On the picture Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel – Photography by Westerwelle Foundation.Discussion with Luxembourgian Prime Minister Xavier Bettel at the Westerwelle Foundation in Berlin
The increasing influx of refugees, the crisis in Greece and the Ukraine, and the debate about TTIP are merely a few keywords summarizing the challenges the European Union is currently facing.
During his official visit to Germany on June 16th, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel was at the Westerwelle Foundation, to speak on “European Challenges, in a World in Transition”. More than 70 guests from politics and the civil society attended the event. After his speech Bettel joined in an open discussion that was moderated by Alexander Vogel, Head of Office at the Westerwelle Foundation.
Director Alexander Vogel, Westerwelle Foundation and Luxembourgian Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.
Luxembourg has always played a central role in the development of the European Union. Beginning July 1st, the Grand Duchy will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the twelfth time in the Council’s history. In this context, the discussion at the Westerwelle Foundation offered Bettel the opportunity to take a stand on current European politics, and also share his plans for the European Union.
The Prime Minister emphasized the necessity to stand united as a European community, and remain united while seeking solutions to problems affecting the entire region. He pointed out the urgency of taking immediate action with regards to a myriad of problems the European Union faces. Above all however, he stressed the importance of turning words into actions, particularly with issues such as the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, or the ongoing economic crisis in Greece.
Finding an answer to the migrant crisis will be most effective, he concluded, if we looked for solutions in the migrants’ countries of origin. The people there must be offered perspectives, and the freedom and peace that comes with security and prosperity.
Regarding the European Union, Bettel said, he will focus on the fight against unemployment. To him the creation of sustainable economic development, particularly by prioritizing environmental aspects and climate change, is important. With regards to the negotiations on TTIP, Bettel remarked that the idea behind the venture was essentially good and necessary to boost the transatlantic economy, however this could not occur at all costs. Standards of quality, important to both prospective partners, should not be downgraded. The Prime Minister however called for more constructive debates on the subject, especially in the media coverage.
Bettel also spoke on the issue of Ukraine. He announced he has plans travelling to both Kiev and Moscow, to speak with both parties to the conflict.
“We need to communicate with all sides,” he concluded, after all that is the only way to find a peaceful solution
Source:http://westerwelle-foundation.com/en/events/review/lecture-xavier-bettel/
Text and pictures to The Westerwelle Foundation for International Understanding
Moving Mesdag: digital panorama honors famous marine painter during Mesdag Year.
Modern interpretation Panorama Mesdag visit this summer for free at SAIL Amsterdam, Uitmarkt and ART South.
Amsterdam, August 13, 2015 – Panorama Mesdag, the iconic panorama by Hendrik Willem Mesdag 1881 is from August 19th to admire immersive setting in Amsterdam. Moving Mesdag is an ambitious video art installation where Mesdag, artist Menno Otten Netherlands and Samsung collaborate on the intersection of art and technology innovation. Moving Mesdag is open to visit for free in the coming weeks at the following locations in Amsterdam:
SAIL Amsterdam 2015: Green Ocean, NDSM Werf – 19 t / m August 23
Uitmarkt: Museumplein – 29 t / m August 31
ART South: Museumplein – 1/4 September
The modern interpretation of Panorama Mesdag is shown on 14 huge Samsung Curved S-UHD TVs that form a perfect circle with a diameter of 9 meters. An impressive 360º soundtrack makes the experience complete.
Artist Menno Otten is known for its internationally award-winning documentaries and impressive video interpretations of ancient masterpieces such as Vermeer. He is deeply fascinated by the light use of the old masters and how do their utmost to literally get a new light on ancient masterpieces.
“We find it remarkable that we together with Menno Otten new light shed on the masterpiece of Mesdag,” said Martijn Lutgerink, Country Director TV & Audio Samsung Netherlands. “For us it is all about innovative people-oriented. We want people with technology provide new opportunities and experiences. Thanks to our television screens curved Menno Otten, the panorama can successfully shape in Moving Mesdag. ”
The Luxembourg’s Grand Ducal family, Garden Party at Colmar Berg Castle. Picture by Gerry Huberty.
Thursday, 25 and Friday, 26 June 2015: Luxembourg’s Grand Ducal family hosted garden parties for members of the Luxembourgian establishment.
The garden parties are an annual tradition, with members of the Luxembourg economy, cultural and charitable sectors, as well as representatives of the media, the country’s different faith groups, EU institutions and a plethora other areas of the country’s public life invited.
The parties were hosted by the Grand Ducal couple alongside the Hereditary Grand Ducal Couple and Thursday, 25 June, likewise HRH Princess Alexandra and HRH Princess Tessy were at hand to greet and mingle with the various guests from Luxembourg’s élite. The events are held at Colmar-Berg Castle which is the residence of TRH Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.
For more information
Luxembourgian Grand Ducal Court: www.monarchie.lu/fr/index.html
Municipality of Colmar-Berg: www.colmar-berg.lu/fr/commune/chronik
On the picture H.M. Willem-Alexander and H. Ankie Broekers-Knol, President of the Senate.By BuonamassaG.W.
The Dutch Stichting Herdenking 15 August 1945 commemorates the 70th anniversary of the 2nd World War, during an event organized on August 15 under strong security control with more than 3000 people assembled in Den Haag by the Indisch monument of Professor B.M. Teldersweg.
Special guests for this event was H.M. Willem-Alexander the King of Netherlands and several Dutch ministers. Eric Schneider addressed an impressive and emotional speech. He is the writer of Moesson , a theater production in memory of II World War victims.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s speech underlined the occupation of Japanese Army in East Asia and highlighted the independence day of Indonesia on 24 august 1945.
The event was organized in memory of civilians and military and Dutch victims that lost their lives in 1945 and were buried during the war in Thailand, Birma, Singapore, Hong kong, Japan, Australia and Indonesia.
The President of the Assembly of States Parties meets with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and with the Bureau of the Committee of Representatives.
On 13 August 2015, H.E. Mr. Sidiki Kaba, President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute (“the Assembly”) of the International Criminal Court (“the Court”), traveled to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to meet with H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission. During their exchanges, the President of the Assembly introduced the main priorities of his term and reiterated the need to develop a new relationship between Africa and the Court. He also emphasized the need to strengthen the judicial capacities of States to prevent and prosecute the most serious crimes contained in the Rome Statute.
President Sidiki Kaba also met with the Bureau of the Committee of Representatives to the African Union (COREP) and with the Chairs of the African regional groups at a meeting held in the presence of Ms. Djenna Djarra, Executive Secretary of the Commission. At this meeting, President Kaba welcomed the efforts undertaken by the African Union to fight impunity.
Furthermore, President Kaba met with Mr. Haile Menkerios, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to the African Union, with whom he had fruitful discussions on the peacebuilding efforts by the United Nations in Africa. In this regard, he reiterated that justice is an essential vehicle to ensure sustainable peace and break the cycles of violence that feed from impunity.
President Kaba also met with the Delegation of the European Union (“EU”) and with the representatives from EU member states in Addis, as well as with the representatives of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC) accredited in Ethiopia. At these meetings, he urged them to continue supporting the Court.
At the conclusion of this official visit, H.E. Mr. Kaba stated:
“I thank President Dlamini-Zuma for her warm welcoming as well as the constructive exchanges we had. I am convinced that there is an urgent need to restore trust between the Court and African States Parties to the Rome Statute. The dialogue that we started today must be continued as we aspire to initiate a new era in the relationship between the Assembly and African States”.
Recent reports of possible use of chemical weapons in Iraq by non-State actors are a matter of serious concern. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is in contact with the government of Iraq and will examine any substantive reports it receives including pertinent information that might be shared by other States Parties.
The Director-General of the OPCW, H. E. Ahmet Üzümcü, recalled that States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention regard the use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances as reprehensible and completely contrary to the legal norms and standards of the international community.
On Tuesday, 30 June 2015, His Excellency Mongolia’s Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Head of Mission to the EU, Davaadorj Khishigdelger, hosted a reception at the Warwick Barsey Hotel in Brussels to fête Mongolian freedom from Chinese rule in 1921. The actual date for the commemoration in Mongolia is 11 July. The elimination of Chinese dominance is celebrated with the “Naadam Festival” running from July11 – 13 annually.
The Naadam, typically is a three-day long festival. It is held primarily in the Naadam Stadium located in the city of Ulaan Baatar. The festival begins with a vibrant ceremony at Sukhbaatar Square, and is followed by a parade set to the traditional Mongolian music.
Mongolia’s ambassador and wife greeting Indian Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri.
A number of sporting events are held. The wrestling, archery, and horse-riding competitions are much awaited and bring the victors much fame. While wrestling and archery are held in the Naadam Stadium, the horse riding takes place in Yarmag village. Sporting events are held on a national level and at a regional level as well. Traditional Mongolian food such as khuushuur – (deep fried meat dumplings) is served all over the country and food form an integral part of the celebrations.
In 1691 the Manchu tribes who founded the Qing Dynasty in China gained control over Mongolia. After the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1911 Mongolia declared its independence. The Chinese, nevertheless, did not recognize its independence until 1921; when Mongolia declared victory over China with Russian support. Fearing Chinese domination, Soviet Russia quickly instated a communist government in Mongolia. Today, Naadam festival marks this historic moment. The Independence Day of Mongolia marks the occasion of the proclamation of its first constitution in 1924, which led to the establishment of Mongolian People’s Republic.
End of June 2015, His Excellency Ambassador Nagy Zoltán presented his credentials as non-resident ambassador of Hungary to HRH The Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
The mission, though based in Brussels, does have a diplomat based in Luxembourg for representation, First Secretary, Ms Katalin Dusaucy-Rapp.
Ambassador Nagy had already presented his credentials to HM The King of the Belgians on 10 March 2015.
Before arriving in Brussels Ambassador Nagy was Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Budapest between 2012-2014.
For more information
Embassy of Hungary to Belgium and Luxembourg: www.mfa.gov.hu/kulkepviselet/BRUSSELS_BILAT/en/
Ambassador Nagy: www.mfa.gov.hu/kulkepviselet/BRUSSELS_BILAT/en/en_Koszonto/Ambassador_s+CV.htm
On the picture Dr Eckart Cuntz displaying his Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Belgium.By Baron Henri Estramant.Germany’s Dr. Eckart Cuntz.
Ambassador Cuntz left Belgium for his new base in Berlin on 30 June 2015 after serving since 2011 as bilateral ambassador accredited to the Kingdom of Belgium. On the last day of his mission, the ambassador paid a farewell visit to HM The King of the Belgians who in his turn presented him with the “Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown”. It is Belgium’s second highest order albeit it was originally instituted as a Congolese Order by King Leopold II in 1897.
His successor is Ambassador Rüdiger Lüdekind, previously director general of the German mission to the OSCE (Vienna).
Ambassador Oegroseno (Indonesia) Picture by KUL.Indonesia’s Arif Havas Oegroseno.
Deputy Minister for Maritime Sovereignty Coordinating (Ministry for Maritime Affairs – Republic of Indonesia), Arif Oegroseno, served as chief of mission to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg from 2010 to 2015.
Prof. Henri Mova Sakanyi ( Democratic Republic of Congo).Democratic Republic of Congo’s Professor Henri Mova Sakanyi.
Professor Mova Sakanyi was ambassador accredited to the three Benelux countries from 2009, head of mission to the EU and the OPCW. He left Brussels for the political appointment as Secretary General of the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie – PPRD), which is the party of incumbent DRC President Joseph Kabila Kabange.
A mission of the DR of Congo to The Netherlands opened in early 2015 but is yet to receive an ambassador. Currently the chargé d’affaires in The Hague is Minister Counsellor Thomas Konko.
H. E. Jacques Revah and with HRH Princess Alexandre of Belgium (Israel).Israel’s Jacques Revah.
Bilateral ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Jacques Revah, left Brussels for Jerusalem on 12 August 2015 after serving as head of mission since 2011. He is now retired.
His successor, Ambassador Simone Frankel, arrived in Brussels on 13 August 2015. This shall be her first ambassadorship.
H. E. Manorom Phonseya (Laos). Picture by OPCW.Laos’ Phonseya Manorom.
Ambassador Phonseya was recalled to Laos back in April 2015. He had served as head of mission since mid-2012 covering the EU, the OPCW, and bilaterally the Benelux countries, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.
Chargé d’affaires a.i. is Mr Sengprachang Thongkhoun.
Ambassador Saem Hem (Cambodia). Picture by European Council.Cambodia’s Hem Saem.
Ambassaor Hem left his post in Brussels in the beginning of May 2015. He had served since 2009 as chief of mission to the EU, the OPCW, the Benelux countries and Austria.
His successor is Ambassador Chea Thireak. For more information
Embassy of Germany to Belgium: www.bruessel.diplo.de/Vertretung/bruessel/fr/Startseite.html
Embassy of Indonesia to Belgium and Luxembourg, Mission to the EU: http://www.embassyofindonesia.eu/
CV of Deputy Minister Oegroseno: www.europeantunaconference.com/havas.html
Mission of the DR of Congo to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU: www.ambardc.eu
Embassy of Israel to Belgium and Luxembourg: http://embassies.gov.il/Bruxelles/Pages/default.aspx
Mission of Laos to the EU, the Benelux, Scandinavia: www.ambalao.be
Mission of Cambodia to the EU, the Benelux and Austria: http://www.embassyofcambodia.org/other_embassies.html
On the picture H. E. Marina Kaljurand 2011. Photography By Lawrence Jackson at the Oval Office USA.
Since 16 July 2015, Mrs Marina Kaljurand (née Rajevskaja)has been serving as Estonian Foreign Minister.
The career diplomat worked as the Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary for Legal and Consular Affairs, and previous to it as the Undersecretary for Political Affairs before her ministerial appointment. She was also the Estonian expert at the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Cyber Security.
Her latest ambassadorship was between 2011 and 2014 to Washington D.C. with co-accreditations to Mexico and Canada (up to 2013).
Estonia has three representations in Brussels. One bilateral mission dealing with Belgium, Luxembourg as well as Switzerland headed by HE Ambassador Gert Antsu, the Permanent Representation led by HE Ambassador Matti Maasikas as well as one vis-à-vis NATO headed by HE Ambassador Lauri Lepik.
The mission in The Hague covers The Netherlands as well as the OPCW. The latter embassy is headed by HE Ambassador Peep Jahilo.
For more information
Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://valitsus.ee/en/minister-foreign-affairs-marina-kaljurand
Embassy of Estonia to Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and San Marino: www.estemb.be/
Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU: www.eu.estemb.be/eng/permanent_representation
Permanent Representation of Estonia to NATO: www.estnato.be/about_us
Embassy of Estonia to The Netherlands: www.estemb.nl/
the European Union is currently facing.
During his official visit to Germany on June 16th, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel was at the Westerwelle Foundation, to speak on “European Challenges, in a World in Transition”. More than 70 guests from politics and the civil society attended the event
