ICC judges meeting with UN representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict

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ICC judges hold roundtable meeting with United Nations Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict. The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms Zainab Bangura, visited the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the invitation of the President of the Court, Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, to participate in a roundtable meeting with the judges of the Court yesterday May 13. During the meeting, which built on earlier contacts between President Fernández and Ms Bangura, the judges of the Court and the Special Representative discussed areas of common interest in the two institutions’ mandates aimed at ending impunity for mass crimes of sexual and gender-based violence. “Ensuring accountability for sexual and gender-based violence and providing justice to the victims of such crimes is an integral aspect of the ICC’s mandate,” said President Fernández. “I am truly delighted for this opportunity to discuss the many synergies between the important work conducted by Ms Bangura and her office on the one hand and the ICC on the other hand. Ending conflict-related sexual violence is a vitally important objective for the global community, and the ICC is deeply committed to working together with the United Nations and other relevant actors toward that end.” “The International Criminal Court is a vital tool in the fight against impunity for crimes of sexual violence,” said Special Representative Bangura. “It is essential for my mandate to engage with the Court to discuss the pressing challenges that we face together, including evidentiary issues, victims and witness protection, and reparations. I am incredibly grateful for the President of the Court’s invitation and for the judges’ strong engagement in the roundtable discussion.” During her visit to the ICC, Ms Bangura also met with officials of the Court’s Office of the Prosecutor and Registry, as well as the Trust Fund for Victims associated with the ICC. She also briefed a meeting of the Hague Working Group of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute on her mandate and activities. In her remarks to the various stakeholders of the ICC, Ms Bangura underlined the Court’s key role in ensuring accountability for sexual and gender-based crimes and breaking the culture of denial about sexual violence in conflict.     

Bangladesh adds to the Netherlands cultural diversity.

On the picture Dr. Dilruba Nasrin spouse of the Ambassador of Bangladesh,  Jan Hoekema Mayor of Wassenaar with Sheikh Mohammed Belal Ambassador of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh community in the Netherlands got the opportunity to observe Bengali New Year, what they call Pohela Boishakh, this year on 18 April 2015 with a kind of festivity never seen before. Not only a crowd of about 500 people of Bangladesh origin turned out to join the celebration, a good number locals including Mr. Jan Hoekema, Mayor of Wassenaar and members of diplomatic community, media, academics, civil society etc also joined the event.  Apart from the Netherlands, Bangladeshis from Belgium, Poland, Germany, among others, also participated in this mega festival.
Bengal New Year 3
H.E. Mr. A. H. Mahmood Ali, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a conversation with Mayor of Wassenaar and Ambassador Belal.
Bengali New Year, as they call it Pahela Baishakh or Naba Barsha, in Bengali, is the first day of Bengali calendar. It falls on 14th of April every year as per the Gregorian calendar. The day is celebrated in Bangladesh and in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Jharkhand, Orissa and also in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos etc. The day is an occasion to bid adieu to the past year and welcome the New Year with joy and happiness. A new beginning of hope irrespective of the barriers of caste, religion and regional differences. The residence of Bangladesh Ambassador, what is known as Bangladesh House, in Wassenaar was beautifully decorated with motifs, balloons, festoons, posters, banners to beam an aura of Bengali culture befitting the day. A cultural troupe from Bangladesh performed with song, dance, recitation of poems and mini drama. Local artists, with experience in the Bangla culture, also performed in the event. All Bangladeshis, on a sunny spring day, adorned specialized colorful Bengli dresses while ladies with colorful sarees and mehendi tattoos made a mini Bangladesh where children roamed with their faces painted in Bangladeshi flags and other traditional New Year motifs. The high point of the day was performance by Bangladesh folk maestro Ms. Momtaz Begum, who is also a member of Bangladesh parliament. Performance of  Momtaz was greeted with thunderous applause and jubilation. The crowd erupted into dance when she performed to sing folk music of Bangladesh. Bengal new Year 1 Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, MP, who was visiting The Hague as leader of Bangladesh delegation to the Global Conference on Cyber-security (GCCS 2105), was present as Chief Guest in the festival. In his statement Mr. Ali urged all nationals of Bangladesh to live in their country of residence imbued with the spirit of liberation. He also advised them to contribute to their nation building as, according to him, this is the high time to invest and doing business with Bangladesh. Bangladesh Foreign Minister also acknowledged continued support and assistance from the Netherlands since independence of Bangladesh in 1971. In this biggest gathering of the Bangladesh community in the Netherlands, the officials of Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives from different government and non-government organizations, universities, local elites and media were also present. Besides, the Ambassadors of China, Japan, India, Tunisia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan attended the programme. Ambassador Belal, while welcoming all with new year greetings, informed the audience that unlike some other festivals, the Bengali New Year is more about simple celebrations of the rural roots. The day has deep rooted sentiments for well being of the hard working people like farmers and traders. This day is also considered auspicious for starting new ventures and businesses. So, this symbolizes the entrepreneurship spirit that is deeply engrained in our culture. Something like business DNA among the Dutch. Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal and his wife Dr. Dilruba Nasrin greeted all guests and served them with traditional Bangladeshi cuisine. Earlier all foreign guests were greeted with colorful bangles and forehead motif by colorfully dressed Bangladeshi girls. Local vendors put up stalls to serve Bangladeshi cakes and other cuisine to the visiting participants. Bengl New Year 4

Sourcing Europa present appleandtomato.com the artisan web-shop

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  Sourcing Europa source the finest food from across Europe, following strict regulations and specifications of cultivation and production whilst displaying a wealth of experience and expertise. We only work directly with selected farmers, artisans and the manufactures, respecting the environment, ethic and by supporting local economies. Our aim is to source and deliver healthy, affordable and quality food with high nutritional value. appleandtomato.com We have created a shop that offers customer tasty artisan products and an experience of all the pleasures that cooking and eating true cuisine can bring to your table. Our mission is to energize our retail partners and inspire the public with our range of products. We are providing consumers with amazing foods and products from sources they can trust. Above all else, we are honest in our ways, collaborative in our approach, and continually challenging ourselves to bring products to the market that support our mission, create momentum with our brands, and meet the needs of today’s consumer. _X2G6955DEF Our producers Who cares equally as much about the quality of our products as we do? Our suppliers: We seek suppliers whose products use the freshest possible, local ingredients, free of additives, artificial colours and preservatives and support predominantly farmhouse producers, motivated by genuine quality, that specialise in their field. Where possible these ingredients are free of any additives or preservatives, created by specialist artisans that care as much about making their products as we do serving them to you. We believe that these products taste so much better. Extra service We offer the possibility for small and medium enterprises to order products from our various producers consolidated in a single bulk order. This enables lower cost of shipping and delivery of goods to final destination. For more information: e. salvatore@sourcingeuropa.com – t. 02077844247 – 127 Keizersgracht, 1015 CJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.    

Euro-father passes away

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By Baron Henri Estramant.   9 May 2015: Baron Alexandre Lámfalussy, first president of the European Monetary Institute (EMI), a short-lived institution created in 1994 with the sole purpose of setting up the ECB and then willing itself out of existence. Lámfalussy’s role in forging a path towards a monetary union began in 1976 when he embarked on a career at the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel, Switzerland-based clearinghouse for the world’s central banks. He was promoted to BIS general manager in 1985 and, three years later, joined a committee of central bankers who sketched a road map for the European currency. They included a future president of the ECB, Wim Duisenberg, and Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who later became Italian prime minister and president. Born on 26 April 1929 as Lámfalussy Sándor in Kapuvár, then Kingdom of Hungary, Lámfalussy fled his homeland in 1949 as the Iron Curtain was sealing off eastern Europe. With three friends, he snuck across the snowy border to Austria, en route to a Belgian university scholarship. Baron Lámfalussy married Anne-Marie Cochard in 1957. The couple had three children. Belgians’ King Albert II awarded him the noble title of baron in 1996.   For more information European Central Bank: www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2015/html/pr150511.en.html    

Italian President Sergio Mattarella visits EU institutions

 
By Office of the President of Italy 
 
Translated from the Italian by Anna Maria Mistretta.
President Sergio Mattarella was very positive about his talks with the heads of the European Union last March. He said that there is great attention for Italy and its role. President Mattarella met with Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, with whom he spoke about several issues as well as the role that the European Parliament can have in increasing European Union citizens’ acceptance. They also talked about refugees and migrants arriving in Italy, and of the fact that this issue should be discussed more at the European Union. President Mattarella has discussed this important issue with Federica Mogherini, and with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. For a photo-album please open here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157652285978009   ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????   The talks with Mogherini focused on the actions required for issues such as immigration, but also Libya, foreign politics, and the defence policy of the European Union. With President Tusk they discussed Libya and Ukraine in order to stress all problems that the Union has to address, whether they are located North or South of the Union; they all are equally important and shared by all member states. President Mattarella says that President Tusk was very interested in the talks about Libya and is also convinced that the European Union should regarding the refugees that actually arrive on European shores, but likewise towards the issues of a lack of infrastructure and the risk that this could help the forming of favourable conditions to Islamic terrorism, which is a danger both for Italy and for Europe. Although they are two different issues, they both have their origin in Libya.   ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????   President Mattarella has agreed with all those he met the importance that the international community supports the talks of the mediator Léon, in order to achieve a cease-fire in Libya, a united national parliament and the be able to help the country find stability and a new start so much needed for this country.   Pictures/Office of the President of the Italian Republic (www.quirinale.it)    

Prime Minister Rõivas meets with EU leaders

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  5 May 2015 – Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas was in Brussels to meet with the President of the European Commission.   At the meetings with Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, and Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, the current issues of the European Union were the topics for discussion, including the Eastern Partnership summit, which will be held in Riga in May, the security situation, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the harmonisation of energy markets and ensuring security of supply, and the digital single market.   Rõivas in Brussels: Supporting Eastern partners is the most important European security challenge Brussels, 5 May 2015 – Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas discussed at today’s meeting in Brussels with Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission and Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council the issues of security, energy and Digital Single Market, as well as the challenges faced by Eurozone. “As Russia has not met all the conditions stipulated in the Minsk Agreement, there is no other choice than to continue with the sanctions,” Prime Minister emphasised during the meeting with the European leaders in Brussels. Prime Minister added that with regard to the Eastern Partnership Summit that is currently held in Riga, it its essential to use the remaining weeks in order to take concrete steps towards visa freedom for Georgia and Ukraine. At the meeting with the President of the European Commission, the main focus was on the integration of the energy market into European market in order to warrant energy security. “Given the current security situation, Baltic region’s energy independence from Russian market is of strategic importance for the whole of Europe,” said Prime Minister Rõivas. “Support given by the European Commission to large-scale energy projects, for example, Balticconnector, as well as the electric power and gas connections between Poland and the Baltic States, is important for us,” said Rõivas. At the meeting with President Juncker, Prime Minister also raised the question of air pollution limits suggested by the Commission. “In Estonia, the situation of air quality is among the best in the world. We have put the emphasis on a wider use of domestic renewable energy, including using solid biomass for the energy and heat production. European Union has set a goal of reducing the share of fossil fuels and environmental and climate policies of the Union must support each other.” At the meeting with Donald Tusk, the President of the of the European Council, the topics of political and security situation of the Baltic Sea were also discussed. Prime Minister recognised the preparation of the Digital Single Market Strategy under the leadership of Andrus Ansip; the Strategy will be disclosed tomorrow and will also be discussed at the European Council Summit in June. In addition, Prime Minister Rõivas presented the priorities of this new government.   Sources: Ave TEMPERE, https://valitsus.ee/en/news/prime-minister-roivas-meets-eu-leaders https://valitsus.ee/en/news/roivas-brussels-supporting-eastern-partners-most-important-european-security-challenge ——- Picture: European Union    

AMADE Mondiale in plenary session

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  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

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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/     ——— 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  
 
 
 

IV World Tourism Forum

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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.
Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck who is in Lucerne Switzerland on the invitation of the World Tourism Forum delivered the keynote address at the opening of the forum.
Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck who was in Lucerne Switzerland on the invitation of the World Tourism Forum delivered the keynote address at the opening of the forum.
 
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.org/