By Sunday Oyinloye, West African Editor.
Hauwa Abbas wears different caps at different times. She is the founder and President of Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative (SLNI) a Non-Governmental Organization, established in 2009.
A Rotarian and honoured to be Chartered President- Rotary Club of Abuja Federal 2015-2016, district 9125. Through SLNI, her team and herself have designed and delivered programs which have demonstrated unprecedented success in community mobilization, service delivery and awareness raising in the in the areas of reproductive, maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health . Hauwa is fond of a quote by Sarah Caldwell, “learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can”.
In an interview with our West Africa Editor, Sunday Oyinloye, the young lady who has touched thousands of vulnerable lives speaks on the challenges facing women and the girl-child in Nigeria among other issues.
Some have argued that many NGOs in Nigeria were set up just to attract foreign grants, how would you react to this?
It must be noted that the failure of the states to provide specific services and opportunity for citizens and the constant need to bridge the noticeable gaps have led to the proliferation of NGOs in Nigeria. However, the governance structure of NGOs reveal their true motives especially when vested interests override true development principles in designing and costing programmes.
Most foreign grantors have not always taken their time to do due diligence that enables them to see through the charade and they end up with bitter experiences. SLNI was uniquely set up with the core drive for humanitarian services. Most of our initial funding was mobilised mainly from personal, close relatives and individuals who wanted to give back but did not have the time or understanding on how to go about it. As such, it becomes obvious that SLNI was in the sector to deliver lasting value to lives especially women and children who needed just a little push to get the necessary quality of life that they long for. SLNI’s governance structure and relentless undertakings to affect women and children is a testament to our uniqueness. The point i am making is that you can actually know the real NGOs from those just set up to attract foreign grants through their performance.
Also, I believe and encourage collaboration with partners both domestic and international. We have used various media outlets to address health challenges; this has contributed to increased health awareness in the lives of women and children in Nigeria.
Our work has been featured in numerous Nigerian media outlets on health issues such as AIT Special Report, Leadership Newspaper, This Day Newspaper, NTA news 24, The Punch Newspaper, Daily trust, Kiss FM and Rhythm Radio Nigeria. We are proud to have sat on the various National committees to advocate for policy change, namely the First Nigerian National Vaccine Summit (2012) amongst others. We were recently featured in Aljazeera’s report on reproductive health in Nigeria focusing on women in communities in Northern Nigeria.
What specific things has your NGO done to help children and mothers in the Northern part of your country?
In all modesty, we have done a lot. On the issues of Maternal Health/ development, we have undertaken several initiatives over the last six (6) years which include but are not limited to educating women in rural communities about their health like prevention, protection and treatment of pneumonia, use of long lasting treated nets for protection against malaria, proper hand washing techniques, preparation of home-made ORS solution for diarrhoea treatment, importance of prenatal, antenatal and postnatal care.
We have conducted healthcare services such as family planning, cervical cancer screening, voluntary counselling and testing services. Our NGO is conducting workshops for women diagnosed with HIV, providing Mama Delivery kits for rural women to ensure clean and safe delivery as well as providing folic acid for pregnant women. We provide vaccine related support. The NGO has conducted eye check-ups and distributed glasses to elderly widows and widowers in rural areas. Other things we do are trainings and workshops for women and coaching sessions for women and youth. Not only that, we provide subsidies for school tuition and boarding fees as well as annual Summer School activities for the kids at the orphanages homes.
You are from the Northern part of Nigeria which is currently facing insurgency. Many of the suicide bombers are alleged to be young girls, what are you doing to enlighten young girls in that part of Nigeria.
We have been promoting education and we shall continue to do that in the years ahead. Primary education is a fundamental human right for every young child .That ensures growth to contribute towards the development and prosperity of our country. It is no longer news that education provides the gateway for fulfilment of economic, political and cultural functions. That is why we are supporting the education of a good number of girls. The more education we give them the more they will be less prone to radicalisation. Young girls must start to understand their vital role in the task of eliminating poverty. They have to understand that they are the mothers of tomorrow. Educated women can understand the needs of the family.
I remember a sad case a few months ago in a state in Northern Nigeria concerning the misuse of Chlorhexidine 7.1% solution for umbilical cord care but was used as eye drops for babies. In this particular state, only 15% are literate. The rate of formal education is extremely low, so the question for us is how we can safeguard the lives of children from birth in Nigeria? Protection, guidance and support for every child should start from birth and continue until they reach adulthood. This is what we try to do at all time.
What solutions would you proffer to check the low rate of girl-child education in Nigeria especially the Northern part?
Dissuading and advocating against early marriages for the girl child in Nigeria. Marriage at a very young age leads women to conceive repeatedly, this affects different aspects of the young women’s health. Another solution is enforcement of the mandatory 9-year basic education for the girl child by coercing parents to comply.One good strategy that could also be used is to provide incentives for the girl-child to remain in school through conditional social welfare programmes like school feeding, performance based scholarships and so on.
What unique thing is your NGO planning for the vulnerable in the society in 2016?
We have plans to play a unique role in giving internally displaced persons especially women and girls an opportunity to move on with their lives through empowerment programmes that will show them how to pick up from where they are and achieve their full potential.
The 2013 Nigerian Demographic & Health Survey reports that although almost all babies are breastfed in Nigeria (98%), only a minority (33%) of mothers achieve the WHO-recommended initiation within one hour of birth and fewer still (17%) continue to breastfeed exclusively for six months. The Nigerian breastfeeding initiative, a consortium of partners both domestic and international which includes SLNI has joined forces to build a public-private partnership with a very specific goal: to achieve an increase in rates for timely and exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria. In 2016, SLNI intends to scale up breastfeeding awareness by educating families through our community outreach programs and Town hall meetings.
The initiative by partners will reduce the estimated annual 800,000 child deaths in Nigeria by 100,000. It is important to note that non-breastfed babies are 15 times more likely to die from pneumonia and 11 times more likely to die from diarrhoea.
SLNI has developed various programs over the years that are targeted towards vulnerable women and children in rural communities. We shall continue to mobilise funds, materials and supplies to meet their challenges.
By Samantha Brletich.
Russia signed an inter-governmental agreement in early late January 2016 that would resettle Mongolia’s debt to Russia which totaled $172 million, 97 per cent of Mongolia’s total debt. The debt forgiveness signals Moscow is moving closer to Ulan Bataar as it slowly losses grip on other Former Soviet Union Republics economically. Mongolia also presents an increased market opportunity for Russia and its petrol products. The use of financial instruments and debts to bring countries closer to Russia and to gain political concessions are a mainstay in Russia’s diplomatic toolkit.
The crashing oil market impacted Russia’s economy by shrinking Russia’s GDP and the regional economy causing many former Soviet Republics to rethink their economic policies and alliances. Countries heavily interconnected with Russia, politically and economically, suffered because of the crash of the commodities market and Western sanctions on Russia. Remittances dropped among four Central Asia states affecting their GDP. The slowed Russian economy has forced Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan—two of Russia’s closest allies out of the Former Soviet Union—to seek economic opportunities elsewhere.
Kazakhstan’s currency, the tenge, plunged 100 per cent in the last five months and the current exchange rate 352.08 tenge to one US dollar on 18 February. According to reporting on 23 February 2016 from Reuters, Kazakhstan’s economy will grow only 0.5 per cent, as opposed to the originally forecasted 2.1 per cent. Kazakhstan will also cut its oil output to 74 million tonnes. Kazakhstan’s is looking to Middle Eastern investors such as the United Arab Emirates. Kazakhstan’s diversifying economic partners is also reflected in Kazakhstan’s desire to be a bridge between Europe and Eurasia and to expand its bilateral economic partnerships.
The squeeze prompted discussion of raising rent rates for Russia who leases four of Kazakhstan’s military and space sites including the Sary Shagan and Emba missile testing sites. Russia, for all four sites, pays $24 million which is not enough according to Kazakhstan MPs. Russia is currently leasing Baikonur Cosmodrome from Kazakhstan for $115 million a year until 2050.
Kyrgyzstan also cancelled plans for a hydroelectric power plant (HPP) as the two companies, Inter RAO and RusHydro, responsible for the project were unable to finance the completion of the Kambar-Ata-1 HPP. President Vladimir Putin signed the agreement to construct the HPP in 2012 and costs projected at $3 billion. RusHydro was to build four smaller hydropower plants (HPP) costing $727 million. Citing information from EurasiaNet, Kyrgyz authorities are trying to find a way to avoid paying Russia a $40 million debt for a HPP in the Upper Naryn region.
Results for Kyrgyzstan in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) are mixed. Kyrgyzstan joined the EEU because of a large population of migrant workers in Russia, to strengthen bilateral ties, and access to traditional and regional markets. Kyrgyzstan’s inclusion in the EEU generated more migrant workers, about 544,000 Kyrgyz work in Russia today, according to Minister of Economy, Kylychbek Dzhakypov.
For the migrant workers, remittances dropped 28.3 per cent by the end of 2015; Tajikistan’s and Uzbekistan’s remittances dropped by half.
Internally, the resettlement of the debt favors Mongolia’s government. Mongolia’s Prime Minister survived a no confidence vote in January 2016 facilitated by Mongolia’s poor economic performance. Mongolia’s economy grew only 2.3 per cent in 2015, the slowest in seven years and since the 2009 global economic downturn. A drop in commodity prices, dwindling foreign investment, and a slowdown in Chinese trade contribute. One indicator of increased foreign direct investment is the end of negotiations over the Gatsuurt gold mine deposit permitting mining operations and the end of the dispute over Tavan Tolgoi.
“Clearly, the post-Soviet Russia avoids any strategic global competition with the US…Is it possible to (re-)gain a universal respect without any ideological appeal?” – Famously asked prof. Anis Bajrektarevic. Well, here might come an answer: Revived Oil-gas Russian diplomacy.
Debt forgiveness may be way to lure Mongolia to import more energy from Russia. Mongolia in 2014, imported 91 per cent of its petroleum products from Russia including: gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel. As of 2013, Mongolia imported $1.03 billion worth of refined petroleum products accounting for 67% of imports from Russia. In 2011, Mongolia imported 90 per cent of its petrol products from Russia. Trade volume between Russia and Mongolia decreased by 2.8% (May 2015).
Mongolia’s energy dependence makes it vulnerable to supply shocks and Russian politics as Russia terminated gas supply (Ukraine) during strained relations and spikes in anti-Russia sentiment. During April 2011, Russia cut its diesel supply to Mongolia because of shortages in its domestic supply which drove up costs of mining operations and logistics.
Energy dependence affects mining operations and infrastructure which Mongolia lacks. Improved infrastructure in the country would mainly be used to export mining goods. Concerns of sovereignty and control also drive Mongolia’s “Third Neighbor Policy.” Many fear that Chinese and Russian construction projects would make movement of Mongolia’s mining tonnage more dependent on the two countries. Another argument is that “such [railway] links would make Mongolia a natural resource backyard for China and even facilitate a Chinese demographic influx” into Mongolia.
Mongolia, to avoid energy dependence, needs to expand the “third neighbor policy” to avoid over-dependence. Mongolia’s should use its status as a democracy for increased cooperation and funding from the European Union and other Asian nations such as Japan and South Korea. Mongolia’s other “third neighbors” are all democracies. Mongolia also needs to diversify its economy from only exporting mineral resources. Russia will most likely take advantages of opportunities to advance the Mongolia-Russia bilateral relationship and to enhance Russia’s position in the region.
About the author:Samantha Brletich specializes in Central Asia Affairs with a focus on regional security, terrorism, economics, and culture. She possesses a Masters Degree in Peace Operations Policy from George Mason University in the United States. She can be reached at sbrletich@gmail.com
HM Willem-Alexander King of the Netherlands delivers speech at side event UN General Assembly. (Copyright: Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education jointly launched the project “Strengthening Small Island Developing States’ capacity in the water sector to cope with the effects of climate change”.
The project enables water professionals from SIDS countries to enrol in a Masters Programme or Short Course at UNESCO-IHE. The first group of five MSc students started in October and short course participants arrived in January for five weeks, with more planning to start in the upcoming months.
The first experiencesCrystal Conway is from Guyana and arrived in Delft recently on a SIDS scholarship. “Guyana actually means land of many waters”.“The majority of the population lives on what we call the low coastal plain, a mere two metres below sea level. Coming from Guyana to study my masters in Hydroinformatics is very valuable.”
One of the UNESCO representatives in Guyana had sent an informative email to several civil engineers asking them to share this message with their young colleagues. “I received the information by 1 September, I applied shortly after, on 23 September I heard that I had been accepted and three weeks later I arrived in The Netherlands. I am interested in geographic information systems and I had always wondered how I could put civil engineering and GIS together. For a water professional from a developing country like me, in search of a world-class education, studying at an institute like this is almost impossible, due to lack of funding. Fortunately UNESCO-IHE and the Dutch Government created that possibility for many of us and I would like to encourage more people to look into these opportunities”.‘’In my job I spend a lot of time in the field, talking to the people on the ground who deal with water related issues. For example, when it is low tide, salt water tends to intrude upstream going far into the rivers. Farmers have no choice but to use that water to irrigate their land, so they are in effect salting their land in the long term. This is one of many problems that needs to be looked at, but nobody has had the opportunity yet,” said Crystal Conway.
Rising sea levelAmit Singh from Fiji: “I heard about UNESCO-IHE from one of my colleagues, who noticed a post on Facebook. That is also how I found out about the SIDS programme. I did more research about the scholarship and then applied for the programme in Water Resources Management.”“Due to climate change and the subsequent rising sea level, it is of great importance to manage what we have. I would like to encourage fellow Pacific Islanders to apply for the SIDS Fellowships,” said Amit Singh.
Speech by Dutch King
At the UN event on implementing the Samoa Pathway in September 2015, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands stressed that nearly 700 million people live in low-lying coastal areas less than 10 metres above sea level and mentioned the challenges faced by the Small Island Developing States.
“Our Kingdom is actively reaching out to countries that face challenges similar to ours. We’re sharing our experience in water management with countries all around the world. And we’re making top Dutch water and delta expertise available to foreign governments urgently seeking to prevent water-related disasters. A Dutch team has visited the island states of Vanuatu and Kiribati this summer to advise their governments on water issues. We’re also offering scholarships and courses for SIDS at the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands.”
He closed the speech by saying that together, we can restore ocean health and work towards the sustainable development of our nations and people.
Delegation from Mauritius.Minister of Mauritius signs Memorandum of Understanding
On 20 January 2016, UNESCO-IHE welcomed Jayeshwur Raj Dayal, the Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, Disaster and Beach Management of Mauritius to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute for the development of an early warning system for storm surge. He took the opportunity to meet his fellow countryman, Niraj Tacouri who was at the Institute following a five week course on Port Planning and Infrastructure Design, funded by a SIDS fellowship.
Fellowships
UNESCO-IHE will provide at least 20 key water professionals with MSc level education on relevant topics for the SIDS, in two batches – the first one started in 2015, the second starts in October 2016. The 18 month MSc programmes includes 6 months’ field based research, to be conducted on specific problems in the home country of the participant. The deadline for SIDS Fellowships for the 2016-2018 MSc Specializations is 01 July 2016 – 23.59 (CET).
Furthermore, UNESCO-IHE will provide at least 50 water professionals and decision makers with specific expertise on relevant topics, by enabling them to enrol in UNESCO-IHE Short Courses. The deadline for SIDS fellowships are listed on the Short Course webpage.
Information:UNESCO -IHE Institute forWater Education https://www.unesco-ihe.org/
By H.E. Mr Mikalai Barysevich, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Throughout the centuries-old history the Belarusian nation has created rich and authentic heritage, both material and cultural. A lot of events have shaped the country’s history: the 9th century gives the first recorded accounts of the Polotsk Duchy that remained the dominating force in the region until the 13th century.
From 13th to 16th century Belarus was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a powerful state that spanned the territory from the Baltics to the Black Sea. Many historians regard this period as the Golden Age of Belarusian culture. Activity of enlightener Francysk Skaryna, writer and translator who was the second in the Slavic world to print the Bible, dates back to this very time.
In 1569 the Grand Duchy and the Kingdom of Poland signed the Union which signified the start of a new chapter in Belarusian history and lasted for more than two hundred years.
As a result of the division of Poland-Lithuania in the late 18th century between the mighty neighbours Belarus became part of the Russian Empire and later one of the Republics of the Soviet Union.
During both World Wars the Belarusian territory was the scene of bloody battles and the nation suffered the great losses of human lives. In 1941-1944 Belarus became the stronghold of the fiercest resistance movement to the Nazi occupational regime in Europe. One in three Belarusians was either killed or wounded during the World War II.
It was one of the reasons why Belarus in 1945 became a founding member of the United Nations.
In December 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union Belarus became independent.
Since then the Republic of Belarus has steadily taken its place on the political world map being actively involved in the most important international events.
Having advantageous geographical location as well as developed transport infrastructure and open economy Belarus aims to be the bridge between the European Union and Eurasian Economic Union (or in other words between East and West).
With the favorable legislation and beneficial conditions the Government of Belarus promotes the foreign companies to reside in Belarus and start doing business as well as to set production facilities. Today almost all major Dutch companies are present in Belarus including Heineken, Philips, Uniliever, DAF and others.
Belarus’ economic development is proved by the different international rakings.
Belarus jumped to the 44th standing from No. 57 among 189 countries in the World Bank’s Doing Business-2016. The position of Belarus is one of the strongest among CIS countries. In the sub-ranking of the above report, Belarus took the 7th place by “Registering Property” index, the 12th place by “Starting a Business” index and the 25th place by “International Trade” index.
Belarus holds 53rd position in the ranking of countries according to the Global Innovation Index 2015.
In the rating of countries by Human development index (HDI) published by the UN in 2015 Belarus occupied the well-deserved 50th place (among 188) and became the renowned leader among all the CIS countries.
In the IT-sector Belarus has already become one of the recognized leaders. At present 144 companies are registered as its residents in the High-Tech Park which was established in 2006 in Minsk where they could work without paying any corporate taxes. Half of the Belarus High-Tech Park resident-companies are foreign companies and joint ventures. Among the residents of the Park are a dozen of Dutch IT-companies.
According to the WTO Rating Belarus is one of the world leaders in the export of computer and IT-services per capita. Three of our companies are in the Top-100 of IT-outsourcing sphere. The resident companies of the High-Tech Park are successful on European and North American IT-markets. Today they have customers in more than 55 countries around the globe. Nowadays world leading corporations, such as Peugeot, Mitsubishi, British Petroleum, Gazprom, Reuters, British Telecom, London Stock Exchange, World Bank, Coca-Cola, etc. are among major consumers of Belarusian software developed in the Belarus Hi-Tech Park.
It might be interesting to know that the Viber mobile messenger application and the World of Tanks computer game enjoyed nowadays by hundred of million users worldwide are developed in Belarus.
Belarus has the aim to be among Top-30 countries according to the World Bank’s Doing Business Report. No doubt that this happens in a short perspective.
Embassy of the Republic of Belarus http://www.netherlands.mfa.gov.by/Photography by the Embassy of Belarus in the Hague.
By H. E. Fawaz Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Last month, I was delighted and honoured to present to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander my credentials as the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Netherlands, and to formally take up my role in developing the ties between our two countries. During my visit to The Hague, I was touched by the generosity of the welcome I received and by the enduring warmth and hospitality of the Dutch people.
During my friendly discussions with His Majesty and government officials, I was struck by just how much our two countries have in common, and how we can build on these shared values and circumstances to develop and expand our bilateral friendship.
To give just a few examples: both Bahrain and the Netherlands are steeped in history and culture and yet we share an outlook that is profoundly modern. We have dynamic, forward-looking economies that not only create skilled, high-technology jobs, but also serve as gateways to our regions and attractive destinations for foreign investment. Furthermore, both our countries play an active and constructive role on the world stage, strongly advocating the universal principles on which our security depends.
These common foundations have given rise to a long history of friendly cooperation between all levels of our societies. Today, we are proud to have some 350 Dutch expatriates in Bahrain, with Dutch companies playing leading roles in fields as diverse as logistics, engineering, and professional services.
As for the future, I am in no doubt that the Kingdoms of Bahrain and the Netherlands will develop an ever-stronger partnership, one which harnesses our unique strengths and resources to bring genuine benefits to both sides. For example, I am convinced that there is enormous potential to expand our trade and investment cooperation in areas such as petrochemicals, banking and finance – with a particular focus on Bahrain’s expertise as a hub for Islamic finance.
But I want our relationship to go way beyond just commercial transactions. I believe there is so much we can do to deepen the understanding between our peoples, and to strengthen a genuine sense of friendship and mutual respect. Through cultural, artistic, sporting and social contacts and exchanges, we can learn more of each other’s rich and unique history, and forge the close and enduring personal ties that are the bedrock of effective and durable relationships.
During my time as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain, I will work tirelessly to bring about this vision, in the confidence that strengthening our deep-rooted friendship with the Netherlands can be beneficial to both countries and their peoples. As a first step, I would hope that many of Diplomat magazine’s readers will have the opportunity to visit Bahrain, and to witness first-hand the tremendous potential that undoubtedly exists. We would be delighted to welcome you.
Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain: http://www.bahrainembassy.co.uk/Photography by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
By H.E. Ms. Ilze Rūse, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
“When I think of the Latvian presidency in the EU Council concluded on 1 July 2015, it was characterized as ‘vibrant’. This is an adjective that I would like to use, when presenting my country as a newly arrived ambassador in the Netherlands.”
Located in the north of Europe, Latvia with its two million inhabitants represents one of the fastest growing economies in the EU and a frontrunner of the internet speed in the world. It has a fascinating history of coexisting with Germanic, Scandinavian, Slavic influences and offers a rich cultural heritage. Just to mention that the conductors Mariss Jansons and Andris Nelsons, the soprano Elina Garanca, the violinist Gidon Kremerand the painter Mark Rotko are all born in Latvia.
Situated in the crossroads of trade routes, Latvia with its Indo-European origin has always had a unique geostrategic position. Dating back approximately 800 years, the relations between Latvia and the Netherlands are like “a stately oak tree.” Their historical ties have enjoyed prosperous periods of growth during the collaboration under the Hanseatic League and cities. For instance, trade in grain and timber with the Baltic sea region during late 16th century substantially facilitated the rise of Amsterdam as the “leading seaport”. During the 17th century more than 123 ships were built in the shipyards by Dutch craftsmen who settled in Ventspils, a coastal-town at the Western part of Latvia. Yet, official diplomatic ties between the countries sum up in just 96 years, as a result de facto independence interruption of the statehood from 1940 until 1991.
Despite its arduous past, today Latvia presents itself as a resilient country with prudent governance and a resolute European and Transatlantic commitment since its membership in the EU and NATO in 2004. During its EU presidency Latvia raised awareness in the EU on new security challenges, including hybrid threats, and possible EU responses, including through use of strategic communication. One of the largest presidency events – the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga on May 22, 2015, strengthened EU’s cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries.
In 2016, only 25 years after regaining its independence, Latvia has plausible prospects to obtain a full membership status in the OECD of the 34 most developed countries in the world. As an outcome of farsighted structural reforms and strict post-recession austerity measures that were caused by the severe financial crisis in 2008-2010, currently, Latvia has managed to reanimate its economic growth to 2.7% in 2015 expecting an increase to 3.1% during 2016. Furthermore, its budget deficit for 2015 was estimated at 1.3% of GDP, whereas, 2016 projections expect a decline to 1.0%.
The export-oriented strategy has been gradually stabilizing the external balance of trade with a current-account deficit expected to remain at 2% of GDP in 2016. For the first time since the recent economic slump, the unemployment rate dropped below 10% in 2015 continuing to slowly decline. Currently, the lowering of interest rates in Latvia supports a revival of consumer demand meanwhile increasing retail loans. Hence, Latvia managed to pay off its 2008 IMF bailout loan, joined the Eurozone in 2014, and has successfully repaid “75%” of the EU financial loan to date.
Riga, the capital city of Latvia, attracted international media attention by hosting the NATO Summit in 2006, whereas, its title of European Capital of Culture in 2014 brought a myriad of international guests. Many tourists visit Riga because of its picturesque Art Nouveau architecture and pristine sandy beaches stretching alongside the 498km long Baltic Sea coast. For many guests water temperatures are too low and they prefer to take the offer of nature tourism, as 52% of the country is covered with forests.
Come and visit the 2015 World Economic Forum’s 3rd greenest country in the world by choosing one of the two daily flights leaving from Amsterdam!
Embassy of Latvia in The Hague: http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/netherlandsPhotography by the Embassy of Latvia.
By H.E. Ms. Andrea Gustović-Ercegovac, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Kingdom of The Netherlands.
Croatia is a Central European and Mediterranean country, member of the EU and just a 2 hour flight from Netherlands. It’s thousand islands form one of the richest archipelagos in the Mediterranean. Croatia is an ideal relaxation spot, whether you enjoy sailing off on the crystal blue water or trying out the excellent oenological and gastronomic offer with your family and friends.
Netherlands and Croatia have more than a few things in common: they are both coastal countries, opened to the world, with a long maritime tradition, passion for cheese, talent for football, good fish and brave and dedicated people.
Last year 14 million tourists visited Croatia and 78.5 mil. overnight stays were created. Excellent road infrastructure is great advantage, creating Croatia one of the closest Mediterranean destinations for European tourists.
What many modern tourists appreciate the most is the preserved nature, the sound of silence pierced only with the murmuring sound of summertime crickets. Due to its location but also care for natural heritage Croatia has a crystal-clean sea. Over 90 percent of Croatian beaches have been rated as excellent in high quality. On a relatively small space it has 8 national parks and 11 nature parks. Four national parks are situated in the costal and four in the mountainous region: Brijuni, Kornati, Mljet, River Krka, Plitvice Lakes, Risnjak, Paklenica and Northern Velebit.
Plitvice Lakes are the most popular continental locations, the national park is situated between mountains and its untouched beauty creates a mythical atmosphere. The beauty of the Park lies in its sixteen lakes, inter-connected by a series of waterfalls, and set in deep woodland populated by deer, bears, wolves, boars and rare bird species. The value of natural and cultural beauty of Croatia is also recognized by UNESCO in 1979 when the Old Town of Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes were included on the list of world heritage sites.
However the sunny coast is not the only thing worth seeing. Just to mention that the capital Zagreb won Best European Christmas Market title in 2015 and travelers from all over the world voted city of Zadar as the best European destination for 2016.
Curious Dutch tourist can find many historical sites, very well preserved, because for centuries Croatia was on the crossroads of many important historical events. With nine of its cultural phenomena, Croatia is the country with the most protected non-material heritage in Europe listed on the UNESCO list. UNESCO protected sites attract many tourists: Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian, Old City of Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes, Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč, Historic City of Trogir, the Cathedral of St James in Šibenik and the Stari Grad Plain on the island of Hvar. It is also a country of many interesting castles. Many of them are built after the Ottoman wars and most of them are situated in the area of Croatian Zagorje and date from the Baroque period.
At the end I will conclude with the Croatian cuisine, which is diverse and well known as a cuisine of different regions, continental and costal. Meat products, freshwater fish and vegetables dominate in continental regions. Coastal regions feature seafood specialties, olive oil, prosciutto and cheese. Dalmatian vines, such as Babić, Malvasia, Prošek and Vrbnik Žlahtina are well known and can be bought in the Netherlands.
I strongly recommend the readers to visit Croatia. Above spending holidays in a pleasurable and warm atmosphere it also might help us to appreciate that the similarities bring us closer while diversity is what makes the world beautiful.
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in The Hague http://nl.mvep.hr/nl/Photography by Embassy of the Republic of Croatia The Hague.
By H.E. Ittiporn Boonpracong, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
This year marks the 412nd year of Dutch-Thai relations. I am delighted to share with you some aspects of what we have achieved over the past four centuries:
The relations between the Netherlands and Thailand could be traced back to the beginning of the 17th Century when the first Dutchman made his appearance in Siam. During that time, Siamese capital, the City of Ayutthaya, was one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and centre of global diplomacy and commerce.[1] It attracted many trading partners from China, Persia and Europe. Our civilisation was depicted in an oil painting called the View of Judea (Ayutthaya), the Capital of Siam, on displayed at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.[2]
A Dutch company called VOC (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) came to Thailand to trade around 1603. One year later, diplomatic relations were officially established after Frederick Henry of Orange sent an ambassador to negotiate trading partnership with Siam in 1604. As a consequence, the VOC was granted a royal permission to have its first shipyard in Ayutthaya and later became an influential entity in commercial and socio-political aspects of Siam.
A remaining trace of Dutch community in Ayutthaya is a large shipyard and cargo establishment on the mouth of Chao Phraya River, known amongst Dutch people as the ‘New Amsterdam’. Siamese people called it ‘Baan Vilanda’ or ‘Baan Holanda’, which means Dutch village in Thai language. Baan Vilanda was recently renovated into the Information Centre on the History of Dutch-Thai Relations, following a donation by Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix during Her State visit to Thailand, as the Queen of the Netherlands, for the celebration of 400th anniversary of Dutch-Thai relations in 2004. The Centre has good collections of Dutch-Thai historical items, e.g. the VOC meticulous archives, and is a hidden gem that has yet been known amongst many tourists. You may plan your visit there by visiting http://www.baanhollanda.org/en/.
Solid is a word I would use to describe the Dutch-Thai relations. Even during the most sensitive time when colonialism was perceived as the biggest threat in the region, our Royal Courts still maintained trust and provided helps for each other. During that difficult time for Siam, King Rama V decided to steer the country towards knowledge enlightenment in order to maintain Siam’s partnerships with foreign countries and to avoid being colonised. The attempt was successful and it resulted in a leap of the country’s infrastructure development especially in setting up the very first water management system in Bangkok with the help of water experts from the Dutch side.
In present days, close ties between the Netherlands and Thailand at every level are ever growing. The Thai Royal Archives provide records of communications which show that the two Royal Courts have been exchanging gifts and visits since the 19th Century. And even though Thailand went through a change from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy in 1931, which keeps the Thai Royal Family away from politics, the current Royal Families maintain close ties between each other. The exchanges of royal visits have strengthen the bond between the two countries.
On Government to Government relations, the Netherlands and Thailand have entered into more and more meaningful and tangible cooperation. This year, in particular, as the Netherlands being the President of the European Union and Thailand being the ASEAN-EU coordinator, we are working together even closer for the mutual benefits of not only our countries but also our regions.
In terms of people to people connection, Thailand has been the destination of about 200,000 Dutch tourists on an annual basis and definitely we would be more than happy to welcome more of them. We have just launched multiple-entry tourist visa this year. Furthermore, tourists who are 50 year-old and over may enjoy the benefit of extended stays in Thailand. You may visit http://www.thaiembassy.org/hague/th/services or contact visumthai@gmail.com for more information about eligibilities and required documents.
To sum up, I must say that throughout this time, the Netherlands and Thailand have been walking together on a long and steady road. I am very content to see our relations flourish. It is a proof that we are on the right track. Importantly, I am confident that together we will be able to identify better and innovative ways to develop even more meaningful relations between our countries and peoples in the future.
[1] UNESCO: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/576 accessed 25/2/2016
[2] Rijksmuseum: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-A-4477 accessed 25/2/2016
Royal Thai Embassy http://www.baanhollanda.org/en/Photography by IISD RS coverage of the Twenty-seventh Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC27/GMEF), 18-22 February 2013, UNEP headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya.
Key to Stop Refugee Flows: Unique higher education programme for Conflict zone.By Prof. Djawed Sangdel.
The EU Refugee crisis can not be effectively tackled without addressing the root problems. Why the unique higher education program for development in conflict zones with or without internet connectivity is the key to stop refugee flow? Is this the cheapest, most effective and most durable way to eventually reverse the trend by stabilizing the sending countries for a longer run?
Key benefits:
Accessible in all geographic areas – including conflict zones
Accessible to all communities and groups (regardless of gender or economic status)
No cost to students
High quality, needs-based content
Flexible learning access – TV, online platform and offline CD package
Quality controlled assessment
Designed and led by international experts in higher education
Programme delivered in 3 languages: English, Dari and Pashto
A model for accessible, needs-based higher education globally
Dunya University of Afghanistan (DUA), in association with Swiss UMEF University of Geneva, has developed a new, critically-needed education programme for delivery to the population of Afghanistan. Drawing on the expertise and extensive experience of leaders from Afghanistan’s higher education sector and faculty from around the world, this initiative provides access to high quality higher education specifically designed to respond to the needs of the Afghan population, whose country continues to suffer the impact of decades of war.
One of the major problems in Afghanistan for over 40 years now has been the lack of access to education across all sectors of society. We have therefore developed a new method of teaching open to all – at no cost to the student.
The key innovation of this integrated, progressive programme is its flexible access using three methods of delivery: teaching by television, an online learning platform and offline learning (with CD course and textbook package). This means that the programme is accessible to all communities, including those in conflict zones, as well as to different learner groups, economically, geographically and culturally.
The initiative’s rationale is anchored in the critical need to develop an educated and confident population in Afghanistan, and in doing so, nurture future leaders with an ethical focus on the interests of the country and region – and the world. By providing high quality education opportunities to diverse groups in all sections of the population, this programme promotes and supports future economic prosperity, stronger social cohesion and therefore greater security in Afghanistan.
Students are offered undergraduate and graduate modules in relevant subjects including management and business, finance and economics, innovation, leadership and diplomacy. All courses are designed and led by expert international faculty, with syllabi specifically adapted to the social and economic needs of Afghanistan, such as leadership courses for women and courses designed to foster and support entrepreneurial activity. The courses are available in English, Dari and Pashto.
Delivery of the learning programme via three channels gives students optimum flexibility and accessibility: DUA’s online platform serves those students in areas with connectivity, while the offline CD and textbook packs means students with no internet access can also follow the programmes. DUA’s own television channel is dedicated solely to educational broadcasting and allows communities in even remote or conflict-affected zones to access the education programmes.
Quality-controlled assessment will take place through interim exam centres set up in regional locations according to local enrolment numbers. This sets the programme apart from education delivered purely online, by maintaining rigorous, university assessment standards.
Due to the ongoing shortage of higher education provision, more than 150,000 people annually remain unable to obtain a university place in Afghanistan. Our programme offers this sector of the population the opportunity to gain an education to support both their future and the future development of their country. It also provides young people who would otherwise leave Afghanistan with an incentive to stay in their country, and achieve success as students, citizens and potential future leaders.
A quarter of refugees worldwide are from Afghanistan. Afghans make up the second largest refugee population in Europe, with at least 64,000 applications for asylum so far this year. The Afghan population needs the opportunity, incentive and motivation of accessible, quality education in order to build confidence within the country and region.
Our initiative is supported by DUA’s existing reputation in Afghanistan as leading education provider and trusted brand. We are very proud of this unique programme, which has been developed by academic experts of over 20 nationalities during a period of over five years. The faculty and researchers involved in development of the project have significant experience in education in conflict and/or post-conflict zones, and all bring their commitment to development of accessible education to support leadership for peace and security.
Following successful delivery of this programme in Afghanistan, our aim is to make this programme available as an effective model for other conflict and post-conflict countries in world.
Photography by UMEF University.Prof. Djawed Sangdel, professor of Entrepreneurship, is the Swiss UMEF University Rector, based in Geneva, Switzerland. He authors numerous publications, applied research findings, programs and projects on three continents.
Why are nine of the top ten polo players in the world (with a handicap of 10), and 19 of the top 20 (with a handicap of 9), all from Argentina?
“We start young, we play all year around, our horses are well-trained and… we are obsessed with the game,” explains Ruben Jabib, owner of Argentina Polo Day, one of the leading polo companies in Argentina.
The international handicap system is based on a scale that starts at -2 for novices, rising to 10 for the very best players. In Argentina the handicap system starts at 0, so a regular player there is a very good one outside their country.
Argentina Polo Day.
In any professional polo game in Europe, one can easily identify Argentinean polo players; they are sometimes called hired assassins as they score so often.
Argentinean polo teams come once a year to Wassenaar and Friesland in the Netherlands among many other cities in Europe to play a season against local teams. The near-untouchable Argentineans are widely regarded as the best in the world.
The professional polo season in Argentina runs from September to December, but the game is played at a lower level throughout the year.
Equestrian culture is deeply embedded in the country. Just few kilometers from downtown Buenos Aires one can find the vast fertile, lowland plains – Pampas – where countless world-class horses are bred. They are admired and purchased by enthusiasts from around the world, be it Mexico or the United Arab Emirates.
While polo is often considered an elitist sport in Europe, in Argentina it is popular game enjoyed by many. Farmers often have their own playing pitches where they organize family matches, and major league matches are televised, often attracting crowns of over 40,000.
There are more than 13,000 active polo players nationwide –more than any other country in the world. Unlike in many other nations, polo businesses often come in the form of small, family-run companies, making the sport a proud family heritage. These family companies are involved in every aspect of the game, from breeding the horses to manufacturing the polo sticks.
Many companies are increasingly using new technologies such as embryonic transplantation and cloning, but the time-tested tradition of breeding and training a polo horse is still deeply rooted in the Argentinean culture.
Professionals and amateurs from around the world travel to Argentina Polo Day for training, to take intensive classes, to play professional tournaments and to buy horses. Luxury accommodation and the best instructors can be combined with participation in Argentina’s top high handicap tournaments: The Triple Crown, Tortugas Country Club, Hurlingham Polo Club and Palermo Polo Open.
Even those unfamiliar with horse-riding can enjoy Argentina Polo Day, in Capilla del Señor (Chapel of the Lord), an historical city located 82 kilometres in the northern part of Buenos Aires Province, to spend some time learning about the game’s history; getting to grips with its rules and basic techniques; watching professional games; enjoying the finest empanadas, asados and wine; taking classes; participating in mini tournaments; and relaxing in the pool before heading back to downtown Buenos Aires at the end of the day.
Argentina Polo Day became a very attractive option for those seeking to discover the secrets of one of the most exclusive sports in the world.
For additional pictures, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157665097997715Photography by Ashley Neuhof. Cortesy of Argentina Polo Day- All rights reserved.
Rising sea level
Amit Singh from Fiji: “I heard about UNESCO-IHE from one of my colleagues, who noticed a post on Facebook. That is also how I found out about the SIDS programme. I did more research about the scholarship and then applied for the programme in Water Resources Management.”
“Due to climate change and the subsequent rising sea level, it is of great importance to manage what we have. I would like to encourage fellow Pacific Islanders to apply for the SIDS Fellowships,” said Amit Singh.
Speech by Dutch King
At the UN event on implementing the Samoa Pathway in September 2015, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands stressed that nearly 700 million people live in low-lying coastal areas less than 10 metres above sea level and mentioned the challenges faced by the Small Island Developing States.
“Our Kingdom is actively reaching out to countries that face challenges similar to ours. We’re sharing our experience in water management with countries all around the world. And we’re making top Dutch water and delta expertise available to foreign governments urgently seeking to prevent water-related disasters. A Dutch team has visited the island states of Vanuatu and Kiribati this summer to advise their governments on water issues. We’re also offering scholarships and courses for SIDS at the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands.”
He closed the speech by saying that together, we can restore ocean health and work towards the sustainable development of our nations and people.
While polo is often considered an elitist sport in Europe, in Argentina it is popular game enjoyed by many. Farmers often have their own playing pitches where they organize family matches, and major league matches are televised, often attracting crowns of over 40,000.
There are more than 13,000 active polo players nationwide –more than any other country in the world. Unlike in many other nations, polo businesses often come in the form of small, family-run companies, making the sport a proud family heritage. These family companies are involved in every aspect of the game, from breeding the horses to manufacturing the polo sticks.
Many companies are increasingly using new technologies such as embryonic transplantation and cloning, but the time-tested tradition of breeding and training a polo horse is still deeply rooted in the Argentinean culture.
Professionals and amateurs from around the world travel to Argentina Polo Day for training, to take intensive classes, to play professional tournaments and to buy horses. Luxury accommodation and the best instructors can be combined with participation in Argentina’s top high handicap tournaments: The Triple Crown, Tortugas Country Club, Hurlingham Polo Club and Palermo Polo Open.
Even those unfamiliar with horse-riding can enjoy Argentina Polo Day, in Capilla del Señor (Chapel of the Lord), an historical city located 82 kilometres in the northern part of Buenos Aires Province, to spend some time learning about the game’s history; getting to grips with its rules and basic techniques; watching professional games; enjoying the finest empanadas, asados and wine; taking classes; participating in mini tournaments; and relaxing in the pool before heading back to downtown Buenos Aires at the end of the day.
Argentina Polo Day became a very attractive option for those seeking to discover the secrets of one of the most exclusive sports in the world.
For additional pictures, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157665097997715
Photography by Ashley Neuhof. Cortesy of Argentina Polo Day- All rights reserved.