By HE Ambassador Mimoza Ahmetaj, Head of Mission of Kosovo to the EU, Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg. Photography by Zana Hoxha.   The Republic of Kosovo, having declared its independence in 2008, is the youngest country in Europe today, in both age of population and of statehood. It has been recognized by 111 countries throughout the world, and has made tremendous progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration as a democratic, multi-ethnic and secular country deeply committed to European values. The end of the war of 1998-99 found Kosovo heavily damaged in all aspects. With over one million refugees, over 80% of schools destroyed, and no institutions in place whatsoever, Kosovo found itself at its nadir just at the turn of the new millennium; however, looking back now, it has certainly risen to the challenge. The Kosovars’ remarkable motivation to rebuild, coupled with the international community’s commitment, has transformed Kosovo from a war-torn place into a country thriving. Today, Kosovo has the highest average economic growth in all of South Eastern Europe in the last seven years; it has the first female president elected in the Balkans; it is safer than many Western European countries; it has one of the most modern constitutions globally, one that bans discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion as well as sexual orientation; and it boasts a very rich ethnic and religious diversity that give a particular charm to this new country. Our civic democracy grants constitutional protection to all our ethnic communities, with around ten of them peacefully cohabiting in Kosovo, identifying with an equal variety of faiths – Sunni Muslims, Catholic Christians, Orthodox Christians, Sufis, Protestants, Jews, as well as many other groups are all free to live and love in Kosovo. Kosovo is historically known for always nurturing religious diversity, but in the recent years this tolerance has been gaining even more international recognition thanks to its annual interfaith conferences. Kosovo is now being cited as a global example of a country where many faiths live in perfect harmony. Apart from bilateral relations, Kosovo is also making its place in the world of multilateral organizations – we are now members of two UN specialized agencies, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as of the International Organization of La Francophonie, the International Olympic Committee, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, The Venice Commission, and many other sports and regional organizations. Kosovo has also finalized negotiations on the first contractual agreement with the European Union, the Stabilization and Association Agreement, and it is expected to sign it very soon. In the spirit of good neighborly relations and contribution to regional peace and stability, Kosovo has shown exceptional goodwill in the dialogue facilitated by the EU between Kosovo and Serbia, reaching several landmark agreements on practical issues.  

  So what remains to be done? Kosovo’s foremost and biggest potential – and simultaneously, challenge – is its youth. With an average age of 28 and half of the population under 25, we are faced now with the challenge of providing them with a better future and a positive outlook where our youth has a chance to truly be part of the globalized society spreading today. Recognizing this, the Republic of Kosovo has formally applied to become a UNESCO member this year. UNESCO’s purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science, and culture; aiming to build the defenses of peace in the minds of young men and women. It is just what Kosovo needs. This membership will not only enhance our education, science and culture, enabling them to benefit from shared knowledge and best international practices, but it will also share Kosovo’s wealth of heritage with the entire world. We have tried our hardest to overcome the stereotypical evocation of grim images at the mention of our country’s name by showing the world what Kosovo is really like, and you now find all foreign visitors to Kosovo describe it as “young and vibrant”. Joining a global platform such as UNESCO will certainly help us share some of this extraordinary energy with the rest of the world – let’s avoid the isolation of these young people by helping Kosovo become a UNESCO member!      

Photography by Henry Arvidsson.   After having served for most of his diplomatic career in posts and functions in the East- Southern Mediterranean, being himself an eye witness of the launch of the “Arab Spring” phenomenon, the post in the Netherlands was quite a different experience. However, some historic developments did take place while serving in The Hague if we take as an example the fact that Dr Kyriacos Kouros had to the privilege to serve in a realm where a royal succession took place. Dr Kouros began his mission as Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Kingdom of the Netherlands in June 2012, less than a month before Cyprus held the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, for the first time since its EU accession in 2004. He had to learn fast the complicated structures of the international organizations, such as the OPCW, and Courts based in The Hague, since Cyprus had to coordinate its EU partners, in the absence of a representation of the then nascent European External Action Service in The Hague. During the second semester of 2012, the Embassy of Cyprus in The Hague successfully coordinated numerous EU meetings, drafted the EU statements and organized a number of events. Dr Kouros humorously referred to this period of the second half of 2012 as the “roller coaster” orientation trip. However, the success of the Cypriot EU Presidency was unfortunately followed and partially overshadowed by the peak of the economic crisis in Cyprus in early 2013, with the Netherlands holding the Presidency of the Eurogroup. Ambassador Kouros strived to present the Cypriot positions to the Dutch decision makers, both at the Executive and the Legislative Branches, and to try and correct the omnipresent misconceptions about the Cypriot economy. The circumstances were very difficult and crucial. Today, more than two years later the economy of Cyprus is in a much better shape and all stakeholders, especially the international lenders, agree that Cyprus is emerging out of the recession and has returned to growth. Cyprus is a success story, Dijsselbloem says!  During his tenure in the Netherlands, Ambassador Kouros actively promoted the bilateral relations of the two countries and significant number of bilateral visits were exchanged, including those of the (then) Minister  of Foreign Affairs Frans Timmermans and of Minister Dijsselbloem in Nicosia in January and March 2014 and the visit of H.E. Ankie Broekers-Knol in October 2014. On behalf of Cyprus, four at least Ministers paid working visits in the Netherlands including the Ministers of European Affairs, Energy, Industry, Commerce & Tourism, Communications & Works. The Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources & Environment visited lastly the Netherlands and met also with Dutch counterparts and agreed on ways to further promote the bilateral cooperation.  With the valuable support of his wife Vasso and the Embassy’s staff, Ambassador Kouros actively tried to promote Cypriot culture and history in the Netherlands and encouraged exhibition and events held in the Netherlands by Cypriot artists. In September 2013, the Netherlands returned to Cyprus four icons that were illegally smuggled from the occupied areas of the island, on the basis of 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Event of an Armed Conflict. The icons are being kept to the Byzantium Museum in Nicosia until a political settlement is reached on the island which will allow the artifacts together with the thousand others found to be returned to their place of origin. As The Hague is host to many international and UN organizations and institutions it is a good diplomatic post to establish useful contacts and to represent one’s government in an effective way. Dr Kouros wants to believe that he managed to establish good contacts with the diplomatic and international community in The Hague and with many think tanks. Cyprus continued to actively participate in the International Organizations based in the city. In 2013-2014, Cyprus served as the host country of the support base of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission and offered infrastructure and facilities to other States which contributed to the destruction of the Syria’ s chemical weapons. It also hosted the OPCW 11th Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia in May 2013.  In the International Criminal Court, Cyprus is an ad country co-focal point for the Plan of Action for the Universality and the Full Implementation of the Rome Statute since fall of 2013, in cooperation first with Japan and since January 2015 with Denmark. As an Ambassador of a country which has a significant part of its territory under foreign military occupation, the top priority for Ambassador Kouros was to actively promote the positions of the Cypriot Government in its effort to end the occupation and reunite Cyprus and its people. At the same time he tried to study the achievements of the Dutch society in various fields in his bid to infuse some thinking back home. He consciously believes and supports the notion that people should adopt mentalities and practices that make our world a better place to be. Before he joined the Diplomatic Service, Dr Kouros started his career as a journalist and a lecturer on issues of mass media and related legal affairs. Therefore he loves to write and that is why he enjoyed being a guest writer in Diplomat Magazine. He and his wife Vasso will fondly remember The Netherlands as a country where the quality of life should always be cherished and considered a beacon for the rest of the civilized world. But in his new role Dr Kouros is expected to see the audience of his writing skills significantly reduced. He was selected to play the role of a national security advisor by heading the Cypriot Intelligence Service and presiding over the newly established Councils of Geopolitical Affairs and Energy Politics, an important and crucial function in such a strategically situated country.      

By Sefalana R. Matambo, Acting Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Botswana to the Kingdom of Belgium and Permanent Mission to the European Union, non-resident to the Kingdom of The Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.     From the mesmerizing meander of the divine Okavango Delta, to the gregarious species of wildlife foraging freely in the Chobe National Park, Botswana’s kaleidoscope of landscapes enraptures and captures the adventurous spirit in all of us. Botswana not only talks the talk of environmental and wildlife conservation, but also walks the walk by leading the way in international efforts to transition to a global economy based on sustainable development. We utilise our own abundant natural resources to build a healthy, educated and sustainable future for current and next generations. The unrelenting dedication of the Botswana Government to maintaining its pristine natural landscapes and protect its wildlife populations evidenced itself in our hosting of the African Elephant Summit and the Kasane Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade in March 2015. It is also demonstrated through Botswana’s championing of the Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa, which was born out of the Summit for Sustainability in Africa, also hosted in Gaborone, Botswana in May 2012. The Declaration calls for worldwide recognition of the intrinsic value of ecosystems through natural capital accounting. As part of its obligations to the Gaborone Declaration, Botswana has banned big game hunting, committed to a moratorium on all trade in ivory until the African elephant population has rebounded, and is leading a training programme for other African nations on wildlife protection strategies. The country’s efficient management of its wildlife resources is a combination of widespread community involvement and effective policy management at the government level. Botswana’s extensive system of world-renowned national parks and game reserves, such as the Chobe National Park, comprise approximately 40% of land area under protected status, where the parks are unfenced and wildlife roam freely. Outreach programmes under the Community Based Natural Resource Management engage communities in wildlife-rich environments in the management of the environment, and create awareness on the importance of sustaining wildlife resources. The Botswana Government, in conjunction with the World Bank, has funded the Northern Botswana Human Wildlife Coexistence Project to facilitate human-wildlife conflict mitigation methods. This co-management of wildlife resources between the government and the citizenry ensures the balance between the country’s natural and human wealth; Botswana exist in tandem with, and not in spite of, their natural resources. Botswana’s long-standing commitment to the conservation of its natural resources is a track record that sings its own praises. The awe-inspiring Okavango Delta was listed as the 1000th UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2014, one of the world’s few and largest inland deltas that boasts of a vast diversity of wildlife and ecosystems. Thirty kilometers west of the Delta in the far northwest of the country lies yet another World Heritage site – the billion-year-old rocks of the Tsodilo Hills. The enigmatic Tsodilo Hills house one of the highest concentrations of rock art in the world, with over 4,500 individual paintings or inscriptions produced by a long trail of the ancestral inhabitants of Tsodilo. As a long-serving member of UNESCO in good standing, Botswana’s deep involvement in the organization’s aim to promote cooperation in the fields of education, science and international security, has culminated in our fielding of a candidate for membership of the UNESCO Executive Board for the period 2015 – 2019, Dr. Gloria Somolekae, a woman of great achievements and a passionate development practitioner. Botswana’s own long-term Vision 2016, drawn up in 1996, is in alignment with the Vision of UNESCO, and envisages a prosperous and proud Botswana where all can share in the country’s prosperity. Botswana is an inspiring example of how economic growth and the natural environment are so closely linked, a telling tale of how life-supporting natural capital can become one of the main drivers of economic growth and national development. Botswana aims to spearhead an international effort focused on the value of natural capital as a key contributor to sustainable economic growth and long-term social development not only at home, but across Africa and around the world. Conservation of our natural resources is much more than just a goal to be achieved or another obligation to fulfill. Our own unique brand of conservation is the confluence of ancient ways of life and the compulsion of modern civilization. It is where the humility of Batswana people meets the tranquility of expanses of undisturbed wilderness; where the serenity of women’s hands, aged gracefully with wisdom, creates the acuity and timelessness of magnificent, traditionally woven basketry; and, where the complexity of urban art forms and brightly lit city skylines meets the simplicity of a surreal and stunningly colourful sunset across endless desert sky.   For Botswana, conservation is self-preservation; the protection of that which has sustained Botswana for generations past, and the insurance of sustainable life for future generations.