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.        

In-house Scanning system and VAT-card make diplomatic life easier. Having a diplomatic status, the National Members of Eurojust are subject to VAT exemptions. To bypass the lengthy procedure for VAT reimbursements in the Netherlands, where their head office is situated, Eurojust called on the diplomatic card company (DCC). Using the DCC VAT-card and In-house Scanning systems, paying VAT-free becomes easier and faster whilst remaining safe. About EurojustEurojust is an essential part of creating an area of freedom, security and justice in the European Union. From their headquarters in The Hague, Eurojust has the task of stimulating and improving the coordination and cooperation between the competent public prosecution offices in the Member States in order to fight cross- border crimes more effectively. Less known to the general public than its sister organization Europol, this European agency has a unique structure consisting out of national members from each member state and an EU administrative. Eurojust has proved to create the added value needed in a successful fight against cross-border crime. Struggling with paperwork. Klaus Meyer-Cabri, the National Member for Germany at Eurojust, moved to The Hague about six months ago and experienced a staggering amount of paperwork to receive VAT exemptions. “I had to collect my invoices and fill in specific documents, send those to the Dutch Tax Authorities to get approved and then get another approval from the Shop owner. Then finally, the VAT would be deposited on my account, this being sometimes two or three months after my purchase.” That is if Meyer-Cabri did not make a mistake filling in the documents. If he did, it would take months for the Dutch Tax authorities to inform Meyer-Cabri about the mistake and the diplomat would have to restart the procedure all over again. Paying VAT-free “The colleagues of Eurojust’s Relocation Office informed me on the concept of DCC”, Meyer-Cabri says. DCC’s main goal is to make the Diplomat’s stay in the Netherlands as comfortable and hassle-free as possible by making the VAT reimbursement procedure faster and easier. Manolis Arvantis, General Manager at Diplomatic Card Company, explains: “Becoming a member can be done by signing up via our website after which the VAT-card is delivered to the diplomat within five working days. The card enables paying without VAT at our connected retailers.” DCC is working hard to expand their network but diplomats simply are not yet able to use their VAT-card everywhere. Easier Reimbursement “Because the network is still limited for now, we delivered the In-house Scanning service to handle small invoices from retailers that are not yet connected”, Arvantis continues. Eurojust was an early adopter of this system. “All it takes is a few minutes on my lunch break”, Meyer-Cabri explains. “I enter the number of invoices, the station provides me with QR labels for each invoice, I scan the invoices with their corresponding QR label in the station and I’m done. From that point on DCC takes care of the rest. Within the week the VAT is reimbursed.” Safety First DCC made the VAT exemption procedure faster and easier but did not compromise its safety. DCC provides a code by text message when using the VAT-card or the In-house Scanning system to make sure no one other than the diplomat can use these systems. Furthermore DCC warns you immediately when you have made a mistake. This way you can act quicker to correct it. “DCC’s reimbursement procedure has made my life easier. I hope that more shopkeepers will implement the DCC system so that the VAT can be deducted immediately at the point of sale. But thanks to the In-house Scanning system I can already be sure that my VAT reimbursement documents are being handled quickly and accurately and I don’t have to wait months”, Meyer-Cabri says. “Unfortunately, I’m still waiting on some reimbursements for invoices I mailed to the Dutch Tax Authorities according to the old procedure. It’s been three months already.”  

High Level International Conference on the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015. For information about the Conference, visit www.waterforlifeconf2015.org or contact the Secretariat of the Conference: 33 Sheroz str., Dushanbe 734001, Republic of Tajikistan E-mail:info@waterforlifeconf2015.org; Tel: (+992 37) 227 68 43 / Fax: (+992 37) 227 68 4 On 23 December 2003 at its 58^th session the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/58/217 initiated by the Republic of Tajikistan. According to the resolution the period 2005 – 2015 was declared as the “International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”. The main goal of the Decade was to promote efforts to fulfill international commitments made on water and water-related issues by the year 2015. These commitments also included the development goals contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, particularly, to halve the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Another important goal of the Decade was to develop by 2015 plans for integrated water resource management and water-use efficiency in rendering assistance to the developing countries. The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan being the initiator of the Decade has taken a number of measures at national, regional and global levels for its successful implementation. With this view the Government of Tajikistan in cooperation with the UN and other international organizations organized the following important international water events:

• International Conference on Regional Cooperation in Trans-Boundary River Basins on 30 May – 1 June, 2005, Dushanbe;
• International Conference on Water Related Disasters Reduction on 27-29 June 2008, Dushanbe;
• High-Level International Conference on midterm comprehensive review of the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015 on 8-10 June 2010, Dushanbe;
• High Level International Conference on Water Cooperation on 27-29 August 2013, Dushanbe.

Since the year 2015 terminates the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” a comprehensive assessment of the activities carried out during this period, identification of the difficulties and problems in the implementation of the Decade goals, as well as planning of the further activities for the post 2015 period are of crucial importance. To that end on 19 December 2014 the UNGA has adopted a resolution (A/RES/69/215) entitled “International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015, and further efforts to achieve the sustainable development of water resources” calling upon member countries, UN system institutions, including the “UN-Water” and other organizations to comprehensively evaluate the progress achieved in the implementation of the Decade and continue taking steps for achieving internationally agreed water-related goals, including those indicated in the outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference entitled “The future we want”. The resolution also implies the convening of the two important events:

• High-level interactive dialogue of the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly in New York within the week after the World Water Day on 22 March, 2015 for the purposes of comprehensive review of the progress achieved in the implementation of the Decade, including the best practices and lessons learned relevant to the achievement of sustainable development; and
• High-level international conference on the implementation of the International Decade in June 2015 in Dushanbe.

For holding the High-level international conference on the implementation of the   International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015, there will be established an Organizing Committee under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan. In order to develop a comprehensive Programme of the Conference with the participation of all categories of water users and decision-makers, there will be established an International Steering Committee from among the representatives of the partner countries, international and regional institutions, river basin organizations, NGOs, the private sector and other stakeholders. The primary goal of the Conference is a comprehensive discussion of the issues of implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015, which will later play a crucial role in conducting comprehensive review of the implementation of the International Decade with bringing its results to the notice of the wider international community. The conference also provides an opportunity to discuss the challenges and gaps in the implementation of the International Decade, and on this basis recommendations for further actions after 2015, including contribution to the development of the Sustainable Development Goals related to water resources will be elaborated. Date and venue: The Conference will be held on 9-10 June 2015 in Dushanbe. Language: The working languages of the Conference are English and Russian (simultaneous translation will be provided). The translation into other UN official languages will be provided to the possible extent. Organizers: The Conference is organized by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the “UN-Water” and other UN institutions, international and regional organizations and other partners. Preliminary Program: The conference program will include a variety of activities, including plenary and thematic sessions, round tables, parallel and pre-conference events, side events, presentations and other event formats upon request of stakeholders as well as an exhibition and a tour. In preparing the structure of the conference, a variety of approaches will be used including thematic, regional and multi-stakeholder approach (sessions dedicated to different groups of stakeholders). Prospective topics for discussion at the conference:

• Mainstreaming water and sanitation in national development strategies;
• Water – Energy – Food – Climate Nexus;
• Addressing water scarcity and quality, waste water treatment and recycling;
• Promoting sustainable water consumption and use;
• Water beyond 2015: SDGs on water;
• Tools and mechanisms for achieving SDGs on water;
• Global challenges and water perspective;
• Water cooperation at international, regional, national and local levels for the achievement of the goals on water and sanitation; The representatives of the UN member countries’ governments, UN institutions, international and regional organizations, international financial institutions, business communities, non-governmental organizations, civil society, as well as scientists and experts are invited to participate in the conference. Invitations to the UN member countries, international and regional organizations and other partners will be sent on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the National Organizing Committee.Expected Results: The Conference will promote the awareness of the international community on the water sector trends and mobilizing efforts of the governments, UN institutions, international and non-governmental organizations, as well as other parties at all levels involved in the water problems solution.
• The outcomes of the Conference will be submitted at the 70^th session of the UNGA in 2015.
• It is expected that the conference participants will elaborate recommendations and proposals aimed at further strengthening of measures taken at the national, regional and international levels to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals, including the sustainable development goals based on the comprehensive assessment of the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015.
• Potential Participants:
• Selection of the main topics for discussion and determination of the structure of the conference program will be implemented by the International Steering Committee in its first meeting on 23-24 February 2015 in Paris.