On the picture Boudewijn Martens, Crowne Plaza Den Haag – Promenade’s General Manager. Boudewijn Martens is now the General Manager at Crowne Plaza Den Haag – Promenade since Monday September 7, he succeeded Vincent Pahlplatz, who pursues his career in The Hague thus outside of the Apollo Hotels & Resorts group.
Boudewijn Martens (33) started his career at Apollo Hotels & Resorts in 2010 as Director of Operations at wellness center Thermae 2OOO. In 2014 he became Hotel Manager at Ramada Apollo Amsterdam Centre, where he proved to be an outstanding manager and asset to the hotel.
With his team he received two prestigious awards, including Best Hotel The Netherlands (part of the International Hotel Awards) and Hotel of the Year 2014 presented by Wyndham Hotel Group.
This new career opportunity will bring him to The Hague. Boudewijn Martens said to Diplomat Magazine: “My ambition is to build on the rich history of Dutch hospitality. Keywords are exceptional service, unique hospitality and commercial success. I am really looking forward to it!”Alexander Kluit, Business Area Manager of Apollo Hotels & Resorts is also delighted: “Over the past few years, our company has strongly invested in Crowne Plaza Den Haag – Promenade. The extensive professional experience of Boudewijn, his refreshing view and eye for detail will bring new energy to the team and ultimately improve guest experience and quality for the guest.”
Congratulations on your new role and welcome to The Hague!
Crowne Plaza Den Haag – Promenade
The five star Crowne Plaza Den Haag – Promenade is ideally situated on the outskirts of Scheveningen in a verdant, tranquil oasis. The hotel offers 174 rooms, 8 tasteful, fully-equipped conference and boardrooms, and 900m² of wellness facilities underneath the hotel. Hotel guests can enjoy free access to the swimming pool and fitness facilities of the Promenade HealthClub & Spa.
The Commission is announcing today a comprehensive support package worth €500 million, recognising the difficulties being experienced by producers.Speaking today at the extraordinary Council of agriculture Ministers, Vice-President Katainen said: “This package will allow for €500 million of EU funds to be used for the benefit of farmers immediately. This is a robust and decisive response. This response demonstrates that the Commission takes its responsibility towards farmers very seriously and is prepared to back it up with the appropriate funds. This is particularly important, given other competing budgetary demands.”The focus of this response is threefold: (1) addressing the cash-flow difficulties farmers are facing, (2) stabilising markets and (3) addressing the functioning of the supply chain.The Commission will propose that the most significant part of the comprehensive package will be provided to all Member States in envelopes to support the dairy sector. In determining the distribution of this aid, we will ensure that it is fairly distributed, targeted and effective, having particular regard to those Member States and those farmers which have been most affected by the market developments. The Commission’s intention is to provide maximum discretion to Member States to reflect their specific situations.Today’s announcement should be seen in the context of considerable support already provided to the agricultural sector in response to the impact of the Russian ban and the level of support that the EU provides annually to farmers and rural communities, amounting to more than €50 billion.The commitment to a market orientated approach is and remains the basis of the Commission’s approach.
7th September 2015 -The newest developments in the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean are cause for concern.
Recent numbers confirm the overall increase in the number of refugees that flee to Europe’s southern borders, namely Italy, Malta, Greece and Spain. Only this year, as estimated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), approximately 378,000 refugees arrived on the Mediterranean coast, whereof 2,760 did not survive their journey. The countries most affected by the refugee crisis are Greece and Italy.
In both countries the number of refugees increased between 2014 and 2015, challenging both countries’ capacities and capabilities to manage the current situation.
The IOM supports Italian and Greek officials on site, providing legal assistance to those arriving by sea, monitoring their reception conditions, supporting vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied minors, elderly migrants, migrants with medical needs and families with children which are then referred to authorities to receive the necessary care.
In Italy, the number of refugees remains steadily high. Most refugees land on Sicily, Lampedusa, Calabria or Apulia. Above all, they take the central Mediterranean route and come from Western and Eastern African countries, Bangladesh and Syria. In Greece, the surge in refugees is the most severe among the Mediterranean countries, whereby the number of refugees in this exceeds the ones from last year by 800%. Most refugees landing on Greek soil are from Syria and Afghanistan. They take the Eastern Mediterranean route and arrive at the islands of Lesvos, Kos, Samos, Kalymnos, Megisti, Symi and Chios.
From September 1, 2015 Dr. Saradindu Bhaduri holds the Prince Claus Chair for a period of two years. His thematic focus is on the area of “Frugal Innovation for Development and Equity”, a research field that Dr. Bhaduri has an excellent academic track record.
“Frugal innovation”, is a new research field in the innovation studies and is a form of design and entrepreneurship with relatively advanced products, services and systems within the reach of relatively poor consumers living in an environment with limited resources.
The challenge is herein not only to deliver products that are stripped of all the additional features in order to lower the price, but to deliver quality and affordable innovations that suit the local conditions and culture. To be to connect to the local area “Frugal innovation”, developed polycentric innovation networks in which entrepreneurs, designers, investors, producers and distributors from different parts of the world meet.
Dr. Bhaduri is a promising Indian scientist who study in “frugal innovation” by and for the poorest consumers. Here he focuses on innovation in the informal sector which his research touches on the core value of the Prince Claus Chair ‘development and equity. Dr. Bhaduri has an extensive network and bring together academics from different countries during his term, thereby facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience between “Frugal innovation” hotspot India and other emerging economies.
Dr. Bhaduri works at the Centre for Studies in Science Policy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. During his two-year term, Dr. Bhaduri will spent three months twice at the ISS in The Hague, will do fieldwork in India and Africa and will contribute to education about ‘frugal innovation’. He will work closely with researchers from the Centre for Frugal Innovation in Africa, one of the multidisciplinary research of the University of Leiden, Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Dr. Bhaduri will visit The Hague for the first time in the autumn of 2015 for his research in the framework of the Prince Claus Chair and his inaugural speech, is scheduled for the spring of 2016.
——–
Prince Claus Chair
The objective of the Prince Claus Chair is to continue the work of Prince Claus (1926-2002) in the field of development and equity. Utrecht University and the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam set every year alternately a young academic from a region in development as chair holder. The chair was created in 2003 with the aim of “promoting research and education in the field of development cooperation”.
www.princeclauschair.nlInternational Institute of Social Studies (ISS)
The ISS is an international research and educational institute in the field of development studies. The ISS is based in The Hague and is part of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. Annually, there are about 300 to 400 students, mostly from developing countries, on the ISS. ISS also has a large PhD program.
www.iss.nl
Frugal Centre for Innovations in Africa (CFIA)
The CFIA is one of the joint multidisciplinary research at Leiden University,Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam. The research center is focused on identifying areas where ‘frugal innovations’ best come into their own in improving the lives of consumers and producers at the bottom of the global socio-economic pyramid.
www.cfia.nl
On the picture H. E. Mr. J.S. Mukuland wife.
On Wednesday, September 2, 2015, the Ambassador of the Republic of India H. E. J. S. Mukul presented the credentials to His Majesty Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands.
Ambassador Mukul was invited to inspect the Guard of Honour at the Palace before presenting the credentials to His Majesty. During the ceremony, he was accompanied by Counsellor and Director of The Gandhi Centre, Mr. V.K. Choubey, First Secretary (Legal Office) Dr. Kajal Bhat, Second Secretary (HOC) Mr. M.K. Pujari and Second Secretary (Political Sector) Mr. D. Meher.
After presenting the credentials, the Ambassador and his spouse had a meeting with the King for about 20 minutes. Issues of mutual interest to India and the Netherlands were discussed. Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Renee Jones-Bos was present in the meeting.
For a photo-album on Ambassador Mukul’s presentation of credentials, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157658236800406Mrs. and HE Mr. J. S. Mukul Ambassador of India, HE Chen Xu and Wenci Li Ambassador of China
On the evening of September 2, Ambassador and Mrs. Mukul organized a Vin d’honneur at India Residence in Wassenaar. The reception was attended by over 100 guest comprising of Mayors, Grand Master of the Royal Household, senior dignitaries from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives from international organizations based in The Hague, members of the press corps and prominent members of the Dutch and Indian diaspora communities.
Mrs. and HE Mr. J. S. Mukul Ambassador of India together with Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman, His Excellency Muhammed bin Harub bin Abdullah Al Said.Information:Embassy of India in The Hague http://www.indianembassy.nl/
Dr. Saad A. Ibrahim Al Ali is about to sign off as Iraqi ambassador to the Netherlands. Looking back he is proud of the strengthening of the political and economic ties between Iraq and the Netherlands, thankful for the Dutch support to the process of democracy in Iraq, but above all, and considering his country’s recent history, proud to have been a chairman of the 18th conference of states parties of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).By Dr. Saad A. Ibrahim Al Ali, ambassador of Iraq to the Netherlands
I would like to thank Diplomat Magazine for providing me with the opportunity to address its readers directly concerning the Iraqi/Dutch relationship, which has been developing for many years. I presented my credentials to HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands on the 23rd of June 2010, becoming the thirteenth Ambassador of The Republic of Iraq to the Netherlands. Since then, the relationship between the Netherlands and Iraq has witnessed remarkable developments in strengthening and maintaining good diplomatic, political, economic and military relations.
When I arrived, less than fifteen Dutch companies were doing business in Iraq; today their number has increased to over 170. Shell in recent years closed billion dollar oil deals with Iraq.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry strengthened its embassy staff in Baghdad with additional diplomats and opened a consulate in Erbil. Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries exchanged visits to each other. Since 2010, there has been an exchange of trade missions, led by civil servants or an ambassador, on oil and gas, water and agriculture. Iraq is showing a great deal of interest in economic sectors in which the Netherlands has expertise, for instance water, agriculture, construction, oil and gas. Dutch firms in the horticulture sector have signed contracts involving investments in, for instance, southern Iraq. On the other side, many delegations from Iraq visited the Netherlands; and a new delegation led by the Iraqi Minister of Agriculture will visit the Netherlands this year in early October.
This all led to the signing and activation of agreements which, in some cases, had been waiting for years:
The agreement for the establishment and operation of air services, which was originally signed in 1955 and finally activated in 2013, to stimulate civil air transportation between and via the Netherlands and Iraq.
A gentlemen’s agreement has recently been reached between credit insurer Atradius Dutch Business on behalf of the Dutch government and Trade Bank of Iraq on behalf of the Iraqi government, for the protection of Dutch exporters to support Dutch companies in Iraq and provide them with coverage against risks.
A memorandum of understanding between the Netherlands Court of Audit (NCA) and the Federal Bureau of Supreme Audit of Iraq (FBSA) was signed in the first half of 2013, to review the Performance Audit Function of the Federal Board of Supreme Audit of Iraq.
A treaty was signed concerning the encouragement and reciprocal protection of investments, to intensify economic cooperation between both states.
As was a Double Taxation Treaty which aims to eliminate the double taxation on its finalization stage. A treaty for the import of live animals is to be signed soon.
While our countries strengthened its economic and political ties, safety unfortunately remained an issue. In 2003, the Netherlands participated in the international alliance which toppled the former dictatorial regime in Iraq, and supported the democratic political process. More recently, the Dutch government participated in the international coalition against DAESH (ISIS in English) and provided military support. By September 2014, the total value of Dutch humanitarian assistance provided to Iraq was eight million euros. I have a great deal of appreciation for all the Dutch support – both economically and militarily – to our democratic process.
The Netherlands, along with other European countries, also opened its arms for Iraqi refugees. It created a new Iraqi community of 55,000 people in the Netherlands; a community which turned out to be successful in the Dutch society. Many Iraqi’s participate actively and enrich the Dutch fabric with their contributions.
Iraq developed from being a country with weapons of mass destruction under supervision of the OPCW to being a member state of the OPCW. That is: from being part of the problem, to being part of the solution. Iraq ratified the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in December 2008 and became a member in February 2009.
Iraq is now an active member of the Executive Council. I presented my credentials to the Director General of the Organization as the Permanent Representative of Iraq to the Organization on June 14, 2010. I felt very fortunate to represent my country with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in 2013. We even went to Oslo because OPCW was granted the Nobel Peace Prize for its role in achieving peace and security. In 2013, Iraq chaired the 18th conference of the state parties and also chaired the committee of the whole of the third review conference. I was elected as deputy chair for the 19th session of the state party’s conference in 2014, representing the Asian Group for one year. I feel proud to be part of the success of the organization.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all my colleagues who, with their help and support, have made my job possible, especially those in the Dutch government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I must also not forget my colleagues in the OPCW, with whom I share the continued success of the organization.
Half a century of Dutch Iraqi relationsIraq attended its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A Republic was proclaimed in 1958. The first Iraqi diplomatic envoy to the Netherlands was appointed in 1957, coinciding with raising the level of diplomatic representation of the Dutch diplomatic mission and the appointment of a Dutch charge d’affaires in Iraq. In 1960, the diplomatic representation for both countries rose to the level of Embassy.
Toneelgroep Amsterdam (TA) is one of the leading ambassadors of Dutch performing art in the Netherlands and abroad, with a core composed of a broad and highly versatile ensemble of world famous actors and a team of leading directors. Since 2001 director Ivo van Hove is leading the company, which has its home base in the Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, the city’s municipal theatre. The company is well known, not only in the Netherlands, but all over the world. Performing from New York to Sydney and from China and Korea to Sao Paulo, TA grasps it’s audience. TA brings new interpretations of classic repertoire, by Shakespeare or Ibsen for example, but also adaptations of movies and literature. Tradition and renewal go hand in hand. Antigone (with Juliete Binoche), The Fountainhead (based on the novel by Ayn Rand), Long day’s journey into night, The glass menagerie, La voix Humaine and Medea are some examples of what’s on show this season.Are you curious to what Dutch theatre has to offer? TA is organizing a program to help you get to know Dutch theatre, and its history and themes. After the program you will visit ‘Medea’ by TA, written and directed by Australian director Simon Stone.The program will take place on October 18th, prior to the ‘Medea’ matinee at 4pm. For more information see our website.
The USA, the UK, France, the PRC, Russia, Germany and the EU reached a historic agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran on 14 July 2015 after a marathon of diplomatic discussions which lasted 18 days in Vienna.
According to the agreement strict limits shall be imposed upon Tehran’s nuclear programme in return for ending sanctions on its economy. The deal is the zenith of years of delicate diplomacy pursued by US President Barack Obama despite admonitions that an agreement could strengthen Iran’s Islamist regime and leave it dangerously close to a nuclear bomb.
Historic Nuclear Deal with Iran. Picture by Österreichisches Aussenministerium.
Yet the text explicitly states that Iran commits itself to “under no circumstances” shall it ever “seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons.” And it describes a joint commission composed of its seven parties to monitor the deal’s implementation.
Moreover Iran must permit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) broad access to suspected nuclear sites, as well as cooperate with an IAEA investigation into its past activities, albeit many crucial details have yet to be released, or may remain classified.On an issue that snagged the talks in their final days, the deal shall free Iran from an arms embargo after five years.
US State Secretary Kerry – Picture by US Embassy in Austria.
The US broke off diplomatic relations with Iran after the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution and capture of the US American Embassy in Tehran, has long used sanctions and other tools to punish Iran for its demeanour. In recent years the sanctions vice tightened considerably as Russia and the PRC backed harsh UN measures, the US Congress targeted Iran’s financial sector, and the Obama administration persuaded growing economies such India and South Korea to agree to sharply limit their consumption of Iranian oil. US sanctions threatening to punish foreign financial institutions for doing business with Iran landed a particularly painful blow.
Thus far the the agreement with Iran to be valid in the USA it must be approve by Congress which officially must lift up the sanctions imposed against Iran. Hitherto President Obama enjoys the support of enough senators but the actual vote shall not take place until mid-September.
In Brussels negotations with the EU were organised by Iranian ambassador to the EU, Mahmoud Barimani.
Antigone (with Juliete Binoche), The Fountainhead (based on the novel by Ayn Rand), Long day’s journey into night, The glass menagerie, La voix Humaine and Medea are some examples of what’s on show this season.
Are you curious to what Dutch theatre has to offer? TA is organizing a program to help you get to know Dutch theatre, and its history and themes. After the program you will visit ‘Medea’ by TA, written and directed by Australian director Simon Stone.
The program will take place on October 18th, prior to the ‘Medea’ matinee at 4pm.
For more information see our website.
Antigone (with Juliete Binoche), The Fountainhead (based on the novel by Ayn Rand), Long day’s journey into night, The glass menagerie, La voix Humaine and Medea are some examples of what’s on show this season.
Are you curious to what Dutch theatre has to offer? TA is organizing a program to help you get to know Dutch theatre, and its history and themes. After the program you will visit ‘Medea’ by TA, written and directed by Australian director Simon Stone.
The program will take place on October 18th, prior to the ‘Medea’ matinee at 4pm.
For more information see our website.
