Participants of the fourth African Union – International Criminal Court Joint Seminar in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).On 23 October 2015, representatives of African Union Member States gathered in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) for a joint seminar co-hosted by the African Union (AU) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to establish greater engagement and mutual understanding. This was the fourth joint AU/ICC seminar of a technical nature held at AU headquarters, the first one being held on 18 and 19 July 2011. Seminar participants included representatives of the Permanent Missions of the African Union Member States and the Regional Economic Communities as well as Officials of the African Union Commission and ICC. The event was held with the support of the International Organisation of La Francophonie and the European Union.The meeting focused on complementarity and how to build the capacity of national institutions to deal with international crimes. The speakers also discussed the role of the ICC and the future African Court of Justice and Human and Peoples’ Rights. The ICC is the first permanent, treaty-based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, namely war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Soraya Sikander is coming to the Embassy Art Festival were she will represent her country Pakistan; she is one of today’s leading Contemporary South Asian painters. The recognition for her work has come through critical acclaim and the extraordinary popularity with the international public, making her one of today’s most sought after artists with non-stop sell out exhibitions.
Soraya Sikander have ben trained in old masters classical drawings at The London Atelier of Representational Arts (LARA), and UCL’s Slade Summer School. She graduated from Beaconhouse National University, Pakistan.
Her artworks are in private and public collections. She has the distinction of being a TEDx art speaker. Soraya Sikander’s artworks have been featured and reviewed extensively by: HELLO!, Khaleej Times, Gulf News, The Gulf Today, Islamic Arts Magazine, Artlyst, Caravan Daily, Iris, Youlin, Professor Gerda Roper (Dean of Fine Arts, University of Teesside) and Juliet Highet (Art critic, Author ‘Frankincense’)
Soraya is acclaimed for a new style of painting that imbibes elements of calligraphy into landscape painting. The fusion results in some astounding, original works of contemporary landscape art. Her floral paintings are rich in light, shade and tone and suggest organic patterns. Soraya Sikander is renowned for the series ‘In, At, Around – exploring urban space’.
She has exhibited at the Dhaka Museum, Shilpaka Academy, La Galleria Pall Mall, Royal Opera Arcade, Unicorn Gallery, Alhamra Art Gallery. Upcoming exhibitions include: Galerie Patries Van Dorst, Monda, The National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah.
The Embassy Art Festival is organise by Diplomat Magazine and Gallery Patrice van Dorst together with 18 embassies. Each Embassy is represented by talented contemporary artists coming to the Netherlands specially for the Embassy Art Exhibition.
His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima are to pay a state visit to the People’s Republic of China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The visit will take place in the last week of October. After Beijing the royal couple will visit the Loess Plateau in Shaanxi province, continuing on to Shanghai and Hangzhou.The King and Queen will be accompanied by foreign minister Bert Koenders. A broad-based economic mission will also visit China at the same time. As part of the mission, Minister for Agriculture Sharon Dijksma will head an agriculture and food delegation and State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport Martin van Rijn a life sciences and health delegation.China is modernising rapidly. The country is focusing not only on growth itself, but also on the quality of that growth and on the environment. As a strategic partner in a wide range of areas, the Netherlands can help China achieve sustainable urbanisation. During the state visit, attention will focus among other things on farming, the agri-food industry, horticulture and landscape development, e-commerce, sport and design.President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the Netherlands in March 2014. Since then, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and foreign minister Bert Koenders have visited China.BeijingBesides meetings with the authorities and the official events of the state visit, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will also visit the Sino-Dutch Dairy Development Centre (SDDDC) just outside Beijing. SDDDC is a dairy farm and research centre where Dutch and Chinese companies work together to develop the Chinese dairy sector.The royal couple will also attend a football training session where Dutch and Chinese trainers work with young footballers using Dutch methods. China is keen to introduce football training into the primary and secondary school curriculum. A visit to the ‘Next City Living Lab’, the Dutch pavilion at Beijing Design Week showcasing innovative solutions for the impact of urbanisation, is also planned. The pavilion is in Dashilar, a traditional district, or hutong, in Beijing, which has been renovated and retains its original structure.At a lunch reception, the King and Queen will meet Chinese and Dutch representatives from the cultural, civil-society and non-governmental sectors to discuss Sino-Dutch cooperation and exchange. The royal couple will also join a round table meeting of Dutch and Chinese CEOs.Queen Maxima.Loess PlateauAfter their visit to Beijing the royal couple will depart for Yan’an in Shaanxi province where they will visit the Loess Plateau, an example of how a landscape that has eroded through the centuries can be restored and once more play a role in the economy. Apple farms have now been established there, which has boosted farmers’ income in the region. After attending a presentation by the Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (ISWC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the King and Queen will tour the area and visit an apple farmer. They will also watch a dance performance in the village of Gaoshishi.Shanghai and HangzhouOn arrival in Shanghai the King and Queen will meet the Dutch community in China. They will then visit CELAP, the Chinese national training institute for high-ranking public officials. The King will give a speech, which among other things will address the issue of balanced long-term developments from an administrative perspective.Ambassador Xu ChenDuring a visit to Chongming Island the focus will be on conservation management and recreation in the vicinity of urban centres. The King and Queen will visit a special reserve for migratory birds – a WWF initiative – and a model greenhouse system supplied by Dutch companies. Employing the latest in sustainable technology, greenhouse systems such as this enable an increase in food production in urban environments. The King will then visit the Free Trade Zone and attend a reception with Dutch companies and their Chinese business partners. Queen Máxima will visit Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen’s ‘The Future of Fashion is Now’ exhibition, brought to Shanghai for three months by OCAT (Overseas Chinese Town Art Terminal).The state visit will end with a visit to the Alibaba campus in Hangzhou. The visit will include Dutch e-commerce initiatives in China, and the official launch of the online sales channel ‘Holland Pavilion’. KLM’s direct flights between Hangzhou and Amsterdam will also be highlighted.
Thandie M.V. Photography by Alexandar Petrenko.New book tells story of diversity, international living and connects cultures globally through children’s play and places.
Author Thandie M.V. has been inspired by her daughter Rose, who has lived in several countries and experienced the joy of gaining new friends, but also the pain of losing friends, nannies and constantly changing schools and homes.
Rose’s experience prompted her to write “To Catch a Rainbow-Connecting People, Play, and Places,” (published by AuthorHouse UK). This is a story about travel, diversity and international living which connects cultures across the globe through people, children’s play and places.
A little girl, Rose, comes from two countries and travels the world with her parents wherever they have to work. Making friends seem easy and hard at the same time, packing bags gets tiring, while seeing new places is always an exciting adventure. Little Rose has become adaptable to change, but even then, international living while a great adventure is challenging.
Rose’ full of life personality and her tact in adapting to difficult situations have been inspiring and one that many kids and families will relate to and/or learn from. To Catch a Rainbow symbolizes the existence of culturally diverse worlds that little Rose finds in all the countries she travels to. It signifies how people from all over the world are mingling all the time.
“This book addresses an aspect of expatriate lifestyles- and to an extent- managed migration- all told from a child’s perspective,” the author says. “The world today faces a growing crisis on migration and how people react to foreigners. This is a story of people integrating positively in foreign countries. It can be a teaching guide on accepting others different from us and explains in simple language why people leave their home countries to live in foreign countries.”“To Catch a Rainbow,” fosters a positive message on how globalization is changing the face of national identities by connecting cultures and peoples through travel.
“To Catch a Rainbow” By Thandie M.V.
Softcover | 8.5 x 8.5in | 50 pages | ISBN 9781504945295
E-Book | 50 pages | ISBN 9781504945301
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the AuthorThandie Mwape Villadsen trained as a Journalist at Evelyn Hone College in Zambia and has a Master of Arts in Leading Innovation and Change from York St John University in England.
Thandie is married to Henrik Villadsen, a Danish lawyer. She has fourteen years of experience in international relations (peace, security & humanitarian affairs) with the United Nations in East Timor, Kosovo, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Zimbabwe, New York and Geneva.
Prior to joining the United Nations, Thandie worked as a Reporter at Radio Phoenix in Zambia and as an international portfolio journalist for the South African Broadcasting Corporation in Johannesburg.
Thandie is a finalist graduate Student of the University of London’s Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy in a Master of Arts in Global Diplomacy. She has a keen interest in globalisation and its effect on international security. To Catch a Rainbow fosters a message on how globalization is changing the face of national identities by connecting cultures and peoples through travel.
On the 13th of October the in house orchestra of Legoland, Denmark, performed at two schools in The Hague.
The orchestra consists of a group of 35 young musicians who usually play in the Lego theme park in Billund, Denmark. This week the talented young musicians are on tour in The Netherlands and decided to surprise a large number of school children with a concert.
Dressed in their red and blue uniforms the orchestra marched in, to perform for the school children.
The children got the chance to enjoy classics from The Lion King and The Jungle Book as well as interpretations of music from Pharrel and Bruno Mars.
At the British School
And surely the school children did enjoy. After the introductory music from the orchestra, the children were not able to sit still any longer. It quickly evolved into a large dance session, with all the happy children celebrating to the music from the Lego orchestra.
After the concert the young musicians nearly could not escape the school, without high-fiving every single child.
In the run up to the European Council on 15 October the Commission presented a statement today in which it shall report on the implementation of the priority measures of the European migration agenda.
President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker said: “European leaders have three weeksflocked ago to agree on a concrete catalog of measures with which weshould take urgent. The Commission has already fulfilled its promises.
We need more moneyallocated to the refugee crisis – and our budget has been modified by bothco-legislators approved. We have sent experts to Greece and Italy to the hotspotsenrelocation arrangements to launch and we have urged all member states insisted thatthey are correctly implementing the EU’s common asylum rules.
There are now concrete results,but Member States must do more. Noble words must be followed up at home in theform of concrete measures. “
Member States need to quickly respond to requests for national experts put on the hotspots to inform the Commission about their capacity and establish a national focal point to coordinate the relocation in Greece and Italy and the national resettlement activities.
Many Member States have yet to offer their own equivalent funding to support the UNHCR, the World Food Programme and other relevant organizations (500 million euros), the regional trust fund from the EU to Syria (500 million euros) and the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (1.8 billion euro).
Member States should also ensure the correct implementation of EU legislation. The Commission has not yet received an answer to the 40 written warnings at the September sent to the States on potential or actual breaches of EU asylum legislation (in addition to the 34 cases that were already pending at September 23).
Photography by G. Buonamassa.By Roy A Lie Tjam.
On the initiative of Diplomat Magazine and Gallery Patries van Dorst, under the support of Vimpelcom was inaugurated the long awaited 1st Embassy Art Exhibition on Wednesday 14 October at Landgoed de Witenburg, Wassenaar on 14 October.
For a photo album on the opening of the Embassy Art Exhibition featuring China, Lebanon, Serbia and Ukraine, please click here:https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157659633925150
also: http://www.patriesvandorst.nl/over-ons/embassy-art-exhibtion/Artist Liu Xiang, China.
Exhibitors and guests were warmly welcomed by Dr. Mayelinne De Lara from Diplomat Magazine, Patries van Dorst & Carel Reisch owners of the Gallery Patries van Dorst and also by artists and representatives of China, Ms Abir Ali Chargée d’affairs of Lebanon, H. E. Petar Vico Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia and H. E. Olexander Horin Ambassador of Ukraine.
The artists were Liu Xiang, Sofie Xie, Yun Xie, China. Tomislav Paunkovic, Jasmina Pejčić, Ivana Milenković, Nina Šrajber, Serbia and Vasyliy Kohutych, Ukraine.
From Lebanon Yazan Halwani, Inaya Hodeib and Lara Zankoul; all displayed appealing works of art. The opening night provided a variety of works to delight the senses. Paintings, sculptures landscapes, surrealist pieces, the human form as well as nature were all interpreted in a unique way.
Family picture of some of the head of missions present at the vernissage.
During the welcome remarks Dr De Lara explained how the project was born and addressed a word of thanks to all embassies and those who have made this event possible, special thanks to the Ambassador for their enthusiasm and commitment.
Carel Reisch said: ‘In April we started this project and I have more white hair now than I had before. It was quite achievement to have the freedom to work with 50 artists to get all organised in such short time. On behalf of the artists please note that most of the art you see here is for sale; special thanks to the Ambassador for their enthusiasm’.
Focusing on one of the exhibiting countries, Lebanon, the Charge d’affaires a.i. Ms Abir Ali flanked by artist Ms. Inaya Hodeib noted ‘Art is not a luxury, art is a necessity. A necessity to bring people together and this exhibition that showcases artists from two continents and four countries proves that art can be a common denominator.’ Abir Ali continued, ‘I am happy that Lebanon is participating along with the embassies of China Serbia and Ukraine.’Our artist belong to different arts expressions, the three of them extreme equal talented creators and modern, on display are works by Mr. Yazan Halwani a graffiti street artist, Ms, Inaya Hodeib, a painter and sculptor and Ms. Lara Zankoul a self taught photographer.’‘As you can see in Lebanon and in my region we don’t lack talent, we don’t lack modernity and we don’t lack hope what’s we lack it’s a strong commitment and joint the international efforts for peace’.It’s the first edition of the annual Embassy Art Exhibition, with 18 embassies, over 50 international artists participating and more than 300 pieces of artworks to be displayed from all over the world.
Ambassador of Ukraine H. E. Olexander Horin remarks, ‘I think that Wassenaar will be known very soon not only for the posh residencies of the ambassadors, and the place where Wassenaar agreements were signed on expert control, but also by this wonderful initiative of the Embassy Art Exhibition which will give an opportunity to bring the most interesting and young and old artist to present their wonderful words here.’ ‘Ukraine is represented here by a young 30 years old painter Vasiliy Kohutych, his intense draws, landscapes, portraits seems taken from life. ‘Deputy of the Embassy of Iran Mr. Habiballah Maleskshah, Ambassadors of Libya H.E. Mr. Breik A.B. Swessi, Tunisia H. E. Karim Ben Becher and Egypt H.E. Taher Farahat
This unique exhibition started on October 14th and will run until November 10th. A vernissage reception will be taking place each week and will be co-hosted by the ambassadors from the embassies for that particular week along with the exhibiting artists.
The participating embassies are: Armenia, Bangladesh, Ukraine, China, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Italy, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Pakistan, Iran, Rwanda, Serbia, Slovenia, Tunisia and Venezuela.
Serbian Artist, Mr. Tomislav Paunković, Ms. Helena Tošić and Ms. Gordana Ljubisavljević, First Counsellor at the Serbian Embassy.
During his speech Ambassador of Serbia H. E. Petar Vico expressed his delight with the great opportunity for embassies and artists to be exposed to the Dutch public in this exceptional gallery, moreover he reflected on the art as a particular common field for partnership among countries.
He said, ‘ I’m particularly honored that the Republic of Serbia, on such an important event, is represented by the works of four Serbian artists as Tomislav Paunković, Ivana Milenković, Nina Schreiber and Jasmina Pejčić.’ Tomislav Paunković whose biggest influence is Rembrandt van Rijn and who has previously exhibited in many European countries, was present at the opening.
Ambassador Vico pointed out that cultural bonds between countries are the strongest ones. He expressed his satisfaction that the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague participated in such an event that has contributed to further strengthening of cultural ties.
Serbia delegation including painter Tomislav Paunković, singer Ms. Helena Tošić and embassy staff were actively participating of the event exchanging ideas and talking about Serbia art to the guest.
October 21 will be the opening night for artists from: Bangladesh, Kenya, Kosovo, Rwanda and Tunisia. Embassy Art Exhibition is sponsor by Vimpelcom.
For information:http://www.patriesvandorst.nl/over-ons/embassy-art-exhibtion/
HRH The Princess Royal visits Belgium to commemorate British nurse Edith Cavell.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy James Hamilton Laurence attended on October 12 the commemoration of the centenary of the execution of heroic British nurse Edith Cavell in Brussels. They were joined by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium.For a photo album please click here:https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157660214972175
British Ambassador to Belgium Alison Rose said:
“We are remembering Edith Cavell for her example of courage and duty and we hope this will serve to those involved in nursing and medicine today; people who are pioneers in their own fields whether in new treatments or for nursing in difficult or dangerous situations.”
Princess Anne, together with HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium unveiled a contemporary bust of Edith Cavell in Park Montjoie which adjoins Edith Cavell Road and is close to the Edith Cavell hospital.
Their Royal Highnesses also attended a ceremony in the Belgian Senate in Brussels, the location of Edith Cavell’s trial and sentencing.
This event was dedicated to celebrating Edith Cavell’s nursing legacy in Belgium and the United Kingdom. Princess Anne also visited the Queen Fabiola Children’s University hospital – the only Belgian hospital entirely dedicated to children’s medicine.
On the picture Ambassador of Spain H. E. Mr. Fernando Arias Gonzalez with Mr. Punyet Miró.By Roy Lie A Tjam.
A special exhibition of work of the Spanish artist Joan Miró is on show at the Cobra Museum in Amstelveen. The exhibition comprises the largest collections of the Majorcan painter’s works outside of Spain and has been made possible thanks to the joint effort of the Joan Miró Foundation and Museum Cobra.
Alderwoman Amstelveen Mrs Veeningen, Mrs Van Oordt de Arias Spouse of Spanish Embasador and Mr. Punyet Miró.
The inauguration took place in Amstelveen on Friday 9 October. AEPH’s members (Asociacion Espanola de Profesionales en Holanda) and friends were offered complimentary tickets.
The official opening remarks were delivered by Els Ottenhof, Executive Director of the Cobra Museum, Katja Weitering Artistic Director Cobra Museum and Joan Punyet Miró, grandson of Joan Miró and president of the Joan Miró Foundation.
Subsequently there was a musical performance by mezzo soprano Ruth Codina, accompanied by pianist Jean-Baptist Millon, courtesy of the Spanish Embassy in The Hague.
Mr Punyet Miro an Mrs Veeningen.
The exhibition includes more than 80 works by Joan Miró and 60 works by various Cobra artists including Karel Appel, Asger Jorn, Constant and Pierre Alechinsky.
A viewing of the Miró and Cobra exhibition and a networking reception followed. Members of the Diplomatic Corps and many of Joan Miró fans came to admire the works of the famous Spanish genius, Joan Miró.
On the picture Ambassador Per Holmström. Photos by Caroline Wrangsten.
On October 6, 2015 H.E. Mr. Per Holmström was officially welcomed to the Netherlands by Inter IKEA Systems in Delft and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce.
Sweden and The Netherlands has a long history of trade and cultural relations and the creation of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands in May 1960 furthered this relationship which has proved mutually beneficial. The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands is a non-profit network organization providing “a platform for the promotion of Swedish-Dutch business and the exchange of knowledge, skills, and ideas between Sweden and The Netherlands,” with more than 150 members, including Swedish, Dutch, and international companies. This relationship is highlighted in a recently published book The Swedes and the Dutch were Made for Each Other. Historiska Media, 2014.Mr. Per Holmström officially became Sweden’s ambassador in the Netherlands on September 9 this year when he presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. Up to that time he was Head of the Department for Consular Affairs and Civil Law at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm and had previously served at the Consulate General in Jerusalem and at the Swedish Embassy in Paris.Ehsan Turabaz Inter IKEA Systems and Kerstin Gerlagh Swedish Chamber of Commerce.He was also welcomed by the Sweden related organizations in the Netherlands. The Ambassador thanks everyone for the warm reception he has received since he arrived to the Netherlands. Mr. Holmström is impressed by the work of the wide variety of Sweden related organizations in the Netherlands, and assures them of the Embassy’s full support.Ambassador is awarded Honorary Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce by Ehsan Turabaz and Hannie Kroes SKF.
![prinses_maxima__2012-jpg[1]](https://i0.wp.com/diplomatmagazine.eu/wp-content/uploads/prinses_maxima__2012-jpg1.jpg?fit=210%2C300&ssl=1)
![prinses_maxima__2012-jpg[1]](https://i0.wp.com/diplomatmagazine.eu/wp-content/uploads/prinses_maxima__2012-jpg1.jpg?ssl=1)
Dressed in their red and blue uniforms the orchestra marched in, to perform for the school children.
The children got the chance to enjoy classics from The Lion King and The Jungle Book as well as interpretations of music from Pharrel and Bruno Mars.
Dressed in their red and blue uniforms the orchestra marched in, to perform for the school children.
The children got the chance to enjoy classics from The Lion King and The Jungle Book as well as interpretations of music from Pharrel and Bruno Mars.
Princess Anne, together with HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium unveiled a contemporary bust of Edith Cavell in Park Montjoie which adjoins Edith Cavell Road and is close to the Edith Cavell hospital.
Their Royal Highnesses also attended a ceremony in the Belgian Senate in Brussels, the location of Edith Cavell’s trial and sentencing.
This event was dedicated to celebrating Edith Cavell’s nursing legacy in Belgium and the United Kingdom. Princess Anne also visited the Queen Fabiola Children’s University hospital – the only Belgian hospital entirely dedicated to children’s medicine.
