In cooperation between the Embassy of Tunisia and The International Women’s Contact The Hague, the IWC held its monthly meeting dedicated to Carthago on April13th, 2015 in the Crown Plaza Hotel The Hague, with the presence of many Ambassadors and members of the IWC added to many guests.
For a photo-album on the reception of Carthago, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157649783340963/
During this event, Dr Tanja Van der Zon, Exhibition Manager at the National Museum of Antiquities of Leiden has given an outstanding conference on Carthago exhibition held in that Museum until 10th May, 2015. She gave on the same time a presentation of the archaeological site of Carthage in Tunisia.
Drs Barbara Couwenbergh, President of the IWC and H.E. Mr Karim Ben Becher, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to the Netherlands opened this event and welcomed all the guests.
Mr Karim Ben Becher emphasized the faithful friendship with the IWC that have dedicated for the second consecutive year the IWC Monthly meeting to Tunisia.
He stated that Carthago exhibition is considered as the most important archaeological event entirely devoted to Carthage who stands ever outside Tunisia. The exhibition includes archaeological pieces of exceptional quality from the Punic and Roman times, most of which come from the Tunisian museums of Carthage and the Bardo, considered as one of the greatest museums of antiquities in the world for its rich collection of ancient mosaics.
Following the last terrorist attacks happened on 18th March, 2015, H.E. Mr Karim Ben Becher took advantage of this meeting to confirm that this terrorist attack struck Tunis for the first time and shocked the national and international public opinion while Tunisia has proved to the world its successful transition to democracy and its culture of dialogue and consensus.
While giving a signal of confidence and consolation, he said that terrorism knows no borders or religions and involves a comprehensive international response.
He greeted the Heads of State and leaders of friendly countries who demonstrated their solidarity and support to Tunisia and highlighted the participation of H.E. Mr Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs to the march against terrorism organized in Tunisia on 29th April 2015.
After showing a short film of tourist’s testimonies and their positive views on Tunisia after the attacks, H.E Mr. Ambassador invited all the guests to visit Tunisia.
More freedom for Member States to decide on the use of GMOs in food and feed
Today, the Commission presents the results of its review regarding the decision making process for the authorization of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and feed.
This revision stems from the political guidelines presented to Parliament in July 2014, the grounds for which the current Commission was chosen. The review confirms the need for changes that properly reflect of the views of the general public as well as the need for national governments to have more control and freedom in deciding whether or not to allow use of EU authorized GMOs for consumption by animals (feed) or people (food). With this revision, the Commission proposes to allow Member States more freedom to restrict or ban the use of EU-authorized GMOs for food and feed.
Vytenis Andriukaitis, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “I am pleased to deliver on one of the important commitments taken by this Commission, reviewing the legislation on the decision-making process on GMOs. The Commission has listened to the concerns of many European citizens, reflected in the positions expressed by their national governments. Once adopted, today’s proposal will, fully in line with the principle of subsidiarity, grant Member States a greater say as regards the use of EU- authorised GMOs in food and feed on their respective territories.”
The proposal adopted by the Commission today is a strong signal to citizens that Europe takes into account their concerns, concerns which may vary from country to country. The new approach aims at obtaining a balance between maintaining an EU authorization system and the freedom for Member States to make their own decisions about the use of GMOs in their territory. However, since it is of the utmost importance that a single risk management system is maintained – as this ensures an equal level of protection throughout the EU – the authorization system currently implemented, based on science and labelling regulations, will not be changed. What will change is that once a GMO is approved for use in the general public, Member States will be permitted to decide whether or not they wish to allow said GMO in their ecosystems.
Member States will have to demonstrate that their opt-out procedures are compatible with European law. This includes the principles of the Internal Market as well as the International Obligations of the EU, as these principles are an integral part of the WTO. Opt-outs will be based on legitimate grounds other than those assessed at EU level, i.e. risk to human or animal health and the environment.
This proposal enhances similar rights that the Member States received earlier this month thanks to Directive (EU) 2015/412 recently reached between the European Parliament and the Council. Consequently, the EU now has a consistent set of rules for the authorization of GMOs for cultivation and food and feed, taking into account the individual concerns of Member States.
This legislative proposal will now be forwarded to the European Parliament and the Council under the ordinary legislative procedure.
European Commission objects to alleged abuse of power by Gazprom in Central and Eastern Europe.
According to the European Commission, Gazprom has been involved in a number of questionable practices in the Central and Eastern European gas markets. The Commission has stated that these practices are in violation of the European Union’s competition rules, leading the Commission to send a Statement of Objections regarding Gazprom’s violations.
A study by the Commission shows that Gazprom abused its dominant market position to divide the market in Central and Eastern Europe. Gazprom would prohibit its customers from re-selling gas to other countries in addition to charging unfair prices. Furthermore, the company may have abused its dominant market position by only supplying gas to wholesalers who consented to certain commitments regarding gas-related infrastructure.
Currently, Gazprom has 12 weeks to respond to the Statement of Objections. Additionally, they may request a hearing in order to provide a defense against the accusations. The Commission has stated they will fully respect Gazprom’s right of defense. The Commission has also agreed not to pass any decisions until Gazprom has presented their case. The Statement of Objections in no way prejudges or predetermines the final outcome of the investigation.
Margrethe Vestager, the Commissioner for competition policy in the EU, has commented, “Gas is an essential commodity in our daily life: it heats our homes, we use it for cooking and to produce electricity. Maintaining fair competition in European gas markets is therefore of utmost importance”.
“All companies that operate in the European market – no matter if they are European or not – have to play by our EU rules.
I am concerned that Gazprom is breaking EU antitrust rules by abusing its dominant position on EU gas markets. We find that it may have built artificial barriers preventing gas from flowing from certain Central Eastern European countries to others, hindering cross-border competition. Keeping national gas markets separate also allowed Gazprom to charge prices that we at this stage consider to be unfair. If our concerns were confirmed, Gazprom would have to face the legal consequences of its behaviour.”
The Commission’s preliminary findings in the Statement of Objections
Gazprom is the largest gas supplier in a number of Central and Eastern European countries. Based on its investigation, the Commission believes that Gazprom actively thwarts competition in the gas markets of eight EU countries: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia. The Commission has discovered significant evidence supporting their claim that Gazprom applies an unfair strategy:
For one thing, Gazprom enacts territorial restrictions on wholesalers and industrial customers in the aforementioned countries. These restrictions include export bans which prohibit the countries from exporting Gazprom’s gas, as well as destination clauses which require that the purchased gas only be used in a specific area. On top of this, Gazprom has refused to change the location to which gas is delivered in a number of countries. The Commission has decreed these actions prohibit free trade in the European Economic Area.
The aforementioned territorial restrictions often result in higher gas prices. Gazprom is currently engaging in unfair pricing policies in the five EU countries of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Charging wholesalers prices much higher than the costs incurred, Gazprom has abused its power in pursuit of supplemental profits. Gazprom’s utilization of a price index that links their prices to the price of a basket of oil product has massively favored their own economic vitality over that of their customers.
There is also ample reason to believe Gazprom is abusing its dominant market power to corner countries into accepting certain commitments and deals if they wish to receive gas. Many gas sales were contingent upon customer investments in a pipeline project promoted by Gazprom or the allowance of Gazprom more control over a pipeline.
The Commission provisionally concluded that Gazprom’s practices are an abuse of its dominant market position, prohibited under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). If this is indeed the case, the cross-border sale of gas has been hindered, decreasing the liquidity and efficiency of gas sales. Trade between EU countries has been disrupted due to these artificial barriers resulting in higher gas prices.
Today, 22 April 2015, Trial Chamber VI of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an oral ruling, during a status conference, rescheduling the opening of the trial in the case The Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda to the second or the third week of July 2015. A specific date will be announced in due course for the trial’s commencement date, which was initially scheduled for 2 June 2015.
The Chamber considered a request by the Defence to postpone the trial’s opening until 2 November 2015, which was opposed by the Prosecution and the Legal Representatives of Victims. The Chamber also considered the recent Registry’s submissions indicating that an additional period of approximately one month would be required to facilitate the holding of opening statements in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Having considered the Registry’s need for extra time, as well as all other relevant factors, and having indicated that the Chamber was not satisfied that the Defence’s submissions justify a postponement of the length requested, the Chamber decided to postpone the opening statements to the second or the third week of July 2015. This decision was issued without prejudice to the Presidency’s decision on whether they are to be held in the DRC or not, and decided that the presentation of the prosecution’s evidence shall commence provisionally on the week of 17 August 2015.
Background: Bosco Ntaganda, former alleged Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Force Patriotiques pour la Libération du Congo [Patriotic Force for the Liberation of Congo] (FPLC), is accused of 13 counts of war crimes (murder and attempted murder; attacking civilians; rape; sexual slavery of civilians; pillaging; displacement of civilians; attacking protected objects; destroying the enemy’s property; and rape, sexual slavery, enlistment and conscription of child soldiers under the age of fifteen years and using them to participate actively in hostilities) and five crimes against humanity (murder and attempted murder; rape; sexual slavery; persecution; forcible transfer of population) allegedly committed in Ituri, DRC, in 2002-2003. Mr Ntaganda is in the Court’s custody.
On 19 March 2015, Trial Chamber VI recommended to the Presidency of the Court that the opening statements of the trial in the Ntaganda case be held in Bunia, in the DRC. Trial Chamber VI indicated its intention of bringing the judicial work of the Court closer to the most affected communities, and its finding that it is in the interests of justice for the opening statements to be held in Bunia in the DRC.
The ICC Presidency is consulting with the DRC authorities and will make a decision on this matter, in consultation with the Trial Chamber, in due course.
Aletta Jacobs on Saturday, April 25th honored with the placement of a bronze bust at the Peace Palace. So far she is missing here and unjustified in the opinion of WILPF Netherlands. The bust, made by Lia Krol, is a gift from the Dutch department WILPF at Carnegie foundation and anyone dedicated to peace, equality and justice.
The 100th anniversary of WILPF, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, is the perfect time to Aletta Jacobs festive honor as Woman of Peace. In the Netherlands Aletta widely known as the first woman to study at university and later to her struggle for women’s suffrage. What is less known: In 1915, Aletta Jacobs organized in the Hague Zoo, the International Women’s Congress, which WILPF emerged later. More than 1,300 women traveled from many countries – they crossed war zones – to meet in The Hague and to formulate solutions for ending the global war.
With the unveiling of the bust highlights on Aletta’s work for world peace. The bust of the hand of the artist Lia Krol, is a gift from the Dutch branch of WILPF to the Carnegie Foundation, the organization that manages the Peace Palace.
The program for the unveiling on Saturday, April 25th at the Peace Palace start at noon.
The picture is offered by WILPF honorary Edith Ballantyne to the president of the Carnegie Foundation, Dr. Bernard Bot. The ceremony takes place in the presence of Deputy Mayor Ingrid van Engelshoven and includes a short lecture by biographer Mineke Bosch about Aletta Jacobs’ efforts as a peace activist.
OPCW States Parties issue historic Declaration on the centenary of the first large-scale use of chemical weapons in Ieper.At a special meeting of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) today in Ieper, Belgium, commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the first large-scale use of chemical weapons during World War I, the 190 States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention issued a declaration reaffirming their commitment against chemical weapons.
The “Declaration on the Occasion of the Centennial Commemoration of the First Large-Scale Use of Chemical Weapons at Ieper” (“Ieper Declaration”) reaffirms the role of the Chemical Weapons Convention as a bulwark against chemical weapons and condemns their use under any circumstances by anyone. The Declaration also makes reference to holding accountable those responsible for the use of chemical weapons, and ensuring that non-State actors never obtain chemical weapons.
The Ieper Declaration was read out at the meeting by the Chairperson of the OPCW Conference of the States Parties, H.E. Ms Vesela Mrđen Korać, Permanent Representative of Croatia to the OPCW.
Addressing the gathering, the Director-General, Ahmet Üzümcü, said, “The Ieper Declaration serves to bolster what is now a longstanding global norm against chemical weapons. It will guide our efforts as we hasten progress towards a world truly free of chemical weapons.” Ambassador Üzümcü underlined the importance of making the remarkable gains in chemical disarmament permanent by preventing new weapons from being built. He also emphasised the need to obtain universal adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The commemorative meeting was also addressed by the Minister for Defence of Belgium, H.E. Mr Steven Vandeput, Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms Virginia Gamba, representatives of Member States of the OPCW from the five geographical regions, and the Mayor of Ieper, Hon. Mr Jan Durnez. A copy of the Ieper Declaration was presented to the Mayor by the Director General for public display in Ieper.
Additional commemorative activities by the OPCW at Ieper included an unveiling of a plaque dedicated to the victims of chemical weapons in World War I, which will be permanently mounted on the wall of the town’s historic Cloth Hall. Further, in keeping with longstanding tradition, a Last Post and wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Menin Gate in honour of all victims of chemical weapons. An OPCW exhibition highlighting important events in the history of chemical disarmament was opened at Ieper’s Souterrains. The exhibition will be open to the public for three weeks during the Ieper centennial commemoration.
Video recordings of all commemorative activities can be viewed here.
On 22 April 1915, chlorine gas was deployed for the first time in a large-scale attack near Ieper, killing and injuring thousands of soldiers. Chemical weapons were subsequently used throughout World War I, resulting in more than a million casualties. A global ban against them – the Chemical Weapons Convention – came into force in 1997.
On the picture the artist Titus Bovenberg.Exposition Los 7 años Peruanos y despues…(The 7 Peruvian years and what followed…) now showing in Patries van Dorst Gallery in Wassenaar.
Although his paintings are to be found in private collections in as many as 10 countries across the globe, Titus Bovenberg is still unknown as a painter in his native country, The Netherlands. The reason for this might be his eight-year stay in Peru where Titus kept himself occupied starting up a children’s aid project in the old Inca capital of Cusco. In order to earn the income needed to feed 500 children and offer them the medical attention and education needed on a daily basis Titus constructed two hotels and four restaurants. After returning to Holland 10 years ago, most of his time was absorbed by his activities as a business consultant and coach.
Despite despite all of these time consuming activities, Titus managed to produce an extensive collection of paintings. Many of his works are being sold all over the world through his Peruvian Gallery in Lima. Collectors in countries such as Peru, Honduras, Uruguay, USA, Australia, South Africa, Spain, Denmark, Germany and Holland obtained Titus work to enrich their collection.
Titus Bovenberg‘Although I dedicated a lot of my time to build commercial and non-commercial careers, making art always remained the most important thing to do in my life. At this moment I am working on a break through in Holland, hoping I will be able to dedicate the majority of my time to painting. My work is characterized as an ongoing search finding a balance between what I call ‘lujo’ and ‘salvaje’ which translates to ‘luxury’ and ‘rawness’ or ‘pureness’. I am definitely searching for beauty, sometimes even the unshamingly decorative, but in the meantime I want to feel a deep pure, rawness or wildness in my paintings. The moments I succeed in this, I feel more than proud. My paintings need to radiate force and should be overwhelming in a sense, and in the meantime I want them to feel intimate. More than once collectors have told me they felt my paintings slowly took hold of them, in the end becoming some kind of family member’.
Although most of Titus’ paintings are quite large in size (150 by 180 cm) they fit in almost every home, which is clearly shown in the beautyfull exposition in Gallery Patries van Dorst on the ‘Landgoed de Wittenburg’ in Wassenaar . The Gallery exposes 20 of Titus’ works in a setting of part gallery and part living space.
This special exposition could quickly bring change in Titus’ current status as a relatively unknown artist in Holland. As a part of the activities to promote the artist, Patries van Dorst Gallery organises special artist dinners with Titus talking about his background, earlier adventures and inspiration as an artist.
Exposition ‘Los 7 años Peruanos y despues… ‘ is open to the public untill the 28th of May 2015, Gallery Patries van Dorst, Landgoed de Wittenburg 3, 2344 BV Wassenaar. The Gallery can be visited every day of the week. If you would like to make an appointment, please call prior to your visit 0031-0650292150.
On the picture Stephan van der Meulen, H. E. Piragibe dos Santos Tarragô, Fabiola Soto and H. E. Eduaro Ibarrola – Nicolin.By C.A. Dailey.
On Sunday, April 19, His Excellency Piragibe dos Santos Tarragô, the Brazilian Ambassador to the Netherlands, warmly welcomed some sixty five guests to the Worldhotel Bel Air in celebration of the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) start of Leg 6 “Itajaí to Newport”. Ambassador Eduaro Ibarrola – Nicolin, of Mexico, and his wife were also present for the afternoon program.
With support from the Embassy of Brazil, the third and most recent event was again held at the Worldhotel Bel Air, the official sponsor for accommodation for this year’s 12th edition of the race, which was last held three years ago, in 2011-2012.
For a photo-album on the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) start of Leg 6 “Itajaí to Newport” ‘s celebration at Worldhotel Bel Air, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157651668410989/His Excellency Piragibe dos Santos Tarragô, Ambassador of Brazil.
This year, it is expected that all seven competing teams will be making the highly anticipated June overnight “pitstop” in the harbor of Scheveningen, before departing again on the final run of their grueling nine month long journey across four oceans. The race covers 38,739 nautical miles, to five continents and eleven countries, before finishing in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The hotel’s General Manager, Stephan van der Meulen, opened the presentation and introduced Ambassador dos Santos Tarragô, who briefly spoke about the Volvo Ocean Race’s visit to Itajaí. Remarking upon Brazil’s worldwide image as a “nation of sports,” he commented further that his country hosted the FIFA World Cup™ in 2014 and looks forward to welcoming international sports enthusiasts to the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
“Samba” dancers wearing glittery green and yellow feather costumes, Brazil’s predominant national colors, greeted guests upon entry. In addition to an exuberant performance by the samba dancers and the Legendairs, a Dutch eight-man street carnival drum squad; the program also featured light bites of Brazilian inspired culinary favorites served prior to the live “big screen” broadcast of the Leg 6 race start.
Diana Boogards, of “Diabo Sail Reporting” and the media manager responsible for reporting on the VOR in the Netherlands, spoke briefly and gave a synopsis of Leg 5 Auckland to Itajaí race. While explaining technical terms and elaborating upon some of the fine points of ocean racing sail culture specific to the Volvo Ocean Race and “Life at the Extreme,” she commented on the “match racing” which occurred at Point Nemo, the “oceanic pole of inaccessibility,” in the Southern Pacific Ocean.
Point Nemo, the location in the ocean that is furthest from land, is so remote that all six Leg 5 competing teams transported and dropped research buoys for NOAA to monitor ocean currents in the remotest ocean on earth! Also noteworthy was the 24-hour speed record set by Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. Bogaards closed by informing the guests that VOR teams race “for the glory” as no prize money is awarded to the winning team.
Epco Ongering, responsible for all new “boating” and water sports initiatives for the Telegraaf Media Nederland group, also spoke briefly on the race and The Hague’s exciting “Volvo Ocean Race Festival” sponsored by the Dutch “Team Brunel” and planned for June 18, 19 and 20. Annelies Putman Cramer, of Fair Focus Communications, was among the guests invited to support the race, and the city’s Volvo Ocean Race festival. Some 300,000 supporters are estimated to have visited the VOR race village in Itajaí and the municipality of The Hague is expecting that the festival will attract a similar numbers of visitors to the city in June.
By Roy Lie Tjam.Rwandans commemorate the genocide against their people.
Kwibuka 21 commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi. It is an important occasion to pay tribute to the lives that were lost and to ensure genocide never occurs on our planet again.
For a photo album on the Walk to Remember Rwanda, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157652093148645/
Kwibuka means ‘to remember’ in Kinyarwanda, It describes the annual commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, in which more than one million Rwandans were killed.
Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga hosted the official Kwibuka 21 commemoration at the Carlton Ambassador Hotel in The Hague on April 11, 2015. A walk of remembrance was also part of the program.
By Roy Lie A Tjam
The Louman museum and the ongoing Glazenkoets (Royal glass coach) exposition were the setting for the exclusive gathering of the Residentie Orkest Business Circle. April 8 was the circle’s first meeting for 2015. Diplomat magazine along with some five other institutions were officially admitted to the Business Circle.
The Business Circle of the Residentie Orkest is a prominent network of executives and entrepreneurs of large- and medium seize business that recognizes the importance of the Residentie Orkest to The Hague, the International city of Justice and Peace. It therefore supports the orchestra. The circle regularly holds exclusive meetings.
For a photo album of the Residentie Orkest Business Circle event at Louman Museum, please click here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157651623846360/
Residentie Orkest also organizes exclusive events for the Business Circle such special concerts. On those occasions, members of the circle meet with the members of the Willem van Otterloo Circuit. The attractive artistic context of the Residentie Orkest and the comprehensive network consisting of: entrepreneurs, politicians, diplomats policymakers and expatriates, make an excellent networking match.
Sponsorship is essential to the Residentie Orkest in order to retaining its position at the top of the Dutch cultural life and for producing innovative programs that make a valuable contribution to society.
During this event, Dr Tanja Van der Zon, Exhibition Manager at the National Museum of Antiquities of Leiden has given an outstanding conference on Carthago exhibition held in that Museum until 10th May, 2015. She gave on the same time a presentation of the archaeological site of Carthage in Tunisia.
Drs Barbara Couwenbergh, President of the IWC and H.E. Mr Karim Ben Becher, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to the Netherlands opened this event and welcomed all the guests.
Mr Karim Ben Becher emphasized the faithful friendship with the IWC that have dedicated for the second consecutive year the IWC Monthly meeting to Tunisia.
He stated that Carthago exhibition is considered as the most important archaeological event entirely devoted to Carthage who stands ever outside Tunisia. The exhibition includes archaeological pieces of exceptional quality from the Punic and Roman times, most of which come from the Tunisian museums of Carthage and the Bardo, considered as one of the greatest museums of antiquities in the world for its rich collection of ancient mosaics.
Following the last terrorist attacks happened on 18th March, 2015, H.E. Mr Karim Ben Becher took advantage of this meeting to confirm that this terrorist attack struck Tunis for the first time and shocked the national and international public opinion while Tunisia has proved to the world its successful transition to democracy and its culture of dialogue and consensus.
While giving a signal of confidence and consolation, he said that terrorism knows no borders or religions and involves a comprehensive international response.
He greeted the Heads of State and leaders of friendly countries who demonstrated their solidarity and support to Tunisia and highlighted the participation of H.E. Mr Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs to the march against terrorism organized in Tunisia on 29th April 2015.
After showing a short film of tourist’s testimonies and their positive views on Tunisia after the attacks, H.E Mr. Ambassador invited all the guests to visit Tunisia.
