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.
On the picture Israel’s ambassadors David Walzer (EU & NATO) and Jacques Revah (Belgium and Luxemburg) greeting Mr. Alain Le Roi , Secretary General EEAS.With a reception hosted at Brussels Gothic City Hall, the two heads of missions of the State of Israel in Brussels celebrated the Yom Ha’atzmaut, or Independence Day of Israel. More precisely the fête commemorates the declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel by the Jewish leadership set up by future first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion on 14 May 1948 (corresponding to 5 Iyar 5708 in the Hebrew calendar). Annually the day is marked in Israel on 5 Iyar according to the Hebrew calendar. Israel keeps two diplomatic missions in Brussels. One delegation to the EU and NATO headed by Ambassador David Walzer since 2012, and another one led by Ambassador Jacques Revah accredited to Belgium and Luxembourg. Ambassador Revah is due to retire in August 2015. For more information:Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Declaration of Establishment of State of Israel)http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peace/guide/pages/declaration%20of%20establishment%20of%20state%20of%20israel.aspxMission of Israel to the EU: http://embassies.gov.il/eu/Pages/default.aspxEmbassy of Israel to Belgium and Luxembourg: http://embassies.gov.il/Brussels/Pages/default.
Christella Mukamana, President of the Rwandese Women Association, H. E. Jean Pierre Karabaranga, his wife Vibviane Uwicyeza Mironko and two guests.By Roy Lie A Tjam The 21st Kwibohora or Liberation(Day) was celebrated in the Netherlands on July 7th 2015. H.E. Mr. Jean Pierre Karabaranga hosted a reception at the Carlton Ambassador Hotel The Hague. Many guests were present at the event, including members of the diplomatic community, Dutch government officials, friends and members of the Rwandan Diaspora. For a photo album on the Rwanda’s National Day, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157653472728023 The theme chosen for the 2015 Kwibohora celebration is “Prosperity in dignity”, a highly suitable theme given Rwanda’s impressive progress in recent years. Reflecting on his country’s development, Ambassador Karabaranga stressed that, under the leadership of President Paul Kagame, Rwanda has made tremendous strides in numerous social and economic fields. Rwanda repeatedly ranks as one of the safest, cleanest, most peaceful and most economically progressive countries, not just in Africa but in the world. Before long, Rwanda will become a middle income country, and the nation is exemplary in gender equality. The reception program featured traditional Rwandan music and dance, along with a special performance by singer Masamba. Ambassador Karabaranga concluded, Rwanda still has long way to go but he is convinced that Rwandan will surmount the challenges on her path. Rwanda is looking at the future unfazed.
H. E. Jean Pierre Karabaranga and his wife Vibviane Uwicyeza Mironko.
By Ann O’ Brien, Executive Director, T.M.C. Asser Instituut.
Last Wednesday, June 24, I had the honour and the pleasure to attend a lunch to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Diplomat Magazine. I found myself in the company of some twenty Diplomat Magazine’s supporters in the fine ambiance of the Worldhotel Bel Air hosted by his General Manager Stephan van der Meulen, here in The Hague.
I say ‘supporters’ because, our lunch group was composed of DM’s contributors, reporters, photographers, sponsors and others whose collective efforts and input during the last year, have enable this unique (to The Netherlands) Magazine to grow and prosper. It is fine to witness such good collaboration with the diplomatic community and to learn that the Magazine’s readership has grown in the previous 12 month period from 41,000 to 62,000.
For a photo-album on this special occasion, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157652929393794
Such success does not come without much dedication and hard work but last Wednesday’s lunch was a relaxed and convivial affair, enriched by good conversation, musical interludes and the opportunity to make new acquaintances.
I wish The Diplomat Magazine continued success and a very bright future.
Dans la photo Martin Beyer, directeur de l’Alliance française de La Haye et délégué général de la Fondation Alliance française de Paris aux Pays-Bas.Par Anne Leray, journaliste à La Haye.« On joue sur la terre » : une exposition de photo internationale à découvrir à la Stadbibliotheek de La HayeDepuis le 3 juillet dernier, une quarantaine de photographies évoquant chacune le jeu au sens large, sont à découvrir à la Stadbibliotheek de La Haye. Elles ont été sélectionnées dans le cadre d’un concours lancé pour la 4e année par l’Alliance Française en partenariat avec le magazine Courrier International et TV5 MONDE. Un jury parisien les a primées parmi deux-cent vingt dossiers reçus, faisant d’Omar Jimenez Gonzalez, étudiant au Mexique, le lauréat de cette édition. « C’est un tour du monde tout azimut des prises de vue et des thématiques », apprécie Martin Beyer, délégué général de la Fondation Alliance française de Paris aux Pays-Bas, ravi de voir s’installer ici ces images qui, à la fin de leur parcours, auront tourné au total dans une vingtaine de pays. D’autant que deux d’entre elles sont signées Nadia Boutaghane, une Française installée à La Haye, ce qui met en lumière un talent local. « C’est la deuxième fois que nous recevons l’expo de ce concours à La Haye. L’année dernière nous avions exposé à l’Alliance Française mais la bibliothèque est plus adaptée. Elle touchera plus de personnes qui passeront là par hasard. L’Alliance Française aime mélanger les gens, les rapprocher, créer la curiosité », poursuit-il. Ce réseau international compte huit cents établissements dans le monde. Nadia Boutaghane, photographe.Sur les cimaises de la bibliothèque dialoguent ainsi des regards du monde entier : un comptable en Irlande, un philosophe au Mexique, un ingénieur informatique au Nigeria, une graphiste en Russie, un dentiste en Indonésie… Ils ont tous suivis des cours au sein des Alliances Françaises, et sont amateurs de photographie et photographes amateurs. Jeux d’eau, jeux de fortune, jeux de société, jeux sportifs, en couleur ou en noir et blanc, l’exposition décline des visions personnelles avec souvent une belle qualité d’inspiration. Portraits ou reportages, certaines photos saisissent sur le vif l’enfance qui s’amuse. Des adultes sont aussi pris en flagrant délit d’enfance comme cette dame qui saute sur une marelle dans une rue pavée du Portugal. D’autres clichés jouent avec des mises en scène ludiques, drôles, ou plus grinçantes. Tels cette aire de jeu déserte à Tokyo deux ans après Fukushima, ces enfants bandits et voleurs avec un pistolet sur la tempe et un couteau sous la gorge, ou ce vieil homme absorbé dans une partie d’échec avec la mort dans un cimetière.Partie de la Cité des Arts à Paris en automne 2014, l’exposition était au Japon et aux Etats-Unis il y a peu, se tient simultanément à Bruxelles et à la Haye grâce à son double jeu de tirages, et partira ensuite à Rotterdam, au Nigeria et au Portugal. En 2016, le prochain concours parrainé par Yann Arthus-Bertrand, se concentrera sur un thème dans l’air d’un temps préoccupant : « Climat, état d’urgence ».Nicole Pierre et Roy Lie Tjam.« On joue sur la terre », jusqu’au 23 août 2015 à la Centrale Stadbibliotheek de La Haye, Spui, 2500 DP Den Haag, tel : 070 353 44 55. Entrée libre.