Magyar ambassador accredited to Luxembourg

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Magyar ambassador accredited to Luxembourg
  End of June 2015, His Excellency Ambassador Nagy Zoltán presented his credentials as non-resident ambassador of Hungary to HRH The Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The mission, though based in Brussels, does have a diplomat based in Luxembourg for representation, First Secretary, Ms Katalin Dusaucy-Rapp. Ambassador Nagy had already presented his credentials to HM The King of the Belgians on 10 March 2015. Before arriving in Brussels Ambassador Nagy was Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Budapest between 2012-2014. For more information  Embassy of Hungary to Belgium and Luxembourg: www.mfa.gov.hu/kulkepviselet/BRUSSELS_BILAT/en/ Ambassador Nagy: www.mfa.gov.hu/kulkepviselet/BRUSSELS_BILAT/en/en_Koszonto/Ambassador_s+CV.htm  

Departed ambassadors from Brussels

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Departed ambassadors from Brussels
On the picture Dr Eckart Cuntz displaying his Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Belgium.   By Baron Henri Estramant.   Germany’s Dr. Eckart Cuntz.  Ambassador Cuntz left Belgium for his new base in Berlin on 30 June 2015 after serving since 2011 as bilateral ambassador accredited to the Kingdom of Belgium. On the last day of his mission, the ambassador paid a farewell visit to HM The King of the Belgians who in his turn presented him with the “Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown”. It is Belgium’s second highest order  albeit it was originally instituted as a Congolese Order by King Leopold II in 1897. His successor is Ambassador Rüdiger Lüdekind, previously director general of the German mission to the OSCE (Vienna).  
Ambassador Oegroseno (Indonesia) Picture by KUL.
Ambassador Oegroseno (Indonesia) Picture by KUL.
Indonesia’s Arif Havas Oegroseno.  Deputy Minister for Maritime Sovereignty Coordinating (Ministry for Maritime Affairs – Republic of Indonesia), Arif Oegroseno, served as chief of mission to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg from 2010 to 2015.  
Prof. Henri Mova Sakanyi ( ).
Prof. Henri Mova Sakanyi ( Democratic Republic of Congo).
Democratic Republic of Congo’s Professor Henri Mova Sakanyi.  Professor Mova Sakanyi was ambassador accredited to the three Benelux countries from 2009, head of mission to the EU and the OPCW. He left Brussels for the political appointment as Secretary General of the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie – PPRD), which is the party of incumbent DRC President Joseph Kabila Kabange. A mission of the DR of Congo to The Netherlands opened in early 2015 but is yet to receive an ambassador. Currently the chargé d’affaires in The Hague is Minister Counsellor Thomas Konko.  
Jacques & Léa (1)
H. E. Jacques Revah and with HRH Princess Alexandre of Belgium (Israel).
Israel’s Jacques Revah. Bilateral ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Jacques Revah, left Brussels for Jerusalem on 12 August 2015 after serving as head of mission since 2011. He is now retired. His successor, Ambassador Simone Frankel, arrived in Brussels on 13 August 2015. This shall be her first ambassadorship.  
H. E. Manorom Phonseya Picture by OPCW.
H. E. Manorom Phonseya (Laos).  Picture by OPCW.
Laos’ Phonseya Manorom.   Ambassador Phonseya was recalled to Laos back in April 2015. He had served as head of mission since mid-2012 covering the EU, the OPCW, and bilaterally the Benelux countries, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Chargé d’affaires a.i. is Mr Sengprachang Thongkhoun.  
Ambassador Saem Hem (Cambodia). Picture by European Council
Ambassador Saem Hem (Cambodia). Picture by European Council.
Cambodia’s Hem Saem.  Ambassaor Hem left his post in Brussels in the beginning of May 2015. He had served since 2009 as chief of mission to the EU, the OPCW, the Benelux countries and Austria. His successor is Ambassador Chea Thireak.    For more information  Embassy of Germany to Belgium: www.bruessel.diplo.de/Vertretung/bruessel/fr/Startseite.html Embassy of Indonesia to Belgium and Luxembourg, Mission to the EU: http://www.embassyofindonesia.eu/ CV of Deputy Minister Oegroseno: www.europeantunaconference.com/havas.html Mission of the DR of Congo to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU: www.ambardc.eu Embassy of Israel to Belgium and Luxembourg: http://embassies.gov.il/Bruxelles/Pages/default.aspx Mission of Laos to the EU, the Benelux, Scandinavia: www.ambalao.be Mission of Cambodia to the EU, the Benelux and Austria: http://www.embassyofcambodia.org/other_embassies.html  

Marina Kaljurand, Estonian FM

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Marina Kaljurand, Estonian FM
On the picture H. E. Marina Kaljurand 2011. Photography By Lawrence Jackson at the Oval Office USA.   Since 16 July 2015, Mrs Marina Kaljurand (née Rajevskaja) has been serving as Estonian Foreign Minister. The career diplomat worked as the Foreign Ministry’s  Undersecretary for Legal and Consular Affairs, and previous to it as the Undersecretary for Political Affairs before her ministerial appointment. She was also the Estonian expert at the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Cyber Security. Her latest ambassadorship was between 2011 and 2014 to Washington D.C. with co-accreditations to Mexico and Canada (up to 2013). Estonia has three representations in Brussels. One bilateral mission dealing with Belgium, Luxembourg as well as Switzerland headed by HE Ambassador Gert Antsu, the Permanent Representation led by HE Ambassador Matti Maasikas as well as one vis-à-vis NATO headed by HE Ambassador Lauri Lepik. The mission in The Hague covers The Netherlands as well as the OPCW. The latter embassy is headed by HE Ambassador Peep Jahilo. For more information  Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://valitsus.ee/en/minister-foreign-affairs-marina-kaljurand Embassy of Estonia to Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and San Marino: www.estemb.be/ Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU: www.eu.estemb.be/eng/permanent_representation Permanent Representation of Estonia to NATO: www.estnato.be/about_us Embassy of Estonia to The Netherlands: www.estemb.nl/  

VII EU-Mexico Summit

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VII EU-Mexico Summit
On the picture EU Commission’s President Jean Claude Juncker, the President of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto and President Donald Tusk, from the European Council.   On Friday 12 June, the 7th EU-Mexico Summit took place in Brussels. The EU was represented by the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. President Enrique Peña Nieto represented Mexico. This was the first EU-Mexico Summit for all three leaders. President Juncker said: “We are working hard in order to be able to conclude an agreement on the Passenger Name Record between Mexico and the EU which is of highest importance for Mexico”.  
Mexico's Foreign Secretary José Antonio Meade Kuribreña and Federica Mogherini, EU's HRFASP
Mexico’s Foreign Secretary José Antonio Meade Kuribreña and Federica Mogherini, EU’s HRFASP.
  The EU-Mexico Summit prepared the ground for a modernisation of the EU-Mexico Global Agreement, reaffirmed the like-mindedness on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues, and therefore improved the relationship between the EU and Mexico across the board. Global issues such as climate change, the post-2015 sustainable development agenda and the challenges related to drug trafficking were also discussed. HE Ambassador Juan José Gómez Camacho heads the mission to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg.   For more information  Mission of Mexico to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg: http://embamex.sre.gob.mx/belgica/ Joint statement EU-Mexico: www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/06/12-eu-mexico-summit-final-statement/  

Le président de l’Assemblée en visite au Kenya

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Le président de l’Assemblée en visite au Kenya
On the picture H. E. Sidiki Kaba and Son Excellence  Uhuru Kenyatta, President du Kenya.    Le Président de l’Assemblée des États Parties au Statut de Rome (« l’Assemblée ») de la Cour pénale internationale (« la Cour »), S.E. M. Sidiki Kaba, a effectué, les 11 et 12 août 2015, une visite de travail au Kenya où il a rencontré des autorités du pays. Le Président Kaba a tenu, le 11 août 2015, des réunions avec S.E. Dr. Amina Mohammed, Ministre des Affaires étrangères et du Commerce international et S.E. M. Githu Muigal, Procureur général, avec qui il a échangé sur différents points concernant les relations entre le Kenya et l’Assemblée des Etats parties. Aussi, le 12 août 2015, le President Kaba a été reçu par Son Excellence Monsieur Uhuru Kenyatta, Président de la République du Kenya, à qui il a présenté son programme de travail, tout en réitérant l’importance de la restauration de la confiance entre l’Afrique et la Cour, du renforcement de la complémentarité, de la coopération avec la Cour et de l’universalité du Statut de Rome. À l’issue de cette visite, qui fait partie d’une série de voyages officiels qu’il entreprend en Afrique, le Président Kaba a déclaré : « Je remercie le Gouvernement du Kenya pour l’invitation et me réjouis des discussions franches et ouvertes que nous avons pu avoir. En raison de l’importance de la Cour pénale internationale dans la prévention et la répression de crimes de masse, je réitère mon engagement à travailler avec tous les États parties pour créer de meilleures conditions de dialogue au sein de l’Assemblée afin d’atteindre les objectifs de lutte contre l’impunité, de renforcement de l’Etat de droit et de prise en compte des intérêts des victimes ».  

Embassy Festival in The Hague

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Embassy Festival in The Hague
 On the picture Con Brio Band.   Embassy Festival in The Hague this year on Saturday 5 September   Terakaft, Con Brio, La Chiva Gantiva and many others set to sizzle on the Lange Voorhout    On Saturday, 5 September 2015 the third edition of the (free entry) Embassy Festival will be taking place on the picturesque Lange Voorhout in downtown The Hague, an event that spotlights the many different cultures residing in the city through an internationally appealing one-day programme. Two outdoor stages, numerous pavilions, a creative arena and a kids compound bring the world together in an international festival spotlighting cultural and culinary expressions that span the globe.    Alongside an inspiring musical programme, the Embassy Festival offers visitors an intimate event featuring art, dance and a cultural culinary experience. Various children’s activities allow younger festival goers to experience various cultures and open their eyes to different activities and ways of playing. The musical programme offers a rich palette of currents from across the globe. Two carrousel podiums will be resonating with different musical genres throughout the afternoon. Highlights on the classical podium include Dutch harp superstar Gwyneth Wentink, celebrated Georgian concert pianist Nino Gvetadze, and Greek mega-diva, soprano Myrsini Margariti. Pop fans can make their way to the pop podium on the other side of the festival terrain, where elements of desert rock, funk, soul, jazz and indie pop from the most diverse countries intertwine in an innovative and, at times unexpected, programme.   138   All the way from Mali, Terakaft (with band members having formerly played in the legendary group Tinariwen) will be captivating their audience with a desert blues act during this third festival edition. Terakaft takes visitors on a mesmerising journey through the desert where bewitching percussive and lyrical guitar playing are faithful companions. A unique experience for anyone who is open to the musical heritage of the Touareg. The American band Con Brio also make an appearance at this year’s Embassy Festival. This act scored big in the US showcase festival SXSW and had never been to Europe before. The Hague had a scoop with Con Brio giving us a steaming cocktail of soul and funk in the best tradition of James Brown, Prince and D’Angelo! With the charismatic and talented Ziek McCarter as the undisputed front- and showman. La Chiva Gantiva (Colombia, Vietnam, Belgium, France) have made a name for themselves at festivals including Down The Rabbit Hole, Mundial and Dour and this year grace the Embassy Festival stages. With an explosive show featuring of Afro-Colombian rhythms, rock, funk and rap this international collective are sure to make waves in the music world. Fans of bands such as Manu Chao and Che Sudaka will enjoy Con Brio. The collective Ti-an-guis features musicians from Mexico, Croatia, Portugal and Greece. Especially for this Embassy Festival edition, the group bring traditional Mexican songs into the limelight in a non-traditional and exciting way.   180   The international ensemble Arifa will be bringing mesmerising cinematic music to the Embassy Festival stage. With members from Romania, Turkey, Germany and the Netherlands, the group performs ancient musical traditions of the Middle East and the Balkans, laced with jazz improvisation and a Western approach. More exciting acts, both pop and classical, will complete the line-up of Embassy Festival and will be announced soon. The Hague has every right to call itself an international city. With the presence of the many embassies, NGOs and multinationals the city enjoys continuous interaction with the rest of the world. The third edition of the Embassy Festival shows a beautiful compilation of international culture that can be seen, heard and tasted in The Hague. The Embassy Festival is organised by PROOOST, the driving force behind the successful LIFE I LIVE Festival in The Hague. EMBASSY FESTIVAL | SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2015 | 12:00 – 21:00 | LANGE VOORHOUT, THE HAGUE | FREE ENTRY For further information about the festival:   WWW.EMBASSYFESTIVAL.COM EMBASSY FESTIVAL  

European Summer Academy students visit Philippine Embassy in Brussels

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European Summer Academy students visit Philippine Embassy in Brussels
 On the picture Ambassador Victoria Bataclan posing with the students.   Brussels, 10 August 2015. — Some 40 Japanese, Korean and Belgian international politics students visited the Embassy last August 7 as part of the activities of the European Summer Academy of Otzenhausen (Germany) to learn more about the Philippines’ engagement with the European Union. As requested by the students’ professors, Ambassador Victoria S. Bataclan delivered a presentation/briefing on the “Regional Integration and Cooperation – the EU and Asia in 2015,” specifically outlining the Philippine involvement in EU programmes and other ASEAN and international organization issues followed by a discussion of issues confronting the Philippines and the EU, the ASEAN and the international organizations. Ambassador Bataclan announced that the Philippines is now a net creditor of the International Monetary Fund and has received very favorable ratings from all credit rating institutions.  
Ambassador Victoria Bataclan and the students.
Ambassador Victoria Bataclan with the Japanese, Korean and Belgian international politics students .
The delegation, led by Prof. Sebastian Zeitzmann of the European Academy of Otzenhausen, was composed of 18 Japanese master’s students in German and European studies with focus on politics, economics, culture, arts and languages from the University of Tokyo; 10 Korean master’s students in politics and international students; and 12 Belgian undergraduate students from the Ghent University. Prof. Dr. Yuichi Morii of the University of Tokyo, Prof. Thomas Kalinowski of Seoul, Ms. Lisa Fetzer of the European Academy and Dr. Wolfgang Pape of the European Commission accompanied the group. Prof. Zeitzmann confided that the visit of the participants of the European Spring Academy in May 2014 to Brussels Philippine Embassy left a lasting imprint because of “genuinely warm” reception which the participants then received from Ambassador Bataclan and her team. Thus, they decided that the European Summer Academy 2015 also experience the hospitality of the Philippine Embassy in Brussels. The European Summer Academy 2015 runs from 02 to 12 August 2015 and is a collaborative venture of the European Academy of Otzenhausen (EAO), the ASKO Europa-Stiftung (AES) of Saarbrücken, the University of Tokyo, the Ewha Womans University in Seoul, the Centre International de Formation Européene (CIFE) in Nice, the Europa-Institut of Saarland University, and the University of Ghent in Belgium. The programme includes visits to the ASKO-Europa Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the European Parliament, and the European Commission.   For more information:  Mission of the Philippines to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg: http://philembassy.be/ Europa-Institut of Saarland University: www.europainstitut.de/ European Academy of Otzenhausen: www.citizensforeurope.eu/organisation/european-academy-otzenhausen ————– Text and photographs by Embassy of the Philippines to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg (www.facebook.com/philippineembassy.brussels)  

Uzbekistan’s experience on civil society development discussed in Tashkent

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Uzbekistan’s experience on civil society development discussed in Tashkent
                  On the picture H. E. Vladimir Norov Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan  to the Kingdom of Belgium and to the Kingdom of Netherlands. Tashkent July 29-30, 2015. An international roundtable discussion entitled “Bolstering the role and importance of civil society institutions in democratic renewal and modernization of the country: the experience of Uzbekistan and international practice” was organized by the National Association of Nongovernmental and Nonprofit Organizations (NNOs) of Uzbekistan, the Independent Institute for Monitoring the Formation of Civil Society and the Public Fund under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as their foreign partners the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Office of OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan. The forum was attended by members of the Senate and the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, the deputies of Jokargy Kenes of Karakalpakstan, Kengashes (Councils) of People’s Deputies of the regions and the city of Tashkent, experts and scholars of educational, research and public organizations, representatives of international and foreign organizations accredited in Uzbekistan, international experts in the field of civil society organizations from Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, South Korea, India, Turkey and other countries, as well as journalists. The event’s agenda included a detailed deliberation on Uzbekistan’s experience in supporting the advancement of civil society institutions and NNOs in the country, the measures spearheaded to boost their role and importance in nation-building and public affairs, elaboration and implementation of legislation, the crucial state programs designed to shore up socio-political, socio-economic and human development. The forum participants stressed the effectiveness of the five principles making up the Uzbek Model of Development and the Strategy “From a strong state to a strong civil society” well-known around the world. It was emphasized during the roundtable discussion that a framework for regulating the activities of NNOs, comprising more than 200 legislative acts and meeting the latest democratic requirements and international standards, has been created in Uzbekistan on the basis of the Constitution. As part of measures to secure the independent development of civil society institutions, bolster their role and place in nation-building, provide for a balance of interests in the society, safeguard democratic values, human rights, freedoms and legitimate interests, the laws “On Social Associations in the Republic of Uzbekistan”, “On Labor Unions, Rights and Guarantees of Their Activity”, “On Nongovernmental Nonprofit Organizations”, “On Public Funds”, “On Guarantees of Activity of Nongovernmental Nonprofit Organizations” and a number of other acts of legislation have been passed in Uzbekistan in this area. From year to year the contribution of NNOs to implementation of major state social and economic programs, including the program “Year of attention and care for the senior generation”, the program of job creation and providing employment for population, the program for further strengthening of reproductive health, maternal health, children and teenagers in Uzbekistan for 2014-2018, the program of action for the protection of environment of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2013-2017 and others. Leaders and activists of NNOs are members of more than 40 permanent national inter-ministerial committees, councils, working groups, which created in accordance with the acts of the President, the Government and the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan. Since 2013, the Cabinet of Ministers with the active participation of NNOs on annual basis developed and implemented joint plans and programs for the development of civil society institutions. In 2013, in the framework of joint events, measures taken to improve the information and organizational activities of NNOs, in 2014 the events aimed at improving their social and socio-economic activity, in 2015 Complex plan of activities of the Cabinet of Ministers aimed at strengthening social partnership between the government and NNOs. In general, measures to improve the institutional and legal framework of activities of civil society, which implemented in the country, reflected both in quantitative and qualitative indicators of development. If in 1991 only 95 NNOs functioned in the country, by 2000 their number has increased to 2585, from 2000 to 2010 the number of NNOs has increased more than 2 times and reached the level of 5431. Over the past four years, a similar increase recorded and as of January 1, 2015, the number of NNOs in Uzbekistan has reached a point of 8190.  

Mediterranean Developments

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Mediterranean Developments
  Update from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) 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 – 11 August, 2015
Country of Arrival Arrivals Deaths
Italy 101,829 1,956
(Central Med route)
Malta 94
Greece 93,100 61 
(Eastern Med route)
Spain 2,166 23 
(Western Med and Western African routes)
Estimated Total 197,189 2,040
  IOM Staff in Southern Italy reports that landings may occur in the following hours and days. IOM staff is deployed at the main landing points in Sicily (including Lampedusa island), Calabria and Apulia and provides legal assistance to those arriving by sea, monitors the reception conditions and supports the authorities in the identification of vulnerable groups.   A total of 170,100 refugees arrived in Italy in 2014; up to July 2015 94,191 already arrived to Italy. In Greece a total of 34,442 refugees arrived by sea in 2014, 93,100 already arrived to Greece in 2015. More information: www.iom.int      

The Political Economy of the Extractive Imperative in Latin America

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The Political Economy of the Extractive Imperative in Latin America
ISS-CEDLA Conference: The Political Economy of the Extractive Imperative in Latin America: Reducing Poverty and Inequality vs. Ensuring Inclusion and Sustainability?   By Mete Erdurcan. The International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) recently organised, together with the Centre for Latin American Research and Documentation (CEDLA), a workshop on extractivism in Latin America hosted by Murat Arsel and Lorenzo Pellegrini, lecturers at the ISS. Different speakers from around the world were gathered in the ISS, in The Hague, to discuss and present on their expertise in various aspects of topics related to extractivism, such as mining, indigenous people, and (non-) renewable resources. Due to the number of academic research, the workshop started at 09:00 and ended at 18:30; most of them honoured to present their findings. The second round of the parallel session had as guest speaker Carlos Zorrilla, an activist from Defense and Conservation of Intag (DECOIN). He presented his lecture ‘When defending your community becomes a high crime: trials and tribulations of standing up to extractivism in Ecuador’. He described his experience in Ecuador with his struggle for the preservation of the nature in the surroundings of his home.  
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