AMADE Mondiale in plenary session
Monaco, 9 and 10 April 2015: AMADE Mondiale’s annual plenary session was held in order to assess the ongoing programmes, and draw up new perspectives of cooperation.
AMADE Mondiale adopted in 2013, year of its 50th anniversary, a new strategy reaffirming the organisation’s vision: that is, a world wherein children can live with dignity, security and the respect of their fundamental rights regardless of their social origins, religion or cultural background. That of a world wherein every child can freely express his/her potential.
The general assembly brought together members of AMADE Mondiale’s Administrative Council as well as the representatives of national branches. Since 2013 AMADE Mondiale has donated a total of 1.124.603 € in favour of fifteen programmes for the protection of children against violence, exploitation and abuses, access to education, access to healthcare or in favour of children refugees or victims of natural catastrophes.
The commitment covers four continents (i.e., Europe, Africa, Asia and South America) and is made possible thanks to the global AMADE network and the privileged partnerships with international organisations.
AMADE Mondiale’s Administrative Council under the presidency of HRH The Princess of Hanover, Caroline of Monaco, equally decided to increase its intervention in the domain of rare diseases. Hitherto the focus has been given to research against pediatric cancers, the care of inherited metabolic diseases in Chile but now shall also cover the fight against sickle cell anemia in Niger.
A couple of days after the plenary session Monaco’s Princely Palace announced the birth in London on 12 April 2015 of India Casiraghi, daughter of The Princess of Hanover’s eldest son Andrea Casiraghi and her consort Tatiana Santo Domingo. India is their second child after Sasha born in 2013.
Source: www.monacochannel.mc/Chaines/Palais-Princier-de-Monaco/News-Photos/L-AMADE-reunie-en-conference-pleniere
For more information
AMADE plenary session: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs1g7V_gkEM
AMADE Mondiale: www.amade-mondiale.org/en/
Thai sovereign out of hospital
By Martin Kammandel.
On Sunday, 10 May 2015 Their Majesties The King and Queen of Thailand together with HRH The Princess Royal, Sirindhorn, left Siriraj Hospital in the afternoon heading towards Klai Kangwon Palace at Hua Hin town by the seaside.
Tearful but cheering crowds shouted “Long live the king!” as The King, wearing a red shirt, and Queen Sirikit passed by in a convoy en route to Hua Hin.
The move came only four days after the world’s longest reigning monarch presided over a ceremony marking Coronation Day at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. According to the Bureau of the Royal Household’s announcement The Royal Couple left for Hua Hin for a “change of atmosphere”. Rama IX was crowned on 5 May 1950.
For more information
Bureau of the Royal Household: www.brh.thaigov.net/brh-2011/index.php
Grand Palace in Bangkok: www.palaces.thai.net/
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Pictures: Pattarachai Prechapanich & Thiti Wannamontha
The move came only four days after the world’s longest reigning monarch presided over a ceremony marking Coronation Day at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. According to the Bureau of the Royal Household’s announcement The Royal Couple left for Hua Hin for a “change of atmosphere”. Rama IX was crowned on 5 May 1950.
For more information
Bureau of the Royal Household: www.brh.thaigov.net/brh-2011/index.php
Grand Palace in Bangkok: www.palaces.thai.net/
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Pictures: Pattarachai Prechapanich & Thiti Wannamontha
Strasbourg visit for King and Queen of the Belgians
21 April 2015, Strasbourg: Philippus, King of the Belgians, held an allocution before the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly focusing on fundamental European values, deploring individualism and indifference which can lead to “unworthy situations” for human beings.
The monarch’s speech was held in French wherein he highlighted:
“Les droits et libertés trouvent leurs racines dans l’idée d’une société décente. J’entends par là : une société qui bannit les abus de pouvoir, les indignités et l’humiliation”. “Malgré des avancées indéniables, il reste encore, dans nos sociétés, trop de situations où des hommes et des femmes ne sont pas traités avec dignité”.
“certaines attitudes indignes que nos sociétés développent face aux pressions migratoires”. “Nous détournons notre regard de la pauvreté, de la précarité et de la solitude, pourtant bien présents autour de nous, et qui sont autant d’insultes aux droits humains”.
“La responsabilité collective aujourd’hui est de créer un ordre social et international tel que les droits fondamentaux civils et politiques, économiques, sociaux et culturels puissent trouver plein effet”.
After his speech the King and Queen offered to the building of the Council of Europe an original piano score of Belgian composer Marcel Poot, which he played for a Competition Queen Elisabeth.
For more information
King Philippus’ speech: www.rtl.be/rtltvi/video/533789.aspx
Council of Europe: www.coe.int/en/
Competition Queen Elisabeth: www.concours-reine-elisabeth.be/cgi?lg=en&pag=1677&tab=108&rec=0&frm=0
“certaines attitudes indignes que nos sociétés développent face aux pressions migratoires”. “Nous détournons notre regard de la pauvreté, de la précarité et de la solitude, pourtant bien présents autour de nous, et qui sont autant d’insultes aux droits humains”.
“La responsabilité collective aujourd’hui est de créer un ordre social et international tel que les droits fondamentaux civils et politiques, économiques, sociaux et culturels puissent trouver plein effet”.
After his speech the King and Queen offered to the building of the Council of Europe an original piano score of Belgian composer Marcel Poot, which he played for a Competition Queen Elisabeth.
For more information
King Philippus’ speech: www.rtl.be/rtltvi/video/533789.aspx
Council of Europe: www.coe.int/en/
Competition Queen Elisabeth: www.concours-reine-elisabeth.be/cgi?lg=en&pag=1677&tab=108&rec=0&frm=0
IV World Tourism Forum
On 23 and 24 April 2015, top tourism industry specialists and speakers from more than 60 countries assembled in Switzerland for the 4th World Tourism Forum Lucerne.
The World Tourism Forum Lucerne (WTFL) took place for the fourth time in the central Swiss city on 23 and 24 April 2015 under the slogan “Talents, Innovation & Sustainable Development – Walk the Talk”. Held every two years, the event is again expected to attract more than 400 decision-makers from the tourism industry and related sectors of economics, politics, finance and science. They will meet at Lucerne’s KKL Culture & Convention Centre to debate challenges and changes in global tourism and travel.
The World Tourism Forum Lucerne focuses strongly on the future generation of decision-makers. Participating managers are therefore encouraged to invite their top up-and-coming young talents to the two-day event. The most qualified students from the Forum’s international partner-universities are also being invited to attend and three will receive the Young Talent Award. In addition, the Start-Up Innovation Award will be presented to three enterprises selected from the international companies invited to participate.
WTFL Think Tank participants debated key concerns facing the future of global travel and tourism, after which selected topics will be discussed within the wider interactive framework of the Forum. The line-up of eminent international speakers included Her Majesty Queen Mother Sangay Choden Wangchuck of Bhutan, Ms Amel Karboul (Tunisia’s first female Minister of Tourism), Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann, Dr Michael Frenzel (Chairman of the World Travel & Tourism Council), Paul Griffiths (CEO Dubai International Airport), Samih Sawiris (Chairman and CEO Orascom Development) and the American economic and social theorist Jeremy Rifkin.
Martin Barth, General Manager of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne, emphasised the increasing international orientation of the forum: “Since its founding we have developed into a platform embracing also other exclusive events within Switzerland and abroad. As part of a strategic partnership with Shanghai, for example, we will be staging a forum in China’s largest city in 2016”.
Queen Mother Sangay Choden founded Bhutan’s Textile Museum in 2005 in her efforts to promote traditional Bhutanese crafts.
World Tourism Forum Lucerne
The World Tourism Forum Lucerne is an interdisciplinary professional platform which offers decision makers in business, politics, science and finance an overview of current topics and trends in the global tourism industry. It is the only international platform enabling leading decision makers and emerging young talents in the industry to interact as part of a next generation programme. The World Tourism Forum Lucerne is supported by an international Advisory Board under the chairmanship of Reto Wittwer.
For more information
World Tourism Forum Lucerne: http://wtflucerne.
Bhutan Textile Museum: www.
Mexico and the EU revise strategic relations in Brussels
By Mission of the United Mexican States to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Translated and edited by Baron Henri Estramant.
Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs, José Antonio Meade Kuribreña, paid a visit to Brussels on 21 April to meet for the first time the EU leadership that took office in October 2014. Together with his European partners Secretary Meade analysed new paths to strengthen economic and cooperative relations.
Meade Kuribreña held a work meeting with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, over economic, political and cooperation matters. Further they discussed the upcoming CELAC-EU summit and current affairs worldwide.Secretary Meade also held meetings with the Commissioner for Energy Union, the Slovak, Maroš Šefčovič, as well as with the Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, Frenchman, Pierre Moscovici.
Mexico and the European Union share common and cultural bonds. They share fundamental values such as democracy, respect for the rule of law and human rights. In 2008 the two established a strategic partnership, and in 2015 the 55th anniversary of relations is being celebrated.
Since the signing of the general agreement in 2000 trade between Mexico and the EU has increased ca. 230%. Mexican exports to the EU increased by 261%, whereas EU exports to Mexico by 226%. The EU is the second largest trade partner for Mexico; bilateral trade in 2014 amounted to 64,327 million dollars. Foreign EU investment in Mexico amounted in 2014 to 10,590 million dollars, or 46,9% of the overall direct foreign investments in Mexico.
For more information
Mission of Mexico to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg: http://embamex.
Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (Foreign Office): www.sre.gob.mx
EU-CELAC summit: www.eucelac-
EU-UAE Schengen visa-waiver
By Baron Henri Estramant.
Latvia’s Permanent Representative to the EU, HE Ms. Ilze Juhansone, and Emirati Ambassador to the EU, the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (non-resident), HE Mr. Sulaiman bin Hamid Al Mazroui, signed a reciprocal bilateral short-stay visa-waiver agreement in Brussels. The United Arab Emirates becomes the first Arab/GCC country to receive a visa-waiver for its citizens. Emiratis holding diplomatic, special, service or even ordinary passports will be able to travel without a visa to 34 European countries (including non-EU member states such as Norway or Iceland) which make up the Schengen area for stays of up to 90 days (within any 180-day period of one year).
Latvia is currently holding the rotating Presidency of the European Council. The signing ceremony was attended by the staff of the UAE embassy in Brussels as well as by Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs, Mr. Abdul Rahim bin Yousef Al Awadhi; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Mr. Mohammed bin Mir Al Raissi; Director of Consular Services at MoFA, Ambassador Ahmed bin Elham Al Dhaheri as well as the Director of the Communications Department at MoFA, Ms Mariam Al Falasi.
The success for Emirati diplomacy was personally backed up by Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
For more information
Mission of the UAE in Brussels: http://uae-embassy.ae/Embassies/be
http://uae-embassy.ae/Embassies/be/news/2015/05/07/6606
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Pictures/European Union
Pre-election violence in Burundi
Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, regarding the recent pre-election violence in Burundi.
On 26 May and 26 June 2015, the people of Burundi will vote in legislative and presidential elections. I am concerned about the growing tensions in the country and reports that violence ahead of the elections may escalate which could lead to the commission of serious crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”).
Burundi has been a State Party of the ICC since 2004. The ICC was established to try those accused of committing the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, namely crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide when the state(s) concerned fail to do so. As witnessed in Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire, electoral competition, when gone astray, can trigger large-scale crimes falling under the jurisdiction of the ICC. In such instances, my Office will not hesitate to open investigations in accordance with the criteria set by the Rome Statute.
Any person who incites or engages in acts of mass violence including by ordering, requesting, encouraging or contributing in any other manner to the commission of crimes within ICC’s jurisdiction is liable to prosecution before the Court. The primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of mass crimes falls, in the first instance, on the national authorities. That failing, however, no one should doubt my resolve to investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for committing crimes under ICC jurisdiction.
Electoral violence is by no means inevitable. The recent elections in Nigeria have shown how commitment to peaceful elections by the electoral candidates can prevent mass violence. Political leaders in Burundi are equally responsible for ensuring the peaceful conduct of elections and that their supporters refrain from violence – before, during and after the elections. My Office, in accordance with its mandate under the Rome Statute, will be closely following developments in Burundi in the weeks to come and record any instance of incitement or resort to violence.
Emirates founding CEO passes away
Emirates Airline’s founding CEO and the Executive Vice-Chairman of The Emirates Group, Sir Maurice Flanagan (17 October 1928-7 May 2015) passed away at his home in London, UK, at the age of 86.
British-born Flanagan launched the Dubai-based airline with $10 million in 1985, and only retired two years ago. Sir Maurice first arrived in the Emirate of Dubai in 1978 when he was appointed director and general manager of dnata. Six years later he led the 10-men team which hatched the plan to launch an airline in five months on a budget of just $10 million, with no protection against competition in Emirates’ home market, and no subsidy of any kind.
He was the managing director for the inaugural Emirates flight in 1985 and his pivotal role in the company’s development was recognised in 1990 when he was appointed group managing director of The Emirates Group. He became vice chairman and group president in July 2003 and was promoted to his executive vice chairman position in 2006.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group expressed his condolences to Sir Maurice’s widow Audrey, his son Julian, and his daughters Siobhan and Claire.
For more information
The Emirates Group: www.theemiratesgroup.com/english/
Emirates Airline: www.emirates.com/english/
Helicopter carrying foreign diplomats crashes in Pakistan
A military helicopter with 17 people on board, including 11 foreigners, comes down in Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Islamabad, Pakistan – A Pakistani military helicopter carrying foreign diplomats in the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan has crashed, killing six people including the ambassadors of Philippines, Domingo Lucenario Jr and Norway, Leif Larsen, also the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors to Pakistan and the helicopter’s two Pakistani pilots.
Dutch ambassador Marcel de Vink and Polish ambassador Andrzej Ananicz were injured in the crash. The helicopter that crashed was part of a group of three, all of which were carrying 37 foreign diplomats on their tour of the area.
The MI-17 helicopter was carrying 17 people, including 11 foreigners, the military’s spokesperson Major-General Asim Bajwa said in an earlier statement. The 13 survivors had “varying degrees of injuries”. The injured are being treated at the Combined Military Hospital at Jutial, about 30km away from the area in which the crash occurred.
The aircraft crashed in the Naltar Valley area of Gilgit-Baltistan, about 300km north of the capital Islamabad.
Gilgit-Baltistan is located in Pakistan’s extreme north, and is at the junction of three major mountain ranges: the Himalayas, the Karakorum and the Hindu Kush. It is home to more than 100 peaks higher than 7,000 metres. It is also part of the disputed region of Kashmir.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was due to visit Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday, which the diplomats were visiting as part of a four-day tour.
The MI-17 helicopter was carrying 17 people, including 11 foreigners, the military’s spokesperson Major-General Asim Bajwa said in an earlier statement. The 13 survivors had “varying degrees of injuries”. The injured are being treated at the Combined Military Hospital at Jutial, about 30km away from the area in which the crash occurred.
The aircraft crashed in the Naltar Valley area of Gilgit-Baltistan, about 300km north of the capital Islamabad.
Gilgit-Baltistan is located in Pakistan’s extreme north, and is at the junction of three major mountain ranges: the Himalayas, the Karakorum and the Hindu Kush. It is home to more than 100 peaks higher than 7,000 metres. It is also part of the disputed region of Kashmir.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was due to visit Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday, which the diplomats were visiting as part of a four-day tour.
Border Crossing May issue
Border Crossing, an academic publication of Diplomat Magazine. Please click here for free access. http://issuu.com/diploflying/