Orlando Honorary Dutch Consulate to Stop Issuing Visas andPassportsDue to technical difficulties, the Dutch Honorary Consulate in Orlando, Florida, no longer issues visas, and stopped processing passport applications since 1 July 2015.The Honorary Dutch Consulate reminds open for all other activities. The closing of the passport and visa desk in Orlando was already scheduled, but came earlier than announced because of ongoing technical difficulties.Travelers in the Orlando region can apply for a passport and/or visa at the Dutch consulate general in Miami, San Francisco and New York, or at the Netherlands Embassy in Washington, D.C. The Dutch honorary consul in Orlando will continue to support the Dutch business community and help Dutch citizens in need.The Dutch government acknowledges that these changes have practical consequences for Dutch nationals in the United States.As of March 9, 2014, the government has introduced a passport that is valid for 10 years for adults. This means that citizens in the Orlando area who successfully apply for a new passport at the honorary consulate before 1 July 2015 will not have to renew their passport until 2025. Minors (younger than 18 years old) will still have to renew their passports every five years. More details about Dutch passport applications can be found at www.dutchhelp.com.For any consular questions, you can also call 1-877 DUTCHHELP (1-877-388-2443) 24 hours a day.
By John Kennedy. International Relations Researcher.
Click this link to open the PDF version of Diplomat Magazine’s 2nd Luxury edition, June 2015.
http://issuu.com/diploflying/docs/dm.glossy.pdf.low.2
When Diplomat Magazine’s directors announced the launching of the first glossy edition in November 2013, members of their staff and the diplomatic corps were very excited about the news.
After the publication of the hard-copy edition in November 2014 (the very first magazine of its kind in Netherlands’ history) Diplomat Magazine has received written compliments from Heads of State, ministers, dignitaries and the academia from all over the world.
Conversely, with this new luxury 2nd edition launched in June 2015, the impact amongst the diplomatic corps in The Hague and Brussels, members of Parliament, Dutch authorities and entrepreneurs was immense. It institutes a tremendous achievement for Publisher Dr. Mayelinne De Lara (currently a diplomatic spouse) and the team of diplomats and volunteers behind the scenes.
“Diplomat Magazine is very valuable, we appreciate the quality and the perfect equilibrium of its content and design, a source of useful information by and for diplomats, alongside the successful events they organize”, expressed several ambassadors accredited to the Netherlands.
Some of Diplomat Magazine’s staff and volunteers, during a reception at World Belair Hotel in The Hague, to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of Diplomat Magazine. June, 2015, The Hague.
Diplomat Magazine has offered scholarships and free diplomatic training courses to its contributors and volunteer staff. The selected academic centers were at the rank of ASSER Institute, Clingendael Institute, the Alliance Francaise and The Hague Political Academy.
On the other hand, the Online publication has reached the uppermost in terms of monthly readers, over 55,000 followers.
Border Crossing, a new publication inserted in Diplomat Magazine Online, https://diplomatmagazine.eu/2015-issues/ is edited in Canada by Eugene Matos De Lara and other academic researchers in international relations from the University of Ottawa.
The entire concept is paying off to their founders and to the international diplomatic community.
The statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic on presenting the U.S. State Department Human Rights Defender Award to Azimzhan Askarov.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic is authorized to state that the news of giving Human Rights Defender Award by the U.S. State Department to Azimzhan Askarov, a Kyrgyz Republic citizen convicted by all instances of the Kyrgyz Republic for incitement of interethnic hatred, organizing mass riots, complicity in murder of a law enforcement officer during the time of tragic events of June 2010, was taken in the Kyrgyz Republic with bewilderment.
In accordance with general criteria of the State Department, Human Rights Defender Award is given to individuals or organizations that have shown exceptional valor and leadership in advocating for the protection of human rights for a period of time and under government’s repression.
The eligibility of A. Askarov draws numerous questions. His actions at the time of interethnic conflict of June 2010 cannot be evaluated as defending human rights and peace-making. In the Kyrgyz Republic A. Askarov is perceived as an accomplice in murder and one of the most active participants of interethnic clashes at the south of the country in June 2010. Moreover, as a result of inappropriate actions of civic activists and foreign states’ representatives this person became a symbol of disruption not a unity of people of Kyrgyzstan.
Taking into account the above stated, giving A. Askarov such a high award is considered by the Kyrgyz Republic as a deliberate act directed against strengthening interethnic peace and harmony in our country.
The Kyrgyz Republic believes that the State Department’s award is presented to the wrong person at the wrong time in the country where human rights activity is not restricted; on the contrary, it is supported by the government. And active work of numerous human rights defenders and non-governmental organizations is the proof of it. The Kyrgyz Republic is the only state in the region that successfully proceeded to parliamentary democracy, which has been repeatedly recognized by the leaders of democratic nations, including the President of the United States B. Obama.
It is a considered opinion of the Kyrgyz side that awarding A. Askarov is not a reward for his activity. More likely, the main reason is his ethnicity and the status of a convicted for his crimes during the events of June 2010.
The court order established that A. Askarov actively participated in organizing mass riots on June 12-13, 2010 in the village of Bazar-Korgon of Jalal-Abad region, and was one of the organizers of blocking the strategic Bishkek-Osh highway near the bridge over Kara-Unkur river. During the explanatory work among the participants of riots 13 unarmed police officers got injuries of varying severity, and the district police officer M. Sulaymanov was killed with special cruelty and then burned.
On September 15 and November 10, 2010 Azimzhan Askarov was found guilty of the charges by district and regional courts of the Kyrgyz Republic, respectively. On December 20, 2011 the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic upheld the sentences of these courts.
Considering requests of international organizations and foreign countries, the Kyrgyz side initiated repeated verifications of the investigation legitimacy and the justification of the trials with the invitation and participation of international experts. The result of these inspections did not reveal considerable reasons for a retrial.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic considers giving A. Askarov Human Rights Defender Award as a way to cause negative international reaction. The Kyrgyz side views this as a factor aimed at undermining the process of strengthening the unity of the people and harmony in the country. The Kyrgyz Republic is concerned that such an award may cause ethnic clashes and destroy the today’s fragile peace which is being restored and strengthened by enormous efforts of the country’s people.
The time for this award – four years after the Supreme Court decision – evokes surprise as well. Even more surprising is that such an award was never given to any human rights activist of the Kyrgyz Republic during the rule of former presidents A. Akaev and K. Bakiyev. In such context, this award will be associated with the withdrawal of the Transit Center from the International airport “Manas” in Bishkek and the appointment of Richard Miles as interim head of the American mission.
The contradictory approach is revealing when one of the State Department’s awards was given to Roza Otunbayeva as the head of the state in 2011 who exerted efforts to preserve peace and unity of the people, and in 2015 – to the criminal who publicly incited ethnic hatred and was sentenced at the time when the former president received the award of the U.S. State Department.
Through no fault of the Kyrgyz Republic the United States’ actions employing interethnic theme cause serious damage to bilateral relations.
Taking into account the long-term fruitful cooperation based on common democratic values, in consideration of mutual respect of the non-interference and sovereignty principles the Kyrgyz Republic voices protest over the decision of the American side which will not contribute to comprehensive Kyrgyz-American cooperation.
The Central American Integration System (SICA), founded in 1993, is the economic and political cooperation organization of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize and Dominican Republic. Diplomatic representatives of the SICA nations came together on June 7th for a highly successful Diplomats Meet & Greet at the Carlton Ambassador Hotel.
For a photo-album on the SICA’s Diplomats Meet & Greet, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157655145415909
Video of this event click the image below. Video by Kamranovic ProductionsDiplomats from the SICA’s countries and Diplomat Magazine team.
The plush event was exceptionally well-attended, and proudly showcased the most renowned rum from Guatemala, the Zacapa Centenario premium mature rum, several times first-prize winner at the International Rum Festival.
Guests sampled this outstanding product alongside the very well know Rum Abuelo, another premium rum produced since 1908 in Panama’s first sugar mill.
Colorful and traditional Central American decorations were installed and in a few hours the colors, sound and flavors of the SICA nations were being complemented by the warm summer temperature and spirit of The Hague’s vibrant diplomatic and international community.
H. E. Philippe Couvreur, Registar of the International Court fo Justice, H. E. Rose Makena Murichi Ambassador of Kenya and Jose Arguello Gomez Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corp.
The Ambassador’s salon and the Carlton’s terrace were packed: ambassadors and diplomats, government officials, international organizations’ representatives, industrials, artists, Dutch media and expats all enjoyed a unique opportunity to meet and sample the very best products of SICA’s constituent nations, and to listen and dance to beautiful Latin music.
Ambassador of Costa Rica H. E. Sergio Ugalde, Ambassador of Panama H. E. Willys Delvalle Velasco and his wife Tatiana and H. E. Gabriel Aguilera Peralta Ambassador of Guatemala.Sonia Meijer, with Ambassador of Guatemala Guillermo Aguilera and Ambassador of Costa Rica to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The SICA embassy teams worked harmoniously and effectively to give every country the opportunity and space to promote their produce to an exclusive audience.
June’s Diplomats Meet & Greet, organized by Diplomat Magazine, was all about cooperation, team work and support from one SICA country to another. The Diplomats Meet & Greet is sponsored by Diplomatic Card.
Diplomats from Central American countries.
On the picture First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan – Picture by Baku 2015.By Luca Bücken & Baron Henri Estramant.The inaugural edition of the European Games was held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan between 12 and 18 June 2015. More than 6,000 athletes, representing the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of 50 countries, competed in 20 different disciplines.The decision to hold the European Games in Azerbaijan was made at the 41st European Olympic Committee General Assembly held at Rome in December 2012 where Baku was the sole bidder.Opening ceremony – Presidents of Belarus and Russia, Lukashenko and Putin – Picture by Kremlin.ruHE President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan heavily invested in the success of the games, including state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure, new stadium and sport facilities. Furthermore no expense was spare for the opening ceremony which featured a concert of Lady Gaga as well as 2,000 performers in a setting of 2,000 lighting fixtures and 800 speakers. Likewise, the country’s first lady, Mehriban Aliyeva and its Minister of Youth and Sport, Azad Rahimov, were a driving forces behind the project Baku 2015. The opening ceremony of the I European games was enriched with the participation of 35 heads of state and government, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, President Aleksander Lukashenko of Belarus, HRH The Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri I, HSH The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, Albert II, Prime Minster Boyko Borisov of Bulgaria or Prime Minister Victor Ponta of Romania. Gymnasts Fabian Hambüchen, Sebastian Krimmer and Andreas Toba.In the Benelux countries Azerbaijan is represented by three diplomatic missions. One to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg headed by HE Ambassador Fuad Isgandarov. There is a second mission based in Brussels accredited to NATO led by HE Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim as well as a mission to The Netherlands and towards the OPCW headed by HE Ambassador Mir-Hamza Efendiyev. For more information: Presidency of Azerbaijan: http://en.president.azFirst Lady of Azerbaijan: www.mehriban-aliyeva.org/az/mainI European Games: www.baku2015.comHeydar Aliyev Foundation: www.heydar-aliyev-foundation.org/en/content/index/47/Mission of Azerbaijan to the EU, Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg: www.azembassy.be
On the picture H. E. Vesela Mrden Korac and H. E. Ahmet Halilovic.Ceremony of Merit for Ambassadors of Croatia and The Sudan.
The time has come to say goodbye to two dedicated and wonderful diplomats who leave behind them many great accomplishments and hundreds of friends.
Ambassadors H. E. Vesela Mrden Korac from Croatia and H. E. Mohamed Elhassan Ibrahim from The Sudan completed their ambassadorial terms in late June.
For a photo album on this special ceremony, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157655371891670
Diplomat Magazine celebrated their successful time in The Netherlands by presenting them with a Certificate of Merit in a solemn ceremony attended by their respective spouses, colleagues, ambassadors, special friends and members of their staff.
After the national anthem of the Netherlands and the national anthem of Croatia, H. E. Ahmet Halilovic ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina took the floor to talk about Ambassador Mrden’s outstanding career, her exceptional performance in The Hague, and their personal friendship. Ambassador Mrden Korac received the Certificate of Merit accompanied by her husband Professor Marko Korac. Professor Marko Korac and H. E. Vesela Mrden Korac.
Her farewell words were dedicated to her colleagues, to The Hague’s international institutions including the ICC and OPCW in which she played a powerful role, to the Netherlands as a host country that made her professional and private life enjoyable, and also to Diplomat Magazine.
Her Excellency’s remarked that diplomatic life has changed in a positive way since the creation of the first diplomatic magazine of the Netherlands. She noted the value of the knowledge and availability of DM’s team to publish accurate information, promote the work of embassies and publish daily articles on the events and diplomats related to each mission. ‘’Ambassadors became stars with hundreds of pictures published in Diplomat Magazine as accurate proof of their performance’’, said Ambassador Mrden.
H. E. Mohamed Elhassan Ibrahim.
The audience stood up once again to listen to the national anthem of Sudan in tribute to His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Elhassan Ibrahim. During just two years in The Hague he made many friends, both among his colleagues and among the Dutch people.
H. E. Karim Ben Bécher, Ambassador of Tunisia.Ambassador Vusi Bruce Koloane of South Africa, Ambassador of The Sudan Mohamed Elhassan Ibrahim and Ambassador of Tunisia Karim Ben Bécher.
His pleasant presence and eternal smile were ever-present in diplomatic meetings and events.
Ambassador Karim Ben Bécher from Tunisia talked at length about Ambassador’s Ibrahi’sm successful career and wished him a bright future back at the Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Karim Ben Bécher said during his speech:
”It gives me a great pleasure this afternoon to say few words about our dear friend Ambassador Mohamed Elhassan, Ambassador of Sudan who is going to leave The Hague for another posting in Khartoum.Ambassador Hassan, can boast a long and rich diplomatic career began in 1990, a solid legal profile and a good knowledge of the Hague where he was Deputy Chief of Mission from 1998 to 2002. His appointment as Ambassador this time in 2013 demonstrates its expertise and competence for the position of the Hague which combines bilateral and multilateral levels.
Ambassador Hassan,
Your rich diplomatic experience in positions in Africa, the Middle East and Europe allowed you to integrate quickly and easily into the diplomatic community here, despite your short stay.
Your sense of humor, your open and affable temperament allowed you to win in such a short time a lot of friends among whom I hope I can consider myself.
I greatly appreciated your curiosity and commitment to art, culture and especially the Arab poetry.
You had the great merit of reconciling your mission as Ambassador with your openness to the environment in which you live and succeeded in so short time to promote your country and to attract new investments there.
For all these reasons, I congratulate you and pay tribute to you, confirming the pleasure for having worked with you and hopefully, been your friend.Ambassador Hassan,On behalf of all our friends present here, I would like to wish you a lot of success in your new posting and I wish also all the best for your family. Finally, I would like to thank The Diplomat magazine which organizes this ceremony to our colleague. The diplomatic community of The Hague values very much what your team is doing in this field”.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) informs on arrivals of migrants by sea in the Mediterranean, based on data from IOM in Greece, Malta, Rome and Spain.
Arrivals by sea and deaths in the Mediterranean, 1 January – 13 July, 2015
Country of Arrival
Arrivals
Deaths
Italy
78,183 (IOM est.)
1,841
(Central Med route)
Malta
94
Greece
79,338
55
(Eastern Med route)
Spain
1,217
18
(Western Med and Western African routes)
Estimated Total
158,832
1,914
Data on deaths of migrants compiled by RES. All numbers are minimum estimates.
Arrivals estimates based on data from respective governments and IOM field offices.
Notes on arrivals: Data for Spain is until 9 June 2015, while data for Malta is until 1 July. Data for Greece is until 12 July.
Data for Italy as of 30 June is based on the information circulated by the Italian Ministry of Interior; arrivals from 1 July onwards are IOM estimates.
For Greece, data from 1 June onwards are from the Hellenic Coast Guard only and do not include detections by the Police.
* Data in the table (with the explanatory notes), and data/info from the ARRIVALS BY SEA TO ITALY (and Greece) sections can be shared with the press and the public. However, any narrative parts in those sections (such as current or future landings) should be cleared with IOM Rome before sharing. Please do not copy or forward the updates/emails wholesale, as they are internal — select data and repackage as you need.
Arrivals by sea to Italy
Between Friday 10 and Sunday 12 July, at least 13 landings: approximately 3,720 migrants were brought to the ports of Lampedusa, Pozzallo, Palermo, Augusta, Messina (Sicily), Reggio Calabria (Calabria), and Otranto (Apulia).
Survivors of last Thursday’s shipwreck – when 12 migrants lost their life – were brought to Palermo on Saturday: they reported that after a mere 6 hours of navigation, the rubber dinghy they were travelling on began to deflate because of the heat. Panic broke out and many rushed to the other side of the vessel to avoid drowning: 4 women, two of whom were pregnant, were crushed to death by the ensuing throng.
We cannot exclude that one or more landings may occur later today and tomorrow, as it is highly possible that further search and rescue operations will be carried out in the next hours.
2015 Totals: 78,183 (IOM est.)
June 2015 Total: 22,905
July 2015 Total (IOM est. as of 13 July): 7,829
Main Countries of Origin: Eritrea, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Gambia, Sudan, Senegal, Mali, Bangladesh, Ivory Coast.
Main departure country: Libya (few departures from Egypt, Greece, and Turkey)
Kindly note that the data of the arrivals at landing points where IOM staff is not present is not included in July’s tallies.
2014 Totals: 170,100 arrived in Italy
Arrivals by sea to ItalyJanuary – June 2014/2015
(source: Italian MOI)
Main Countries of Origin
2014
2015
Eritrea
19,171
18,676
Nigeria
3,311
7,897
Somalia
2,293
6,334
Syria
12,014
4,271
Gambia
3,562
3,593
Sudan
736
3,589
Senegal
1,861
2,839
Tot. all Countries of Origin
63,884
70,354
Arrivals by sea to ItalyJanuary to June 2014/2015
(source: Italian MOI)
2014
2015
January
2,171
3,528
February
3,335
4,354
March
5,459
2,283
April
15,679
16,063
May
14,599
21,221
June
22,641
22,905
TOTAL
63,884
70,354
Arrivals by sea to Greece
1 January – 12 July 2015
79,338
2015 Totals: 79,338
Between Friday 10 and Sunday 12 July, approximately 1,100 migrants reached Greek coasts.
Main Countries of Origin: Syria and Afghanistan.
Main departure country: Turkey
Main landing points: the islands of Lesvos, Kos, Samos, Oinousses, Kalymnos, Agathonisi, Farmakonisi, Samothrace and Chios.
IOM Staff is present in Lesvos and Samos and works closely with authorities to identify vulnerable migrants including unaccompanied minors, elderly migrants, migrants with medical needs and families with children. Vulnerable groups are referred to authorities in order to be provided with the necessary care.
Newly elected Judge Raul Pangalangan sworn in today at the seat of the International Criminal Court.
Today, 13 July 2015, the new judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Raul Cano Pangalangan (Philippines) was sworn in at a ceremony held at the seat of the Court in The Hague (Netherlands). He was elected on 24 June 2015 to fill a judicial vacancy during the resumed thirteenth session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute in The Hague (Netherlands). His term of office will end on 10 March 2021.
The judge made a solemn undertaking in open court before the President of the ASP, Minister of Justice of Senegal, H.E. Mr Sidiki Kaba, stating: “I solemnly undertake that I will perform my duties and exercise my powers as a judge of the International Criminal Court honourably, faithfully, impartially and conscientiously, and that I will respect the confidentiality of investigations and prosecutions and the secrecy of deliberations”.
ASP President H.E. Mr Sidiki Kaba welcomed the new judge to the Court: “[You are] joining the small and prestigious group of eminent judges who have the formidable honour and difficult responsibility of putting into practice the spirit and the letter of the Rome Statute: to deliver justice on behalf of the peoples of the world and to ensure that the most serious crimes affecting the international community as a whole do not go unpunished. […] You thus have an historic opportunity to play a part in the establishment of sound case law, the cornerstone of justice that is recognised and accepted.”
ICC President Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi stated: “I have no doubt that Dr Pangalangan will make an important contribution to the work of this Court. Dr Pangalangan’s long history of involvement with the ICC demonstrates his commitment to international criminal justice. […] I hope this will encourage more South-East Asian states to join the ICC, and to become members of a global system to punish and help prevent the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as whole.”
Also attending the ceremony were the judges of the International Criminal Court, ICC Deputy Prosecutor James Stewart, and ICC Registrar Herman von Hebel, together with a number of diplomats and other high-ranking guests, representatives of other international organisations in The Hague and members of the civil society.
The International Criminal Court has a bench of 18 judges who are nationals of States Parties to the Rome Statute. Judges are chosen from among persons of high moral character, impartiality and integrity who possess the qualifications required in their respective countries for appointment to the highest judicial offices. The election of the judges takes into account the need for the representation of the principal legal systems of the world, a fair representation of men and women, and equitable geographical distribution.
Statement of the President of the ASP H.E. Mr Sidiki Kaba: English | FrançaisStatement of ICC President Judge Silvia Fernández de GurmendiPhotographs of the ceremony
By Baron Henri Estramant.The world’s formerly longest serving minister of foreign affairs, the late Prince Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, or rather colloquially known as Saud al-Faisal passed away in the USA on Thursday, 9 July 2015 at age 75. Prince Saud al-Faisal had been relieved of his post as chief of Saudi diplomacy at his own behest by King Salman in April 2015 after serving since October 1975. He had long suffered from back pain and Parkirson’s disease. He was succeeded as chief of diplomacy by Adel Al Jubeir, hitherto royal Saudi ambassador to the USA. Prince Saud, a son of King Faisal, was born in 1940 in the mountain city of Taif near Makkah where, in 1989, he helped Saudi Arabia negotiate the agreement that ended Lebanon’s 15-year civil war.A graduate from Princeton in the 1960s he was posted for years at the Petroleum Ministry. His diplomatic career began with trauma: King Khalid appointed him foreign minister because of the assassination of Prince Saud’s father King Faisal, who had retained the foreign affairs portfolio after acceding the throne in 1962.Prince Saud’s body arrived on Saturday morning at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah from the US. It was thereafter taken to Al Adel Cemetery in Makkah for burial and funeral prayers led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman. Minister of State, HRH Prince Khalid al-Faisal, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah, shall receive mourners at his Jeddah palace for three days.Delegations from Gulf states attended the burial service. The Emirati delegation was led by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Amir of Abu Dhabi’s Representative in the Western Region, and Deputy Prime Minister HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior. Other UAE dignitaries who attended included HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, HE Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Rashid Al Nuaimi, former foreign minister. Bahrain was represented by Deputy Premier HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa and Foreign Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa. Kuwait’s delegation was led by the country’s Amir, HH Sheikh Sabah IV Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Ali Al Sabah, but also included First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al Sabah and the Director of the Amir’s Office, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al Sabah. Qatar was represented by its Deputy Amir, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani as well as its Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. His Majesty The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, sent his condolences to his Saudi counterpart, and regretted the lost of a “brother”. Other mourners included Foreign Minister of Turkey, Jawish Ihsanoglu, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Jordan, Nasser Judeh, Abdul Qadir Bin Saleh, Speaker of the Algerian Parliament, accompanied by his country’s foreign minister, Ramtane Lamamra and the Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Abdullatif bin Rashid Zayani.For more information King Faisal Foundation: www.kff.com/Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.mofa.gov.sa
From left to right: Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Costa Rica Manuel González Sanz, Judge of the Inter-American Court and former ICC Judge Elizabeth Odio Benito, ICC Registrar Herman von Hebel, and ICC President Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi at the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores – República de Costa Rica.Central American States reaffirm their commitment to the ICC at High-level Regional Seminar in Costa Rica.Government representatives from various Central American countries expressed their commitment to support and cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) during the High-level Regional Seminar held on 9 and 10 July in San José, Costa Rica. The event was organized by the International Criminal Court, in cooperation with the Government of Costa Rica, and was sponsored by the European Commission.During the two days, senior officials from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and El Salvador, discussed with representatives of the Presidency, Office of the Prosecutor and Registry of the ICC, as well as with regional experts, topics of mutual interest in the field of international cooperation.The ICC needs the cooperation of States to effectively investigate and prosecute perpetrators of international crimes and in particular to facilitate the requests for judicial assistance, ensure the arrest and surrender of suspects, freezing and seizure of assets, relocation of witnesses, enforcement of sentences, and provisional release of detainees.The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Costa Rica, H.E. Mr Manuel González Sanz expressed his support for the ICC: “We stand firm against those who instead of seeing this triumph of the international community, which is the International Criminal Court, try to minimize it. We have cultural, political, economic and religious differences, but that is why we have achieved a vital consensus to establish this emblematic institutional justice.” ICC President, Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, expressed gratitude for the strong support that the Court receives from the region. “Latin American countries have steadily supported the establishment and functioning of the Court from its inception, in recognition that in order to prevent and combat international crimes, it is also necessary to have a complementary institution that can, under certain circumstances, remedy the lack of genuine action by States “said the President. The President also reminded that there are still “areas of opportunity to enhance support from the region.”In the margins of the seminar, the ICC President and the ICC Registrar, Mr Herman von Hebel, had a working breakfast with the President of Costa Rica, H.E. Mr Luis Guillermo Solís, and other senior officials to assess the challenges of the ICC and the importance of cooperation.President Fernández also participated in a meeting with parliamentarians from Costa Rica and El Salvador to discuss the implementation of the Rome Statute and the ratification by the latter State of the ICC’s founding text. During the meeting organized by the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), an NGO, El Salvadoran parliamentarians expressed their willingness to continue working on the ratification in order to make it a reality in the near future.The International Criminal Court is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, namely the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. Latin American countries have been strong supporters of the establishment and functioning of the ICC. Of the current 123 States Parties to the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, 27 are from Latin America and the Caribbean.
Diplomat Magazine celebrated their successful time in The Netherlands by presenting them with a Certificate of Merit in a solemn ceremony attended by their respective spouses, colleagues, ambassadors, special friends and members of their staff.
After the national anthem of the Netherlands and the national anthem of Croatia, H. E. Ahmet Halilovic ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina took the floor to talk about Ambassador Mrden’s outstanding career, her exceptional performance in The Hague, and their personal friendship. Ambassador Mrden Korac received the Certificate of Merit accompanied by her husband Professor Marko Korac.
Diplomat Magazine celebrated their successful time in The Netherlands by presenting them with a Certificate of Merit in a solemn ceremony attended by their respective spouses, colleagues, ambassadors, special friends and members of their staff.
After the national anthem of the Netherlands and the national anthem of Croatia, H. E. Ahmet Halilovic ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina took the floor to talk about Ambassador Mrden’s outstanding career, her exceptional performance in The Hague, and their personal friendship. Ambassador Mrden Korac received the Certificate of Merit accompanied by her husband Professor Marko Korac.
