The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (right) and its Rosette (left). On Thursday 10 December,  Mr. Marcel P.R.C. van Aelst, President of Hotel Okura Amsterdam, will receive an imperial decoration during an official ceremony. In the name of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, he will be decorated with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. This in recognition of his significant contribution to the promotion of mutual understanding, and cultural and economic relations between Japan and the Netherlands.

The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, H.E. Mrs. Erna Solberg today visited the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and met with the Director-General Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü. The Prime Minister expressed her full support for the work of the OPCW: “Norway highly appreciates the outstanding work of the OPCW. The dedicated efforts of the organisation and its Technical Secretariat to free the world of chemical weapons are admirable and have my country’s full support. I thank you for the good cooperation in the past few years and look forward to working with you in the future,” said H.E. Mrs Erna Solberg.

The Director-General thanked the Prime Minister for Norway’s strong commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and its significant financial and material contribution to the work of the Organisation, in particular during the OPCW-UN Joint Mission in Syria. He briefed the Prime Minister on the status of implementation of the Convention, the OPCW’s efforts to achieve its universality as well as the endeavours to ensure the Organisation’s effectiveness in the face of future challenges as well as the progress on the Syria Mission.

The Prime Minister’s delegation included Ms Ingvild Naess Stub, State Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, and H.E. Ms Anniken Ramberg Krutnes, Permanent Representative to the OPCW. The Prime Minister’s visit to the OPCW was part of her official visit to The Netherlands. For additional pictures, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157661659138390   Pictures by the OPCW.

French Minister of Justice Christiane Taubira announces a contribution to the TFV during her visit to the ICC, where she met with ICC President Judge Silvia Fernández, ICC Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut of France, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, ICC Registrar Herman von Hebel, and TFV Executive Director Pieter de Baan © ICC-CPI. French Minister of Justice visits the ICC and announces a contribution of €750,000 to the Trust Fund for Victims. On 7 December 2015, French Minister of Justice Christiane Taubira announced a voluntary contribution of €750,000 to the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The contribution is the single largest French donation to the TFV to date. Minister Taubira announced the contribution, made by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during her visit to the ICC in The Hague today, where she met ICC President Judge Silvia Fernández, ICC Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut of France, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, ICC Registrar Herman von Hebel, and TFV Executive Director Pieter de Baan. The President of the Court, Judge Silvia Fernández, thanked Minister Taubira for France’s contribution and highlighted the important position of victims in the ICC’s operations. “The justice that the Court provides must be meaningful to those most impacted by the crimes under our jurisdiction, and to achieve this, it is essential to give effect to the full range of retributive and reparative aspects of justice under the Rome Statute. For these purposes, this generous donation to the Trust Fund for Victims is an important contribution, and a reflection of France’s longstanding support of the Court”, President Fernández said. On behalf of the Trust Fund for Victims, Executive Director Pieter de Baan expressed gratitude for the significant contribution, recalling that France was a strong supporter of the creation of the TFV at the time of the establishment of the Rome Statute in 1998 and that Ms Simone Veil has been the first Chair of the Board of Directors of the TFV during 2003-2009. Mr.  De Baan further hailed the significance of the contribution indicating the resumption of France’s financial support to the TFV as an unprecedented institution to address the harm suffered by victims of the most heinous international crimes. The visit ended with a discussion highlighting the importance of improving proceedings on asset recovery for the purpose of reparations to victims. The ICC depends on State cooperation in this regard.    

On the picture H. E. Willys Delvalle  and his wife Tatiana. Panama moves ahead Panama celebrates 112 Anniversary.   By Roy Lie A Tjam. H.E. Willys Delvalle, Ambassador of the Republic of Panama, welcomed guests to the Haven Gallery in The Hague on 26 November to a celebration of his country’s 112th National Day. In his opening remarks, the Ambassador commented on the opportunity afforded to him by the event to showcase the best of Panamanian culture. He began by hailing the country’s artistic passion, and expressed delight at the chance to introduce the joyful, vibrant, elegant paintings of a very special and Panamanian artist. For additional pictures, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157659784628974

The rest of the Ambassador’s speech is as follows. “We are honored to have you here with us this evening at the Dock Gallery, the highest level of our artistic talent with inspiring techniques, great professionalism, and international recognition. The expression of the spirit of a brilliant artiste who shines, always with a positive attitude – spreading to everyone around her a happy atmosphere with a radiant smile. It is our honor and pleasure to have with us this evening, our very dear friend and artiste Olga Sinclair. “Let me say a few words about Olga. Her first art lessons she received from her father, the renowned painter, El Maestro Alfredo Sinclair, at the age of fourteen. Olga participated in a group exhibition with other celebrated Panamanian artists, and later, in 1976, she began her studies in the school of applied arts and works in Madrid, Spain. “Later on in Amsterdam, Olga studied the great Dutch masters of the XVIII century.

At the age of eighteen she held her first individual exhibition in Panama. “In 1979, she enrolled at the Santa Maria La Antigua University in Panama and obtained her degree in interior design. Three years later, she took a course in engraving with Maestro Giangrandi. Back in Europe in 1985, she resumed her studies and had her first encounter with Francis Bacon’s Works at the gallery in London. “Olga has had more than 50 individual exhibitions and over 200 collective ones in various cities in Asia, Europe, and America. Recently, she exhibited her exposition ‘Retrospective’ at the Palazio Medici-Ricardo in Florence, Italy. After the success in Florence, the exhibition moved to the National Gallery of Art in Jordan, with a wonderful end to the artistic tour in the Casa de America in Madrid-Spain, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Day. “I would like to emphasize that Olga combines the sensitivity of a lovely woman with a very organized career. In this regard, in 2010, Olga established a foundation (Foundation Olga Sinclair – FOS) with the firm intention to develop a means for facilitating knowledge of different forms of artistic expressions for young people in Panama. “In May of this year, Fundacion Olga Sinclair came to Europe with 10 young and talented Panamanian artists, winners of the painting competition organized by her foundation. They attended the first Rome art workshop at the Vatican school, Scuola Pontifica Pio IX, which was dedicated to her late father. “In 2014, celebrating the centenary of the opening of the Panama Canal, Fundacion Olga Sinclair broke the Guinness World Record of the most people painting together at the same time. It was officially certified that 5,084 children between the ages of 1 and 18 painted simultaneously for 3 minutes on a canvas of 1000 square meters divided in 25 panels, depicting the Panama Canal locks.

  “Finally, I would like to remark upon the excellent diplomatic relations between Panama and the Netherlansds. These began just one year after Panama became a Republic in April 1904. Noteworthy is the fact that Panama has had a Consulate-General in Rotterdam since 1908, and it is only natural that the city has been chosen as an ideal location for both this amazing exhibition and the celebration of our National Day. “I reiterate; I really appreciate the efforts you have made to join us here in this celebration. Last but not least, a very special thanks to our colleagues at the Embassy for all their hard work in putting this event together in such a short space of time. “Olga, thank you for your presence here today. I would like to invite you now, dear Olga, to share with us some details of your wonderful art.”

  A United Nation center for humanitarian assistanc Funds are required to co-finance with the Government of Panama the construction of Green Regional Centers for Latin America and the Caribbean. The UN-backed “Hub” has been created to strengthen operations and UN programmatic integration in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Hub will be designed using standards of environmental sustainability to reduce the carbon footprint and to be a model of good sustainable practices at the building. The UN Hub will house over 700 full time UN workers spread across 17 organizations including UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, WHO, FAO, UNHCR, UN WOMEN, and UNOPS, among others. UN Center for Humanitarian Assistance The Regional Logistics Center for Humanitarian Assistance in Panama is an initiative of the Government of Panama that aims to incorporate emergency operations of several actors into one integrated modern logistics facility. Panama can offer an extremely modern logistics and communications center that allows the UN to respond to any emergencies within 24 to 48 hours in order to be ready to provide humanitarian aid to the American continent. The end users of the facilities include: The United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), operated by the World Food Programmed (WFP), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Panamanian Civil Protection System (SINAPROC). The Government of Panama will finance the basic infrastructure of the Logistics Center, but there is a need to mobilize further investment. Expo Invest Panama From 18 Jan – 2 Feb. 2016, Expo Invest Panama will be take place, positioning Panama as the key commercial link of the region. Participants include the Panamanian Government and private sector, as well as foreign delegations. The Expo is about energy, logistics, tourism, agroindustry and more, and will feature conferences and networking opportunities. City of Knowledge is an evolving, ambitious project to attract foreign attention and investment. Located just a stone’s throw from downtown Panama City, City of Knowledge is strategically positioned by the Panama Canal. Some 120 hectares and more than 200 buildings of what was once the Clayton military base are now home to a booming international community, established for the purpose of business, academic, scientific, and humanistic collaboration. The objective is human and sustainable development based on knowledge. City of Knowledge is a management platform that focuses on boosting the innovative and competitive capacities of the users who share the Campus. It features integration, dynamic networking, and joint efforts to facilitate the transference of knowledge. This allows for a rare concentration of innovative firms, international organizations focused on development, as well as academic and research institutions, resulting in a lively and collaborative community. In order to strengthen these dynamics, City of Knowledge provides access to a series of benefits and services aimed at the needs of its users. The mission of the City of Knowledge is to be an international platform for knowledge management to promote sustainable development and the competitive advantages in Panama. Focused on leadership and independence, this experience constitutes a regional reference point for knowledge management through innovation. This complex and multifaceted experience is focused on the achievements and successes of its users. The City of Knowledge Foundation is a private, non-profit organization and the project it directs is an independent endeavor; its independence guarantees its continuity. As a result, long-term goals can be established and a practical and realistic relationship with the political and economic environment can be maintained. The City of Knowledge is a unique initiative that offers an environment in which to live, as well as all of the services that are typical of any community. The recreational, cultural, and corporate spaces are used daily by more than 5,000 people. This community is made up of users who actively implement their initiatives. The success of their efforts consolidates and enhances the City of Knowledge. Additionally, visitors to the Campus, who attend events, conferences, and cultural gatherings, further enrich the exchange that takes place. All of this fosters the work and collaboration of the FCDS’ users, while creating a friendly environment within which creativity and productivity are cultivated. Pictures courtesy of the Embassy of Panama.