: HE Ambassador Nopadol Gunavibool left his post in Brussels as head of mission to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg on 27 December 2015.
He is now ambassador to Switzerland and non-resident to the Holy See.
http://www2.thaiembassy.beAmbassador Margaret King-Rousseau and President Herman Van Rompuy.Republic of Trinidad and Tobago: HE Ambassador Margaret King-Rousseau left her post in November 2015.
Incumbent chargée d’affaires is Second Secretary Joanne Brooks for the mission based in Brussels but accredited to the EU, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, the OPCW, the French Republic, UNESCO, Spain and the Holy See.
http://www.foreign.gov.tt/representatives/tt/diplomatic_missions/
On the picture HE Peiman Seadat Ambassador of Iran presenting its credentials to The King of the Belgians.
By Baron Henri Estramant.Islamic Republic of Iran: HE Ambassador Peiman Seadat will be accredited to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg. He presented credentials to Philippus, King of the Belgians on 2 February 2016 at Brussels Royal Palace.
Previously he was Director General of the Office of Environment and Sustainable Development Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran.
http://www.iranembassy.be/consular/Sfrt/iNshniE.htm
Ambassador of Thailand, HE Busaya Mathelin and The King of the Belgians.
Kingdom of Thailand: HE Ambassador Busaya Mathelin will be accredited to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg. She presented credentials His Majesty The King of the Belgians on 2 February 2016 at Brussels Royal Palace. Her previous ambassadorship was to the Kingdom of Spain.
Philippus, King of the Belgians and Ambassador of Ghana HE Novisi Aku Abaidoo.Republic of Ghana: HE AmbassadorNovisi Aku Abaidooshall be accredited to the EU, the ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States), Belgium and Luxembourg.
She presented credentials His Majesty King of the Belgians on 2 February 2016 at Brussels Royal Palace. She was previously Director, Multilateral Relations Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration of Ghana in Accra. Her previous ambassadorship was to Benin.
Niger’s Ambassador Ousmane Alhassane Abba presenting its credentials to King Philippus.
Republic of Niger: HE Ambassador Ousmane Alhassane Abba shall be accredited to the EU, the ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States), The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Presented credentials in Belgium on 2 February 2016.
Before arriving to Brussels he was First Counsellor (2010-14) at the Embassy of Niger in Germany, thus this is his first ambassadorial post.
Namibian Ambassador Dr. Kaire Mbuende presenting its credentials to The King of the Belgians.
Republic of Namibia: HE Dr. Kaire Mbuende shall be accredited to the EU, the ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States), The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Presented credentials in Belgium on 2 February 2016.
Dr. Mbuende is a former politician and Permanent Representative (Ambassador) of Namibia to the UN.
Republic of Finland: Ambassador HE Ambassador Timo Ranta accredited to Belgium on 12 November 2015, also accredited to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg wherein he served as head of mission before the resident chancery was closed down for budgetary reasons.
On the picture The King of the Netherlands and Montenegrin Ambassador Vladimir Radulović – Picture by Rotapool, Remko de WaalBy Baron Henri Estramant.Republic of Montenegro: H.E. Ambassador Vladimir Radulović presented his credentials to His Majesty The King of the Belgians on 1 December 2015, to His Majesty The King of the Netherlands on 9 December 2015 December and to His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Luxembourg on 4 February 2016. He is head of mission to all three Benelux countries, and the OPCW.
Before his appointment to Brussels, Ambassador Radulović had been State Secretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration since 2012. He has served as ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark (2004-2006) and to the Federal Republic of Germany (2008-2012)
http://www.mvpei.gov.me/en/sections/Missions/Embassies-and-consulates-of-Montenegro/belgiumFinnish Ambassador Katri Elina Viinika – Picture by Rotapool, Remko de Waal.Republic of Finland: H.E. Ambassador Katri Elina Viinikka presented credentials to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands on 9 December 2016. This is her first ambassadorship; her mission is likewise accredited to the OPCW.
Previously she was Director Unit for UN and General Global Affairs, Political Department at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
http://www.finlande.nl/public/default.aspx?culture=nl-NL&contentlan=14King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and DRC Ambassador Dominique Kilufya Kamfwa – Picture by Rotapool, Frank van Beek.Democratic Republic of Congo: H.E. Ambassador Dominique Kilufya Kamfwa was accredited on 9 December 2016 to the Kingdom of Belgium, on 20 January 2016 to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and is due to be accredited to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
In 2015 the DRC placed a full-time diplomat in The Hague in charge for the liaison with The Netherlands; this office is headed by Minister-Counsellor Thomas Pierre Nzeza Konko.http://www.ambardc.eu/The King of the Netherlands and Malian Ambassador Sékou Dit Gaoussou Cisse. Picture by Rotapool, Freek van den Bergh.Republic of Mali: H.E. Ambassador Sékou dit Gaoussou Cissé presented credentials to His Majesty The King of the Belgians on 12 November 2015, to His Majesty The King of the Netherlands on 6 January 2016.
The mission of Mali in Brussels covers a jurisdiction for all three Benelux countries, St. James’s Court (UK), Liechtenstein, the EU and the ACP Group.
http://www.amba-mali.beHaitian Ambassador Antonio Rodrigue. Picture by Rotapool, Freek van den Bergh.Republic of Haiti: H.E. Ambassador Antonio Rodrigue was accredited to Belgium on 9 December 2015, to The Netherlands on 6 January 2016. His mission covers the three Benelux countries and the EU and the OPCW.
Before taking up this ambassadorship he was head of mission of Haiti to The Bahamas.
King Willem-Alexander and Iraqi Ambassador Saywan Sabir Mustafa Barzani – Picture by Rotapool, Frank van Beek.Republic of Iraq: H.E. Ambassador Saywan bin Sabir bin Mustafa Barzani presented credentials to His Majesty The King of the Netherlands on 20 January 2016. He is also head of mission to the OPCW.
Previously he was ambassador to the Italian Republic and non-resident to Malta.
http://www.embassyofiraq.nl/
On the picture Ambassador Oda Helen Sletnes and President Tusk – Picture by EUBy Baron Henri Estramant.
Kingdom of Norway: HE Ambassador Oda Helen Sletnes presented her credentials to the EU (President of the European Council Donald Tusk) on 9 December 2015.
Previous to her appointment to the EU she served as President of the EFTA Surveillance Authority in Brussels from 1 July 2011 until 31 June 2015. One should notice that Ambassador Sletnes already served as Norwegian Chief of Mission to the EU between 2006 and 2011.
www.eu-norway.orgAmbassador Vincenzo Grassi (right) and Rudy Demotte – Picture by Italian Embassy to Belgium.Italian Republic: HE Ambassador Vincenzo Grassi presented his credentials as bilateral ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium on 1 December 2015.
Previously he served at the General Directorate of the National System of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as head of the European University Institute in Florence as well as the coordinator of the Year of Italy in Latin America (2015-2016).
www.ambbruxelles.esteri.it/Ambasciata_BruxellesAmbassador Dillum Haymandoyal and president Donald Tusk- Picture by EURepublic of Mauritius: HE Ambassador Dillum Haymandoyal presented his credentials to His Majesty The King of the Belgians on 1 December 2015. The Mauritian mission is responsible for The Netherlands, Luxembourg, the EU and the OPCW.
Before his arrival to Brussels he was Head of the Multilateral Political Directorate, National Focal Point and Representative of the Hon. Prime Minister to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Representative to the Institute for Democracy and Electoral assistance (IDEA). The ambassadorial rank was bestowed upon him in 2011.
http://mfa.govmu.org/portal/sites/mfamission/brussels/index.htmDr. Mutrif Siddiq Ali.Republic of Sudan: HE Ambassador Dr. Mutrif Siddiq Ali presented credentials to Belgium on 12 December 2015. The Sudanese mission is further accredited to Luxembourg and the EU.
Previously he was the very first Sudanese ambassador to South Sudan, and before the latter function as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
Ambassador of Austria to Luxembourg, Gregor Schusterschitz – Picture by Dragan Tatic, MOFA.Republic of Austria: HE Ambassador Gregor Schusterschitz was accredited to Luxembourg in October 2015. Previously he was Deputy Chief of Mission at the Austrian Permanent Representation to the EU between 2014 and 2015.
www.bmeia.gv.at/botschaft/luxemburg/die-botschaft/der-botschafter.html
On the picture Dr Brett Mason Ambassador of Australia, Ms Mimi de Wit Director Corporate Banking Rabobank and Mr Gregor van Essen Managing Director, Holland Water Challenge.By Jan W. van der Loos.
Australia’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, His Excellency, Dr Brett Mason, hosted a special event at his residence in celebration of the “Dirk Hartog Year” (1616-2016) on the 28th of January. The Dutch mariner and navigator, Hartog, is remembered as having been among the first Europeans to explore the “unknown continent.”
Hartog was skipper of the Dutch trading vessel, the Eendracht, in the service of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), when he first made landfall in Australia on October 25, 1616. The Eendracht was unintentionally exploring the country’s northwest coast, after it strayed off course from the newly adopted “Brouwer Route” during a storm.
Today, a monument marks the site where Hartog and his crew came ashore at Cape Inscription, which is now the most northerly point of Cape Inscription National Park on the northern point of the island that bears his name, in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area.For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures on the Australian National Day, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157663619728970H.E. Ambassador Dr Brett Mason, Judge David Re Special Tribunal for Lebanon and Mr Peter Potman Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director Asia and Oceania Department.
Ambassador Mason presented an engaging account of Hartog’s adventures, which are of historic importance to both Australia and the Netherlands, to some fifty specially invited guests from the diplomatic, business and academic communities. The ambassador noted that a desire to establish business and trade relationships motivated Hartog’s early explorations for the VOC in the 17th Century and his speech emphasized the long and trusted relationship between both countries.
Many of his guests continue to be actively engaged in fostering and enhancing this important relationship between the two countries today.
In this picture you can see the performers from ODD Continent with: centre middle: Ms Indra McCormick – Counsellor at the Australian Embassy bottom left: Mr Malcolm Rock – Artistic Director ODD Continent bottom Centre: Ambassador Mason
Hartog left a record of his “discovery” on a flattened pewter plate, inscripted with the date, which was nailed to an oak post securely positioned on a cliff top overlooking the bay. The plate is the oldest European artifact to be found on the continent and is now on display in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Amateur historians may also be interested in viewing an electronic image of the plate, which can be accessed on the museum’s official website!
Guests also enjoyed a private viewing of a priceless collection of sea charts and maps of Hartog’s original 17th C. unexpected exploration of “t land van d’ Eendracht” meaning the “Country of Unity” to describe the previously uncharted territory which first placed Australia “on the map.”
A private viewing of a colorful aboriginal art exhibit, temporarily on loan from the Museum of contemporary Aboriginal art in Utrecht (AAMU) was also of particular interest to guests. During a tėte á tėte with other visitors; Mr. William Andreae, the former Dutch ambassador in Australia, and the chairman of the AAMU, Prof. dr. Dop Bär, engaged in a lively discussion about art and shared anecdotes and other details about those early explorations with some of the guests.
Mr Lewis Casey Australian Embassy Research and Administrative Officer, Mr Bob Reid International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia Office of the Prosecutor, Head of Operations, Ms Ann Sutherland International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia Prosecuting trial attorney and Ms Babette Vellinga Australian Embassy Personal Assistant to Ambassador Mason.
An array of the country’s gastronomic specialties and light refreshments were served to guests and, following the speech, guests enjoyed a musical program featuring musicians and singers performing traditional Australian songs. Ambassador Mason, together with support from his hospitable staff, organized an informative and entertaining program for everyone present.
For more information about the special events being planned by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Australia and the Consulate General in Sydney to commemorate the “Dirk Hartog Year,” readers are invited to visit the official “Dirk Hartog 2016” website. Embassy of Australia in the Netherlands: http://www.netherlands.embassy.gov.au/
On the picture Mimoza Ahmetaj (Kosovo), Denise Campbell Bauer (USA), President Herman Van Rompuy (EU), Matjaž Šinkovec (Slovenia), Herta Margarete and Sándor.
Thursday, 4 February 2016, Embassy of Slovenia, Brussels: A “Flame of Peace” awards ceremony was held in Brussels for first President of the European Council, Professor Count Herman Van Rompuy, US ambassador to Belgium, Denise Campbell Bauer as well as the Ambassador of Slovenia to Belgium, Luxembourg, the SPC of the EU, Matjaž Šinkovec, first Permanent Representative of Slovenia to NATO and former political dissident in Yugoslavia, and Kosovar Head of Mission to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg, Mimoza Ahmetaj. For additional pictures on the Flame of Peace Awards in Brussels, please click here:https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157662172525144Henri Estramant, Sándor and Herta Margarete von Habsburg and German ambassador Rüdiger Lüdeking.
Archduchess Herta Margarete von Habsburg of Austria-Tuscany is the President of the “The Association for the Furtherance of Peace”, which awards the “Flame of Peace” to persons in positions of leadership who engage themselves in the process of global/local peace and humanitarian initiatives wherever and whenever possible. The association’s Vice-President is Archduke Sándor von Habsburg and international affairs adviser is Baron Henri Estramant.
“The Flame of Peace is a symbol for worldwide peace, a reminder of our duty to be active for peace in our thoughts, words and deeds”.
The award has been presented to several heads of state such as Lech Wałęsa (Poland), Atifete Jahjaga (Kosovo), Adolf Ogi (twice president of the Swiss Confederation) as well as a plethora ambassadors and leaders paladins of peace such as the General Director of the Peace Palace, Steven van Hoogstraten in The Hague, former Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1987-1995), Dr. Alois Mock, Advisor to the Global Panel Foundation or HRH Prince Laurent of Belgium, President of the Royal Institute for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and the Promotion of Clean Technology.
For further information:
Flame of Peace: www.flameofpeace.org/page.php?26https://www.facebook.com/FlameofPeace/?fref=tshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flame_of_Peacehttps://diplomatmagazine.eu/2014/04/06/8613/Personal information about the President and Vice-President:
Genealogy: https://diplomatmagazine.eu/2014/03/29/royal-family-dmg-hague/
Royal House: http://granducato.org
By H.E. Ms. Vestine Nahimana, Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
On the occasion of the lifting of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran which effect, we all know, economically and politically asphyxiated the country, the Embassy of the Republic of Burundi in The Hague welcomes this decision and congratulates the Iranian people for the patience and the endurance which they displayed throughout the period of the international sanctions.
The pain endured by the Iranian people is the same pain that Burundians are currently unjustly facing. Some countries, in particular, the European Union countries and the United States of America have unfortunately relied on false information, and a misreading of the political and security situation in Burundi to impose unjust economic sanctions against the people of Burundi. The purpose of these sanctions, we know, are likely to weaken the national economy and that of the entire economic community which Burundi is one of the state parties.
The Embassy of the Republic of Burundi in The Hague also deplores the violent attitude of the radical Burundi opposition which organizes and uses terrorist attacks as a means of political expression. These terrorist attacks include the throwing of grenades against civilians in public places and conducting sporadic attacks on police and Military personnel and installations. In the same context, the Burundi Embassy in The Hague strongly condemns the attitude of some foreign media and international organizations that through the propagation of false reports manipulate and incite national and international public opinion against Burundi and breeds hatred and violence among the people of Burundi.
One example among many of the hateful culture of lies intended to manipulate international public opinion against Burundi and incite violence among its people is the recent widely televised video of a despicably violent attack against some civilians somewhere in West Africa by the French television channel France 3, portraying it to be a video of alleged violations perpetrated against civilian opposition members in Burundi. Pursuing this campaign of hate and lies against Burundi, Amnesty International, recently released a flawed and unscientific report alleging that its reading and analysis of it satellite images recorded over Burundi established the presence of mass graves in a predominantly agricultural area where soil and sand can be found. Any objective, independent and fair minded human rights investigator would have verified the satellite images through a site visit rather than make conclusory findings that insult, ignore and abuses the agricultural activities of the Burundian people under unjustified international sanctions.
The choice and the date of their publication clearly shows that the NGO wanted to influence the deliberations of the African Heads of States who met in Addis Ababa during the 26th African Union Summit to endorse the decision to send an African protection and prevention force to Burundi without the consent of the government and people of Burundi.
Fortunately, African Head of States like the Members of the UN Security Council relying on credible information available to them, have come to agree with the Government of Burundi which is convinced that the solution to Burundi’s political problems cannot and will never be military nor will come from unjust economic sanctions.
Burundi welcomes the fact that the international community is beginning to discover that the source of the insecurity afflicting Burundi is Rwanda. Information available to the government of Burundi and credible information from some media (France 24) and investigative reports by some International Experts, including UN Experts have confirmed that Rwanda which is a neighboring country to Burundi recruits, trains and arms Burundian citizens including minors in the MAHAMA Refugees Camp in Rwanda and sends them into to the territory of Burundi to commit armed attacks against civilians, security and military targets..
We know that some countries and some components of the international community have suspended or even stopped economic cooperation in order to force the democratically elected institutions by the sovereign people of Burundi and validated by the national and sub-regional judicial powers to submit and hand over power to anti-democratic Burundian forces. On the basis of credible information pointing to unprovoked acts of hostility and destabilization sponsored by Rwanda and executed by the violent opposition as the direct causes of the violence in Burundi, the Burundi Embassy in The Hague urges the countries which suspended economic cooperation with Burundi to review their positions. The Burundian Government is willing to conduct an open dialogue with its economic partners on all issues relevant to their bilateral cooperation.
Finally the Embassy of the Republic of Burundi in The Hague informs the international community that the leitmotiv of the Government of Burundi is dialogue. In this regard, the Embassy of the Republic of Burundi informs the international community that the inter-Burundian dialogue is ongoing in all provinces of Burundi. The ongoing Inter-Burundi dialogue will be extended to the members of Burundian diaspora for them to participate in this inclusive dialogue. Through this inter-Burundian dialogue, the people of Burundi hope to find a definite solution to the recurrent political problems that arise at the eve every election held in Burundi.
