By H.E. Mr. Sirodjidin Aslov, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan  at the High level Interactive Dialogue on “The International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’, Progress Achieved and Lessons Learned for Sustainable Development”. 69th UNGA March 30, 2015, UN Headquarters-Trusteeship Council, New York.

  Distinguished Mr. Acting President, Distinguished Mr. Deputy Secretary-General, Distinguished Mr. Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Bahamas, Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, I would like to extend to the President of the General Assembly our appreciation for convening and organizing today’s High level interactive Dialogue on comprehensive review of the progress achieved in the implementation of the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’, 2005-2015. Ten years ago on World Water Day, 2005, the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’, 2005-2015, a joint project of a global magnitude, was launched. The primary goal of the International Decade was to promote greater focus on implementation by 2015the international water-related goals, among them, to halve the number of people without access to safe drinking water and sanitation. In addition, the International Decade placed a special emphasis on promoting the participation and involvement of women in water related issues, and the strengthening of international cooperation at all levels to promote the achievement of the set goals and objectives. In this way, a direct linkage was established between the Decade goals and the MDGs, the two fundamental projects of global dimension, both of which have now approached their final stage. Today, when the time allocated for the implementation of these two global projects is up, I believe each of us asks himself/herself a question: ‘How close are we to the full implementation of the commitments we made?’ No simple answer to this question is available. On the one hand, we have made considerable progress in ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation, in increasing awareness of the water related challenges. On the other hand, the achieved progress remains unsustainable and uneven.  Moreover, the increased awareness and knowledge of the existing water-related problems and challenges have not been translated into concrete practical and sustainable actions. I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to note that in Tajikistan, on the territory of which 60 percent of all water resources of Central Asia originate, as of today, only 58.5 percent of the entire population have access to improved drinking water source and about 30 percent to improved sanitation facilities. This kind of problem is extremely urgent in the rural areas, where only 49 percent of the population has access to safe drinking water and about 10 percent – to improved sanitation. With the aim of promoting access to safe drinking water and developing the water infrastructure of the country, the Government of Tajikistan has been implementing “The Program on improvement of supply of the Tajikistan population with safe drinking water for 2007-2020”. As a result of the measures implemented in this field over five recent years about 1.2 million people were provided with improved water supply and over 600 thousand people got access to safe drinking water. Today we have gathered not only to review the progress achieved in the implementation of the Decade but also the lessons learned relevant to the achievement of sustainable development agenda, which is under negotiations. Last week, the third round of intergovernmental negotiations had an in-depth discussion of the key elements of the post 2015 development agenda, in particular, sustainable development goals, targets and indicators. It is very inspirational that in the submitted sustainable development goals (SDGs) water is given due attention, and in addition to being included as a separate goal under # 6  it is also referred to in the other SDGs. In my view, the main lesson learned during the International Decade is as follows: if we set ambitious targets, the means mobilized and allocated for their implementation should be equally ample. Experience shows that the targets can be achieved only if efficient mechanisms are in place and specific plans for their implementation, assessment and review are available. New plans and actions should be reinforced by adequate means of implementation, in particular, finance, human resources and capacity, investments and technologies. It is obvious that new conditions and realities demand a renewal and optimization of global partnership in the interests of sustainable development. In addition, while developing new goals and targets we should take into consideration a number of factors that define future framework and opportunities for water cooperation: First, climate change impacts water resources and considerably undermines our efforts. For instance, in recent decades the Tajikistan glaciers have degraded by 30 percent, and this tendency persists. The Fedchenko glacier, the largest continental glacier, has retreated by almost 1 km and lost about 2 cubic km in volume. Given the fact that about 60 percent of water resources of the Aral Sea originate on the territory of Tajikistan, the above situation raises serious concern and requires urgent measures on adaptation and achieving sustainability with regard to climate change. Second, population growth and need in water resources set new and complex tasks. Tough competition for water resources under the ever increasing water shortage can have negative impact even within one country. We believe that introduction of integrated and nexus approaches to water resources management provide new opportunities for improvement of existing mechanisms of cross-sectoral and intergovernmental water cooperation. Third, it is essential to take into account a gender component of water issues. Women should be actively involved in sustainable management and protection of water resources. Fouth: the transboundary component of water cooperation  is key to ensuring peace, stability and sustainable development.  Efficient water cooperation can become a catalyst for development, while the lack of such collaboration can create risks and cause losses that have negative impact on economic and social situation in transboundary countries. In many regions of the world strengthening of the institutionalized potential of transboundary water cooperation and its adaptation to new realities promotes harmonious and coordinated development of all transboundary countries. I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to site as an example the transboundary cooperation in Central Asia. It is known that the countries of the region share water resources of the two large rivers – the Amu Darya and the Syr-Darya, as well as those of a number of small transboundary waters. In Central Asian region, where a considerable part of water resources originate on the territory of one states, and the largest part of consumption of the available water resources falls on  other states,  efficient cooperation on management and use of  water resources is key to sustainable development. Establishment of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and signing of a number of important agreements made it possible for the water infrastructures to function under the difficult conditions of transition to market economy. However, a considerable potential for cooperation in the region remains unused, in particular, in the field of use of water-and-energy resources.  If used, it can bring considerable benefits to all the countries involved. In our view, the current legal and institutional framework in this sphere in the region needs to be improved and adjusted to the new conditions and realities. Alongside with this, it is necessary to reinforce such important mechanisms of water cooperation as equitable allocation of advantages, data exchange, joint assessment and monitoring, sharing of costs and benefits, financing of joint activities, etc. In addition, it is essential that Afghanistan, which shares the Amu-Darya basin with the countries of the region, get involved in the process of regional water cooperation. In conclusion, I would like to note that today’s High level interactive dialogue is the first and very important event on comprehensive review of achievements and lessons learned during the implementation of the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’, 2005-2015. The next event envisaged by the UNGA resolution 69/215 is the High level Conference to review the implementation of the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’, 2005-2015, which will be held on June 9-10, 2015 in the city of Dushanbe. In this regard, I would like to use this opportunity to extend our appreciation to all delegations for the support of the above resolution and to invite representatives of governments, UN, international and regional organizations, civil society and business community to take part in the forthcoming High level Conference, at which we are going to continue and expand the dialogue that we have started today. The Government of Tajikistan is doing everything in its capacity to make the Conference a success so that its outcomes will contribute to further promotion of cooperation in the field of water resources.  

By Jhr. mr. Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland, Justice (Judge) in the Court of Appeal and honorary Special Advisor International Affairs of the City of The Hague   In the month of April 2015 several countries commemorated in The Hague tragedies in their national history and I was present there in all cases, being impressed by the intensity of all of them. On Monday April 20th, the ‘Grote Kerk’ (Big Church) in the centre of the city was the place where several hundreds of Armenians and other people commemorated the fact that a hundred years ago the Ottomans started killing about one million Armenians during only two years, 1915 and 1916. After a speech by the Ambassador of Armenia H.E. Ms Dziounik Aghadjanian a number of Armenian musicians played serene chamber music from several Armenian composers. On April 25, 1915 – a hundred years ago – Australia and New Zealand entered via the Australia New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) World War One in Europe on the Ottoman peninsula Galipoli. It became one of the worst tragedies of The Great War with about 10.000 deaths at the Australian and New Zealand side only in just several weeks time. Every year on April 25th at 8 am. this tragedy has been commemorated as ANZAC Day ever since at the Commonwealth War Graves Section of the Westduin Cemetery in the south of The Hague. And so it happened on Saturday morning 25th, for the 100th time, now led by Father Sjaak de Boer of the Church of Our Behaviour, with speeches by the Ambassador of New Zealand H.E. Ms Janet Lowe as well as the Ambassador of Turkey H.E. Mr Sadik Arslan and laying of wreaths by the Ambassadors of all countries involved. Much more recently than the abovementioned tragedies is the killing in Rwanda of almost one million Tutsi’s by Hutu’s in only about a hundred days time in 1994. The Rwandans also commemorate (‘Kwibuka’) this enormous tragedy every year in The Hague, this time on Saturday April 11th, in the Carlton Ambassador Hotel. Very impressing was the speech by a 34 year old lady who told in great detail her horrible story about how she survived as a thirteen years old pupil the killings at her school in Rwanda. Every one present was immensely impressed by her, as the Ambassador of Rwanda H.E. Mr Jean Pierre Karabanga expressed at the end of the ceremony.   a.beelaerts@planet.nl      

By Jan Dop. Jan Dop, LL.M. is partner and Head of the Embassy Desk at Russell Advocaten (embassydesk@russell.nl). More information about the expertise at Russell Advocaten for Embassies, Consulates and Diplomats can be found at: www.russell.nl. There have been major changes to employment law in the Netherlands in 2015, and even more changes are yet to come. These changes include strengthening of the legal position of flex workers, and reforming dismissal law. Some of the changes will have serious consequences for the locally hired personnel of Embassies, Consulates and Diplomats. We will discuss these amendments in a series of articles in Diplomat Magazine. Previous articles dealt with fixed-term employment contracts, the tightening of the regulation regarding successive fixed-term contracts and the outlines of the new dismissal law. This article will deal with the consequences of the introduction of two mandatory dismissal procedures as from 1 July 2015. Up until 1 July 2015, an Embassy doesn’t need a permit to dismiss an employee (unless for prohibition of termination). From this date, an Embassy must, just like any other employer, end an employment contract by mutual consent or follow one of the two mandatory dismissal procedures, depending on the reason for dismissal. Dismissal for economic reasons or long-term incapacity for work: UWV For dismissal for economic reasons or long-term incapacity for work, the employer will need permission from the UWV. Redundancy criteria in case of dismissal for economic reasons The principle of proportionality will still apply when it comes to designate employees for dismissal for economic reasons. In brief, within a certain category of exchangeable positions, employees with the shortest length of service will have to be dismissed per age group. However, in the future the employer will get the possibility to keep employees out of the proportionality system whose performance is above average or whose potential is above average. Termination within four weeks after permission After having received permission to terminate the employment, the employer will have to terminate the employment contract within four weeks. If the employment contract is not terminated within four weeks, the permission will be invalid and must be requested once more. If the employee does not agree with the permission and the subsequent termination of employment, he or she can request the subdistrict court to reinstate the employment contract and to grant him or her a fair compensation. The subdistrict court shall assess the request against the same criteria as the UWV. If the UWV does not grant permission to terminate the employment, the employer will not be able to lawfully terminate the employment. In that event, the employer may request the subdistrict court to terminate the employment. The subdistrict court shall assess the request against the same criteria as the UWV or the redundancy committee. Dismissal for personal reasons or on grounds of a disturbed working relationship: subdistrict court Dismissal for personal reasons (in contrast to long-term incapacity for work) or on grounds of a disturbed working relationship is only possible by submitting a request to the competent subdistrict court to set aside the employment contract. Appeal and cassation In contrast to the current situation, it will be possible to appeal or to appeal in cassation to all decisions of the subdistrict court, thus also to rejected or allowed requests for dismissal. The following submission will deal with what kind of dismissal procedure will be mandatory in what kind of situation.    

By Joaquin Taveras   When music manifests itself, a miraculous revelation is created: from its simple composition of coherent sounds and silences, to the complexity of understanding it as a cultural product. Its effect is a direct stimulation that influences the perception of every individual in an unimaginable form. Music is played, and in a fraction of seconds a succession of acoustic signals is perceived by our ears, swiftly travelling to our brain where they decode and receive meaning. It is in that place where emotions appear, transforming sound into a comprehensible spark of emotion; a complex masterpiece! New research through neuroscience is trying to shed some light on the benefits and positive effects of music. Since the creation of the “National Association for Music Therapy” in 1950, music therapy techniques have been developed and continue to on a worldwide basis. It is essential to highlight the application it has in various medical fields such as: treatment for seniors, benefits during pregnancy, children’s growth and therapy for handicapped and the neurologically afflicted. Certain experiments, such as Prof. Koelsch’s , have utilized it to module activity in practically every cerebral-emotional structure while helping patients dissipate suffering evoked by depression, post-traumatic stress and anxiety. Dr. Joke Bradt from Drexler University certifies the efficiency of music therapy to regulate emotions of military personnel with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Separating it from its medical use, Dominican artist Maria Batle, in collaboration with Music and the Deaf, creates “The Muse Seek Project”, were she teaches deaf children to enjoy music through vibrations. In 2006, D-PAN creates the American Sign Language (ASL) in which music videos of popular songs are adapted with sing language and recreated with deaf-mute actors. Taking it even further, zoomusicology is taking ground, supporting its investigations in the theory that an esthetic with a logic musical principle based on the sound animals emit to communicate definitely exists. Japanese composer Shinji Kanki has captured through ultrasound aquatic speakers, the singing of dolphins and with that he has created and composed some of his artistry. American musician Felix Pando adapts music from well-known classic composers for dogs and cats, incorporating special effects in a harmonious way helping create for them a less stressful environment. Music has accompanied us and will remain doing so forever, its genres band together and as a form of expression it recount how society has lived through human history; its longings, fears, celebrations and battles. More uses for music will be found with every passing day, and like Hendrix once said: “…she doesn’t lie. If something has to change in this world, it would only be possible though music”

The Republic of Uzbekistan since independence in 1991, abandoned totalitarian, administrative-command planning and distribution system and has chosen its own model of development. The Uzbek model of development, based on the five principles of reform and economic renewal developed by President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, has set the course for the transformation of our country for many years to come. Establishing a system of social protection based on a firm legal foundation is a main priority. The human being and his or her life and dreams, hopes and concerns are the central focus. At the initiative of President Islam Karimov, the year 2015 has been declared the Year of Reverence and Care for the Senior Generation in the Republic of Uzbekistan. This measure is based on the age-old values of our people, and its purpose is to express due respect and provide comprehensive support to people of advanced age, in keeping with the aspirations and desires of our society. At a ceremony to mark the twenty-second anniversary of the Constitution of Uzbekistan, the President emphasized that attention and genuine concern for the elderly are among the primary determinants of a society’s level of cultural development. Steady improvements in the social sphere serve as clear indication of the thoroughgoing work that has been done in Uzbekistan to provide for the social protection of the people. Dynamic and balanced economic development is the basis for progressive improvements in the standard of living and quality of life. In this connection, in order to provide comprehensive support for the elderly, more than 11,618 billion sum were allocated from the national budget for pension payments last year alone, as well as more than 105 billion sum for benefits. Those who participated in the war or laboured on the home front receive assistance each year in the form of free medical care, treatments at sanatoria and health resorts, and other necessary support. This year, activity to develop the social sphere and ensure targeted social assistance to single elderly people, pensioners, persons with disabilities and needy families is continuing to increase in scope. The national program for the Year of Reverence and Care for the Senior Generation, adopted under the Presidential Decision of 18 February 2015, will shape the implementation of these benevolent actions. The program aims at further raising the standard of living and quality of life for the elderly, increase the scale of material and moral support, enhance social, pension and medical services for the elderly, particularly for war and labour veterans who served during the period from 1941 to 1945, and expand the role of the elderly in raising up young people in the spirit of values and traditions of our people that stretch back for centuries. In this regard, recently, the Head of Uzbekistan adopted a decree «On measures to further strengthen the social support of veterans of war and labor front of 1941-1945», according to which veterans of war and labor front of 1941-1945 will have the right to get free rate of improvement in health establishments of the Ministry of Labor and Social protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in the Council of the Federation of Trade Unions and at the government and economic management of the country once a year, within a reasonable time frame for them. Uzbekistan is home to more than 2.8 million people over the age of 60, 225,000 people over 80, 44,000 – over 90, and 8,700 have stepped up a 100th anniversary. Most importantly, the number of elderly people is increasing. In the years of independence, the average age of the population increased from 67 years in 1990 to 73.5 years, and specifically women – to 75.8 years. It should be emphasized that there are 3109 participants of the Second World War and 69,994 veterans of the labor front among them. Approximately 6.5 million people had lived in Uzbekistan on the eve of the war in 1941, 1.5 million of which took a direct part in battle. That is to say, if we discount infants and children, men and women of age, over 40 percent of our population got engaged in the war with arms in their hands. About 500 thousand, or 30 percent of all those of our countrymen in the war were killed. Today, thanks to the independence, all of those who survived in the terrible years of war live in peace and prosperity. Uzbekistan pays great attention to all veterans who courageously fought on the frontline, as well as those people who honestly and conscientiously worked on the home front. Full attention to the veterans and the elderly people show many of NGO’s, as the foundation «Nurroniy» and the Council of the Federation of Trade Unions which implementing financial and moral support to them. In Uzbekistan has been created nursing homes «Sahovat» and «Muruvvat». Overall in 2014, in 15 health centers, improved their health almost 30 thousand pensioners and veterans of war and labor. By the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan in center of capital built a square of Memory with the sacred image of the Mourning Mother. On the square Memory by golden letters the names of our compatriots inscribed who gave their lives in the battlefields of the Second World War, for the peaceful future for mankind. The 9^th of May in accordance with the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov was announced the Day of Remembrance and Honor, which has become an important historical date, and embodies the restoration of justice and truth in relation to memory and dignity of man. All this aimed at ensuring that people of Uzbekistan do not forget about the past, about their roots. Because without memory has no future. This truth should never be forgotten. In short, everything will be done to ensure that our veterans and elderly people feel full support, care and attention of the state, which seeks to create the necessary conditions for a dignified life. Indeed, today thanks to them in our homes reign a welfare and a prosperity, and our sacred duty – to honor and remember those who fell on the battlefield, to take care of those who are stay close to us.  

  By the Mission of Georgia to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg.    The progress of EU-Georgia relations will be high on the agenda of the 4^th Eastern Partnership Summit which will gather Heads of State and Government from the EU and it Eastern Partners in Riga (May 21-22). Participants are expected to reconfirm the strategic importance of EU’s Eastern Partnership and their support to Georgia’s European aspirations. Georgia has made great progress in meeting European standards since the last Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius (November 2013). The Georgian government in record time negotiated, initialled and signed on 27 June 2014 an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU (provisional entry into force since 1 September 2014). The ENP country progress report published on 25 March 2015 noted Georgia’s continued progress on reforms throughout 2014 and highlighted “achievements notably in the areas of human rights and fundamental freedoms and substantial progress in the visa liberalisation process.” Visa liberalisation, which will demonstrate the tangible benefit of EU integration to citizens, is a key priority for Georgia. On 29 October 2014 the Commission’s 2^nd progress report on the implementation of the “Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation” confirmed the country had successfully completed the first phase of the process and could move to the second phase. Since then, Georgia has completed all the remaining technical criteria. At Riga, the Georgian government trusts that this state of affairs will be recognised, and that, in line with the Eastern Partnership principles of differentiation and “more for more”, a decision will be made granting visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Georgian citizens. This would be an important outcome of the Summit, for Georgia but also for the region and the EU. The Riga Summit, the first since the signature of the Association Agreement, the Russian annexation of Crimea, the war in Ukraine, and the signature of Russia’s so-called “treaties” with Georgia’s occupied regions: Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, comes at a critical time for the future of the Eastern Partnership programme and of the region. It is of the utmost importance that the Summit deliver a strong statement of EU commitment to the region, and concrete initiatives for the further integration of those countries who have chosen a European path – regardless of Russian opposition. Granting visa liberalisation to Georgia, a clear frontrunner of the programme, would boost credibility of the EU and the Eastern Partnership and thereby security and continued reform in the region.