Mexico and the EU revise strategic relations in Brussels

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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.sre.gob.mx/belgica/
Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (Foreign Office): www.sre.gob.mx
EU-CELAC summit: www.eucelac-bizsummit2015.eu 

EU-UAE Schengen visa-waiver

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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 —– Pictures/European Union     

Pre-election violence in Burundi

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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

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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

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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. Pakistan 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

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Border Crossing May issue
Border Crossing, an academic publication of Diplomat Magazine. Please click here for free access. http://issuu.com/diploflying/docs/bordercrossingvolume1_issue4_may 

Credentials of Colombian ambassador in The Hague

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Credentials of Colombian ambassador in The Hague
Credentials of Colombian ambassador in The Hague 
The Hague, April 22, 2015: Dutch King Willem-Alexander received at Noordeinde Palace the Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia, HE Sr. D. Juan José Quintana, for presentation of his credentials. © Rotapool; Photo: Remko de Waal.

Dutch royal couple in Aruba

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Dutch royal couple in Aruba
Oranjestad, May 1, 2015: King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima view in the harbor of Oranjestad, Aruba a demonstration of the Royal Navy and the Coast Guard Caribbean. On May 1, bringing King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the invitation of the Governor of Aruba, Fredis Refunjol, Oranjestad visit Aruba Sail 2015. Also Minister Plasterk of the Interior present at the events. As patron couple of the Oranje Fonds make the King and Queen of the opportunity on Bonaire and Aruba two projects, participating in the Orange Fund Program Opportunities for Young People, and to discover one of the Apples of Orange-winners of 2015.

April 30 Dia di Rincon, Bonaire

On Dia di Rincon, thousands of visitors from Bonaire and the other islands in the oldest village of the island, Rincon to celebrate a feast of culture and traditions. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima together with Governor Rijna morning in Rincon welcomed by the chairman of the organizing committee, Francisco Janga. After a flag ceremony with folk songs and drums are a few speeches and song and dance performances. Then visit the King and Queen ‘Stent Street, “a tasting of traditional dishes from Bonaire, and the museum ChiChi ‘Tan, including a collection of traditional musical instruments. In the afternoon, the royal couple lives in a parade of habits and costumes, culminating with the Simadan, the harvest festival in the form of a parade.

May 1 Sail Aruba 2015

As part of the celebration of 200 years Kingdom 350 years Marine Corps takes in the port of Oranjestad from 1 to 3 May Sail Aruba place. After a reception at Refunjol Governor of Aruba, the King and Queen arrive by boat at the SAIL grounds. There Sail Aruba opens with a ceremonial salute to the King and the Sail-in. Queen Máxima give the starting shot for a youth sailing competition. Then look at the King and Queen, an exhibition of the Aruban Port Authority (APA) and they visit the Seafood Festival. In the afternoon, following the royal couple a demonstration of the Royal Navy and Coast Guard Caribbean and they visit the tall ship Picton Castle. Finally live the King and Queen at night in the harbor of Oranjestad a one-off special performance by staff of Soldier of Orange-The Musical. Together with the Zeeman Choir Aruba will be a collage of poems and excerpts from the literature on the Second World War combined with scenes and songs from the musical itself.

Oranjefonds

One of the Apples of Orange in 2015 was won by Krusada Foundation, an organization that supports people in Bonaire since 1999 who did not survive in the society. After attending Dia di Rincon visit the King and Queen Foundation Krusada. The Opportunities for Youth Caribbean program supports the Orange Fund volunteer initiatives that focus on early school leavers. The Monarchs talks on April 30 with coaches from the Bonaire Youth Outreach Foundation and young people from disadvantaged environments, accompanied by this organization. On May 2 in the morning to visit the King and Queen on Aruba Probation and the Heart Centered Leadership Foundation, where youth at risk and young people who have been in contact with the law, be coached and trained. © Press Monarchy Europe.

Addressing the Intentional Destruction of the Environment

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Addressing the Intentional Destruction of the Environment
SAVE THE DATE! Book Launch “Addressing the Intentional Destruction of the Environment during Warfare under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court”
Date Wednesday, 20 May 2015
Venue The Peace Palace Library, Historic Reading Room, Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ, The Hague
Time 15:00 – 18:00 (security clearance to start at 14:30)
Organised by The Hague Environmental Facility (HELF), the Institute for Environmental Security, TMC Asser Institute and Professor Steven Freeland
To register, please email Ms. Shirleen Chin, IES shirleenchin@envirosecurity.org
  The program ends with a reception. The Book Launch is public and free of charge. Registration is necessary. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Hague Environmental Law Facility (HELF), a joint initiative of the Institute for Environmental Security and TMC Asser Institute, would like to invite you for the launch of Professor Steven Freeland’s new book entitled “Addressing the Intentional Destruction of the Environment during Warfare under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court”. This event is being hosted by the prestigious Peace Palace Library. In his book, Professor Freeland examines the existing international legal regime relevant to the intentional destruction of the environment during warfare, and argues that such acts should, in appropriate circumstances, be recognised as an international crime and should be subject to more effective rules giving rise to international criminal responsibility. It also suggests a framework within the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as to how this might be achieved. Come and join us for the book launch with notable panellist(s) from the tribunal and court scene in The Hague (TBC), including experts like Professor Michael Bothe, Co-Chair of the IUCN Specialist Group on Armed Conflict and the Environment. About the Author: Steven Freeland is a Professor of International Law at the University of Western Sydney, a Permanent Visiting Professor at the iCourts Centre of Excellence for International Courts in Denmark, and a Visiting Professor at the University of Vienna.  

State visit to Denmark – our vision of a green future

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State visit to Denmark – our vision of a green future
  By His Excellency Mr. Ole E. Moesby, the Danish Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.   Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima paid a state visit to Denmark from the 17th -19th of March 2015 at the invitation of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe and His Royal Highness The Prince Consort. As the ambassador I was very delighted to accompany the Royal Couple during the state visit. Denmark and the Netherlands have strong ties, marked by a like-minded culture, extensive people-to-people links and a vibrant trade and investment cooperation. Both countries strive for an open and plural society, with a strong political engagement. And both participate actively in the discussion about creating green solutions to ensure the best chance for a cleaner and greener future for our planet. In that regard the state visit focused of exchange experiences concerning the green innovative growth agency. The importance of exchanging experiences in the area of green innovative growth is an essential driver for economic growth and improvement. We want to promote the sharing of knowledge and experiences and facilitate investment; and both countries wish to develop expert knowledge in the areas of research, technology and environmental standards. The Danish energy policy is clear: the entire energy supply; electricity, heating, industry and transport, is to be covered by renewable energy by 2050, and we are ready to take major steps to get closer to this target. The Danish picturesque island, Samsø is a role model in self-sufficiency. It is the first island in the world to be completely powered by renewable energy. Widely known, it is a significant international showcase for Danish energy technology. It has amassed a great deal of specific experiences with the implementation of a broad variety of local renewable energy projects, from wind turbines to CO2 neutral district heating plants, rapeseed oil tractors and solar energy panels. Each year more than 5000 scientists, companies, politicians, journalists, school children and energy tourists from all over the world visit Samsø, to see the sustainable energy island and learn from the local experiences. It was a very captivating experience to visit the island together with the Royal Couple. Interestingly we were welcomed by Marcel Meijer, who is the Mayor of Samsø municipality. Mr. Meijer is in fact Dutch and he is two a large extend the personification of the like-mindedness between our two countries. He has been instrumental in driving the green agenda for Samsø. On the island we were guided through a “green-day” full of inspiration and interesting activities. We visited Samsø Energy Academy where the Majesties took part in round table discussions about ideas and thoughts regarding the 100% self-sufficient and fossil free island. Another interesting event was the visit to consumer-owned district heating plant based on straw “Ballen Brundby” which gave a clear picture of the potential of renewable energy on the island. The “green-day” ended with a delicious lunch, purely made of local products to illustrate the local community´s ideas of self-sufficiency. The very enriching day at Samsø marked that Denmark is really approaching the core of the Danish goal about being environmentally friendly. What fascinated me most of all during the visit was the local interest in becoming a green model society – this participation clearly affects the success of the project. When everybody takes an active part in this “energy democracy” we are guaranteed a much better future for our planet.  
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