“The 9 July early presidential election was technically well-prepared”, – said Ambassador Urszula Gacek, head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observation mission during a press conference held today in Tashkent on the preliminary findings following the early presidential election in Uzbekistan.
The event was attended by the head of the election observation mission Urszula Gacek, her deputy Maša Janjušević, as well as media analyst Elma Šehalić.
“The election administration handled technical preparations effectively despite the compressed timeline set, and met legal deadlines”, – the head of the OSCE/ODIHR Mission stressed.
As Urszula Gacek noted, during the observation, the compliance of the elections with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation, was assessed.
The final report with an assessment of the entire electoral process and recommendations, according to the practice of the OSCE ODIHR, will be published a few months after the elections.
At the end of the press conference, Urszula Gacek, on behalf of the mission, thanked the Uzbek authorities for the invitation to observe the elections, as well as the Central Election Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their assistance.
Recall that the OSCE/ODIHR Presidential Election Observation Mission led by Ambassador Urszula Gacek was deployed on June 7 and included 11 international experts based in Tashkent and 24 long-term observers who were deployed throughout the country starting on June 14. On election day, 198 observers from 26 countries were involved.
A few times per year, Diplomat Magazine in cooperation with Leonardo Royal Hotel in The Hague organizes Food Festivals, where international Chefs selected by different embassies create special menus, full of authentic flavors, together with Chef Sido de Brabander.
Each Food Festival highlights a specific cuisine, from one of the countries represented in The Hague.
On March 16 and 17, 2023, the embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in cooperation with Diplomat Magazine, organized at the Leonardo Royal Hotel some high gastronomy evenings. Presenting traditional food from Bosnia and Herzegovina, this was one of the biggest promotional events of this country in the Netherlands so far.
H.E. Ms. Beti Jacheva, Ambassador of North Macedonia and H.E. Mr. Almir Šahović, the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Leonardo Royal Hotel, one of the most prestigious places in the Dutch capital, ensured the elegant venue for the event, which was further enriched by a musical cultural program and a touristic presentation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The refined and special menu for the evening was elaborated and crafted under the close supervision of Chef Din Vreto, one of the eminent chefs from the famous restaurant Kibe Mahala in Sarajevo, coming especially for the event to work with Chef Sido de Brabander and his colleagues from Leonardo Royal Hotel. Together they presented a delicious and authentic 3-course Bosnian menu, enjoyed by hundreds of people during each of the two evenings of the gastronomic event.
Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Diplomat Magazine’s Publisher and Mr Bert Kunders, former Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador of Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Ambassador of Egypt, H.E. Mr. Hatem Kamaleldin and their spouses.
Over the years, the Kibe Mahala has catered for prominent figures from all over the world, including statesmen and politicians, representatives of international organizations and international artists.
The Food festival in The Hague also gathered distinguished guests, including high-ranking Dutch officials, ambassadors and top representatives of international organizations, friends of Bosnia and business people from different spheres.
Numerous producers of traditional food and wines from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina have joined, as partners, this event.
A group of Dutch and Bosnian musicians performed in front of the guests and completed the lovely ambience.
Before dinner started, H.E. Mr. Almir Sahovic, the ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Netherlands warmly welcomed all guests. ‘I want to congratulate the two chefs for such a great job, the musicians for the refined performance, brilliantly combining Dutch and Bosnian music together’. He also thanked the great number of sponsors who made the gastronomic nights possible.
Chef Din Vreto, from Kibe Mahala.Bosnia and Herzegovina wines.
Suho meso (dried smoked meat) and Kupres cheese were among the displayed traditional specialties, together with many others and also good Bosnian wines.
The event also included a Tombola, with extremely generous and attractive prizes. The lucky winners received free passes to the famous Sarajevo Film Festival, accommodations at some of the most beautiful hotels in every region of the country, wines and other gifts.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Gastronomic Dinner.
H.E. Ambassador Almir Sahovic addressed the audience again saying: ‘I hope that this opportunity will convince you to come to Bosnia and Herzegovina, to discover it and see all its positive changes. And now, please enjoy the evening!’
On June 12, 2023, the embassy of Greece in The Hague, together with Diplomat Magazine, hosted the inauguration event of a beautiful photo exhibition entitled ‘Greece, Images of an Enchanted Land‘, by world-renowned photographer Robert McCabe. The Embassy presented the pictures that the American photographer took in Greece from the 50’s at the Atrium City Hall in The Hague.
H.E. Ms. Caterina Ghini, Ambassador of Greece to the Netherlands welcomed all the participants and officially launched the exhibition.
Greece, Images of an Enchanted Land.
In her opening speech she mentioned: ‘Robert McCabe made his first visit to Greece in 1954. He was instantly captivated by the country, preserving his impressions within the clicks of his camera’s shutter button, capturing moments of history in iconic images.
His first trip gave him the opportunity to experience the islands before they became “destinations”. Robert is a contemporary wanderer: in modern times he continues the age-old tradition of foreign travellers in the country. Influenced by his classical studies at Princeton University, his work constitutes a photographic archive of Greece in the 1950s and 1960s.
H.E. Mr. David Solomonia, Ambassador of Georgia, H.E. Mr. Arnoldo Brenes Castro, Ambassador of Costa Rica, H.E. Ms. Aiga LIepina, Ambassador of Latvia and H.E. Mr. Ilkka-Pekka Antero Similä, Ambassador of Finland.
The exhibition of the renowned photographer includes two sections: the first section illustrates the aspects of daily life in Greece in the 50s and 60s: seascapes, festivals, women’s and men’s occupations, work at sea. The second section presents some archaeological sites. Most of these sites have a long history, some as religious centres, others as commercial hubs and some with strategic military importance.
As is the case with many iconic works, the photographs can be interpreted in many ways. Besides their undoubted quality of documentation of an era, Mc Cabe’s photographs are a work of art. They are characterized by realism, but also by a rare aesthetic quality’.
H.E. Mr. Dren Doli, Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo, H.E. Ms. Anick van Calster, Ambassador of Belgium and H.E. Ms. Salima Abdelhat, Ambassador of Algeria.
As the photographer could not attend the event, Frederiek Lommen, a journalist, a writer, a Greece connoisseur and a publisher who traveled to Greece in May to meet McCabe, further presented the artist and his art work.
In her eloquent speech, she said: ‘I had the pleasure and the privilege of meeting Robert McCabe in person a few weeks ago, while I was in Athens. We had a very interesting conversation about his work and about Greece in general. We share a passion for Greece, which goes back several decades. As a short introduction to this exhibition, I will tell you today what I learned from that marvelous conversation.
Frederiek Lommen and the Ambassador of Greece, H.E. Ms. Caterina Ghini.
Robert McCabe was born in Chicago in 1934 but grew up close to New York City. His father was working for a newspaper. When Robert was four years old, he received his first camera, as a present. It was a Kodak Baby Brownie. In the beginning, the little boy was interested in news. He gathered images of hurricanes, drownings, and car accidents. But after a while, his interests shifted to people and landscapes. In 1954, a life changing event occurred.
His older brother Charles, studying at Princeton, got an invitation from a Greek friend, to spend two weeks in Greece. Robert was lucky, his brother asked him to join. The two boys went by cargo ship to Le Havre, in France. This trip of course took several weeks. In France, they travelled to Paris, and from there they took the train to Venice, where they got on a boat again to Piraeus and finally arrived in Athens.
Linda Divon, H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Ward Neiman, Ambassador of Panama, H.E. Ms Carolina Olarte Bacares, Ambassador of Colombia and H.E. Mr. Haim Divon, former ambassador of Israel.
Robert’s strongest memory of those first days in Athens is of how much ‘at home’ he felt. There were no traffic lights, just a few cars and only one policeman. Athens was basically like a big village, not the city with millions of inhabitants which it is today. The boys had also planned to travel to Egypt and Italy. They wanted to do a version of the classical ‘Grand Tour’, in the footsteps of Lord Byron, Goethe and many other famous romantic artists and poets. But none of that happened. They cancelled all their plans and decided to stay in Greece a bit longer.
“It was love at first sight”, Robert explained to me. Because of his love for photography, his parents had given him a new camera for this trip (a Rolleiflex, a high-end, German made camera). So, of course he took a lot of pictures of this exotic country.
The Ambassador of Rwanda, H.E. Mr. Olivier Jean-Patrick Nduhungirehe, H.E. Mr. Paul Tschang In-Nam, Apostolic Nuncio, H. E. Ms. Madeleine Liguemoh Ondoua, Ambassador of Cameroon, H.E. Ms. Dubravka Plejic Markovic, Ambassador of Croatia and H.E. Mr. Dren Doli, Ambassador of Kosovo.
Even to this day, he told me, he still regrets not bringing more film with him on that first trip. The love for Greece was so intense and strong that back home, Robert decided to switch from English literature to Classics. But the university wouldn’t allow this because he didn’t know any Latin or Greek. So he remained at the English department but decided to write his final thesis on Lord Byron and Greece. That was his way to spend every minute on Greek history and culture. So, that’s how it all began.
Matthew Grima, Counsellor, and H.E. Mr. Marc Anthony Pace, Ambassador of Malta.
His photographs of that first trip to Greece were exhibited the same year at the library of Princeton University. Needless to say, he kept on returning to Greece each summer. In those years, he sometimes felt like an explorer in Greece, discovering a new civilization. Often together with his brother, they tried to visit as many places and islands as possible.
They preferred searching for places without any tourists. For example, when they first arrived in Ios – now a very popular island in the summer months – they saw four French tourists when they got off the boat. Too crowded, they decided, and so they left.
The Ambassador of Georgia and spouse during the exhibition Greece, Images of an Enchanted Land.
One day, someone from the National Geographic Society saw some of his pictures and asked him to travel to the Cyclades and take pictures for an already planned article about this group of islands. And that of course, was a crucial moment in his career. Over the years, McCabe became a true ambassador for Greece, showing the world the things that made him fall in love with the country so deeply, through his exhibitions and publications.
The bond with Greece became even stronger due to his marriage in 1963 to a Greek girl Constantina, or Dina, his lifelong partner.
H.E. Mr. Roberto Calzadilla Sarmiento, Ambassador of Bolivia, H.E. Mr. Philippe Couvreur, Judge ad hoc at the International Cour of Justice, H.E. Mr. Alvaro Rodriguez Otero, Ambassador of Uruguay and Dr. Eugenio Matos.
His photographs of Greece are of great value, for a couple of reasons. One reason is that a lot of pictures were taken long before mass tourism started. Back in the fifties, sixties, Greece was still unspoiled. People on the islands lived from fishing, and not from tourism. Robert could easily visit all the antiquities. He could come close, walk through the Parthenon, and touch the pillars. Now, we have to keep our distance, of course, to preserve the precious stone and marble.
A second reason, why – in my opinion – his work is of high value, is that he is really interested in people. In his photographs, we see the marble worker doing his job in the ancient temple, the lady on the dirt road close to the Acropolis, the barefoot children playing in the fields, the fisherman busy with his small boat. In a way, by including people in his images, Robert has given us a visual anthropological record of Greece. His work is a sort of time capsule.
Ambassador Ghini and H.E. Mr. Abdel Sattar Issa, Ambassador of Lebanon.
And last but not least, his pictures are extremely beautiful. The love for the country, and his profound knowledge, are reflected in his pictures. He knows the Greek light, the typical light that you will not find anywhere else. And he has mastered the art of capturing it.
Although I love his photographs and studied one of his magnificent books (he has published more than 17 until now), his work also has a strong hint of sadness, melancholy I would say. The photographs give us a last glimpse of a Greece which probably is vanishing.
H.E. Mr. Mifougo Youssouf Diarrassouba, Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire and the Ambassador of Cameroon, H. E. Ms. Madeleine Liguemoh Ondoua.
Greece has rapidly changed over the last decades. The need to move forward, the urge to escape from poverty in the fifties, after the war; all these things have changed Greece.
Modern buildings are filling the beautiful landscape. The donkey has been replaced by the car. Quiet fishing villages have turned into a hustle of tourist shops, hotels and bars. Tourism is of course both a blessing and a curse. But luckily for us, Robert recorded this vanishing Greece.
H.E. Mr. Paul Tschang In-Nam, Apostolic Nuncio, H.E. Mr. Paulo Caminha, Ambassador of Brazil, H.E. Mr. Alvaro Rodriguez Otero, Ambassador of Uruguay and H.E. Mr. Olivier JP Nduhungirehe, Ambassador of Rwanda.
Fortunately, some places remain almost untouched and unspoiled: small islands you can only reach by boat or remote villages high up in the mountains. As Robert told me, and I agree with him, there are still some regions that are beautiful and quiet. There are still islands where the landscape is almost identical to the way it was centuries ago. Threshing floors, donkeys, vineyards, and fishermen with boats can still be found’.
At the end of her speech, Ms. Lommen cordially invited everyone to discover all those marvelous places and to visit Greece.
The speeches were followed by an animated reception. The event, attended by ambassadors, academics, and people from the art, business and political sphere, Greek nationals and friends of Greece, was a memorable experience for everyone.
The exhibition remained open for a week at the Atrium, in The Hague and thousands of people had the chance to see it.
Friday, 7 July 2023, Berlin, Germany: The French Ambassador in Germany, François Delattre was received for a bilateral meeting with the Premier of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther (CDU) at the Representation of the Federal State in the German capital.
The tête-à-tête served as the first encounter between the two dignitaries since Delattre was accredited to Germany on 27 September 2022. The two officials discussed possible manners to enhance the cooperation between France and Schleswig-Holstein.
Paper presented at the conference held on 29 June at the European Parliament to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief. The FORB Roundtables Brussels-EU and Netherlands as well as HRWF contributed to this event hosted by MEPs Peter van Dalen and Carlo Fidanza.
By José Luis Bazan, Legal adviser, COMECE (Commission of Catholic Episcopal Conferences of the EU)
HRWF (29.06.2023) – On 24 June 2013, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief. Three years later, in May 2016, the President of the Commission Jean-Claude Juncker adopted the decision to create the function of Special Envoy for the promotion of the freedom of religion or belief outside the EU. Again, three years later, on 6 of September 2019, Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy announced a new EU-sponsored “Global Exchange on Religion in Society” (1). If it were not a coincidence, I would say that every three years, the EU has got us used to seeing an institutional project concerning religious freedom outside the EU. I understand, unless I am mistaken, that in the coming months we should, perhaps, await something new in this area.
Expectations were high in 2013 with the EU Guidelines, which were hailed by many as a good first step in the right direction, disregarding certain limitations. Just to mention a couple of examples: the lack of explicit recognition of the right of parents that their children are educated according to their moral and religious believes that goes beyond “the right of parents to teach their children in the tenets of their religion or belief” (2); and of the fundamental right to conscientious objection beyond military service, in areas such as health or education. (3)
The appointment of Jan Figel’ as the first EU Special Envoy for Religious Freedom, despite the scarcity of human and financial resources provided for the post – which was also criticized by the European Parliament – (4), was a success thanks to the commitment of the appointee, which created a school, and paved the way for the proliferation of “Special envoys” and “representatives” on freedom of religion in EU members states.
However, the good prospects for the EU’s engagement in the promotion and protection of religious freedom have been progressively dimmed. First, there are many doubts about the actual implementation of the EU Guidelines in EU delegations around the world: there is a perception that in some cases they are not even properly known by the staff in those delegations, as the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Religious Freedom pointed out in its 2021 report (5).
The fact that no information is published or shared on their actual implementation does not help to dispel these doubts. We are aware of training activities that try to increase the knowledge and awareness of EEAS staff in this area, but knowledge does not seem to be enough to reach a sufficient level of commitment.
Photo credit: EU Brussels FoRB Roundtable – THIX Photo. — 10th Anniversary of the EU Guidelines on FoRB co-organized by the Eu Parliament Intergroup on FoRB&RT, with HRWF, EU Brussels FoRB Roundtable and Netherlands FoRB Roundtable.
Secondly, after the end of the Jan Figel’s mandate in 2019, the EU didn’t show much appetite in appointing his successor, and, except for the brief period in 2021, the Special Envoy position was left vacant for almost three years (again), until December 2022, when the senior Belgian diplomat Frans van Daele was appointed. But, once more, enjoying very limited margin of maneuver and with little resources at disposal.
Regarding the “Global Exchange on Religion in Society”, it can be a useful instrument to reach the attempted goal “to connect civil society practitioners inside and outside Europe working on faith and social inclusion” (6), if it is properly done and the autonomy of religious communities is respected. However, this would be more on the side of “prevention” than “protection” of those suffering religious freedom violations. Looking at the reports about religious freedom worldwide, the threats and trends that are endangering this fundamental human right, and the biblical proportion of the number of victims, the EU position can’t be neither cosmetic nor anecdotal: the response to these massive violations, where Christian are the most persecuted religious community as highlighted by the European Parliament (7), should be firmer and more explicit.
The credibility of the EU’s commitment depends on it acting with determination to protect and promote religious freedom. More resources are needed, greater awareness of the importance of religious freedom outside the EU as an essential factor in understanding the society and politics of the countries with which the EU has relations. But also, a firmness that is lacking in many cases: for example, responding to the massacres of more 50,000 Christians in Nigeria, at the hands of radical Islamists (8); or implement the EU’s own rules for the renewal of the GSP+ system with Pakistan, currently under negotiation.
Moreover, the external discourse cannot be detached from the reality in Europe of flagrant and, unfortunately, increasingly frequent violations of religious freedom and other fundamental rights of believers: for example, their possibility to educate their children according to their convictions or not to be forced in their professions to perform acts against their conscience. We cannot be critical without being self-critical: any moral authority derives from incoherence.
We should recognize that some EEAS staff members (as well as others in the European Commission and the EU Parliament) show a laudable openness and commitment to the cause of freedom of religion and offer the opportunity to religious and non-religious actors to engage in conversations and bring their respective concerns to the attention of the institution. However, the commitment should come also from the leaders of all EU institutions. It is in the interest of the EU to understand better the world, which is massively religious, and to avoid the temptation to consider as a universal paradigm that religion is purely a private matter.
I hope that the EU won’t wait three more years to take the decision to avoid the progressive postponement of religious freedom to a de facto status of a second-class human right, which must always yield to others, or to artificially promote non-consensual new “counter-rights”, breaking the natural harmony of the human rights ecosystem, as recognized by the international community in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1966 New York Pacts.
This month, the Dean of ambassadors in The Hague, H.E. Ms Adia Sakiqi, ambassador of Albania to the Netherlands, hosted at Leonardo Hotel a farewell ceremony for the six ambassadors who will leave the Netherlands this summer. Over a glass of wine, the guests had the opportunity to enjoy once more each other’s’ company.
On this distinguished occasion, the Dean held a speech, to honor the work and efforts of her colleagues.
‘It is a pleasure we are gathered together once more. Today we do not only celebrate the first Bi-Annual Farewell event of 2023, but also, and most importantly, the tenures of our esteemed colleagues here in the Netherlands’.
Ambassadors attending the farewell ceremony.
In her speech, Ms. Sakiqi addressed each of the guests of honor, underlining their special qualities and contributions to diplomatic life during their mission in The Hague:
Armenia – H.E. Mr. Tigran Balayan – your energy, your determination and your drive will be remembered. You will be missed in The Hague, and especially in Scheveningen, the North Sea will miss your daily morning dives.
Permanent Representative of Belgium to OPCW and to the International Organizations – H.E. Mr. William Roelants de Stappers – we thank you for all your solid contributions in international organizations. Your leadership in International law will be remembered.
Brazil – H.E. Mr. Paulo Roberto Caminha de Castilhos França – was lovely to have you among us in The Hague. Special thanks go to your contributions in assisting the Deanship in important matters dear to us all in this room. We wish you and your family every success!
Czech Republic – H.E. Ms. Katerina Sequensová – Katerina, you are not only a professional diplomat, but also a great manager who held 2-3 hats at the same time and never complained. I am positive that we will hear from you and your future successes. Lovely to know that you will assist ICC in the future months and come back to The Hague!
Latvia – H.E. Ms. Aiga Liepina – Aiga, I would like to thank you on behalf of all of us, for your engagement, solidarity and professionalism. It was great to cooperate with such a reliable professional like yourself. Wish you all the best in your future posting, knowing that you will mark your mandate there as it happened here in The Hague.
Luxembourg – H.E. Mr. Jean-Marc Hoscheit – among many high characteristics that you embody, I would like to emphasize your sense of humor. I do not know if it comes from experience, but I am sure it is a personal characteristics which we so much enjoyed in our circles.
Tunisia – H.E. Mr. Slim Ghariani, I would like to thank you on behalf of all colleagues for your professionalism, your bridge building and your leadership not only for the Francophonie, but for where-ever you were invested’.
The Dean added that although their diplomatic mandate was marked by lock-downs and pandemics, they managed to overcome shortcomings and are leaving a significant mark in the Netherlands, with their hard work and dedication.
H.E. Ms. Adia Sakiqi, Ambassador of Albania and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps of The Hague and H.E. Ms. Katerina Sequensová, Ambassador of Czech Republic.
She concluded:
‘It has been a joy to work alongside every single one of you with such astonishingly accomplished profiles, to exchange experiences, to cooperate and to learn from each other. These cheers go to you, to all the amazing things you have accomplished, and to all the many amazing things you will continue to accomplish.
On behalf of the Diplomatic Corps we thank you and celebrate you!’
The recent mutiny of the mercenary Wagner Group in Russia concluded abruptly in less than two days. Through the intervention of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, the military personnel of the Wagner Group ceased their advance towards Moscow and retreated to their bases. Media reported that Lukashenko successfully obtained assurances from the Russian government regarding the safety of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, and that Prigozhin and his private armed forces will be deployed to Belarus and stationed there.
Although the immediate crisis has been resolved, the repercussions of this event will have long-lasting consequences.
First of all, the prospect of reconciliation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prigozhin is highly improbable. During a crucial phase of the war in Ukraine, Prigozhin’s rebellion not only posed a threat to Russia but also caused humiliation to Putin. Such incidents are utterly unacceptable to the Russian president. Indeed, Putin has already vowed to bring Wagner rebellion leaders “to justice”.
The forthcoming period presents notable challenges to Putin’s authoritative control. Wagner Group openly challenged the Russian state and, by extension, Putin himself, compelling the president to acquiesce. This submissive reaction to adverse circumstances unveils the vulnerability of the Russian president’s wielded power in the presence of unforeseen contingencies.
The precise factors underpinning the Wagner incident remain elusive, and information disseminated through social media platforms is deemed untrustworthy, yet it appears that the principal catalyst resides in an internal confrontation between the Wagner Group and the Russian Ministry of Defense. In all likelihood, it was Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s endeavor to assimilate the Wagner troops that exerted considerable pressure on Prigozhin, prompting a precarious situation. The Russian Ministry of Defense, under Shoigu’s stewardship, acts as a representative body for Putin. Consequently, when Prigozhin confronts Shoigu and challenges the Ministry of Defense, he effectively challenges Putin’s authority directly.
The prospect of non-governmental cooperation between the United States and Prigozhin appears unlikely, although there remains a possibility of the United States extending some form of support. Considering the prevailing conditions, Ukraine still finds itself lacking the requisite capabilities to mount a robust counterattack. Recent intelligence suggests that the Russian military has effectively neutralized Ukraine’s counteroffensive efforts. It is worth noting that Ukraine’s offensive capacities remain relatively constrained.
The significance and potential implications of this event on China should not be underestimated. The Chinese public’s perception of the Ukraine conflict is notably influenced by the interplay between China and the U.S. Initially, there was a prevailing belief among the general Chinese public that Russia, as a nuclear-armed nation, would endure the collective pressure exerted by NATO countries despite its internal challenges. However, the sudden internal turmoil in Russia introduces an element of unpredictability, potentially upsetting the expected equilibrium.
Should Russia encounter setbacks or internal divisions during the conflict, it may trigger structural changes in the prevailing international geopolitical landscape characterized by the Ukraine conflict (Russia vs. NATO + the West) and the ongoing U.S.-China competition (China vs. the U.S. + some allies). Consequently, a reduction in pressure on the West from Russia could lead to an escalation of pressure on China from the U.S.
A better option for China is to refrain from entanglement with Russia. In light of the complexity of the situation, maintaining a rational perspective would be crucial for China.
About the author:
Kung Chan is one of China’s renowned experts in information analysis. Most of his academic research activities are in economic information analysis, particularly in the area of public policy. Kung Chan is the founder of ANBOUND Think Tank, an independent think tank based in Beijing, specializing in public policy research covering geopolitics and international relations, urban and social development, industrial issues, and macro-economy.
Tuesday, 27 June 2023, NRW, Germany: Federal President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the Ruhr region and the southern Münsterland with around 150 foreign ambassadors working in Germany and high-ranking representatives of international organisations.
The information and meeting tour with the diplomatic corps began in Mülheim an der Ruhr at the Siemens Energy company, whose centre of excellence for energy transition technologies stands for transformation in the Ruhr region. The Federal President and the diplomats subsequently visited the Zollverein – Tariff Union Coal Mine Industrial Complex, where Premier Hendrik Wüst invited the Federal President and his guests to a luncheon. In the afternoon, they continued to Dortmund to the German Football Museum. On the way there, the Federal President and the diplomatic corps learned about the conversion and renaturation of the Emscher river. The day ended with a reception for the Federal President at Nordkirchen Castle.
Ministerprsident Hendrik Wst besucht mit Bundesprsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier und Diplomaten am 27.06.2023 Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG in Muelheim an der Ruhr. Foto: Land NRW / Bernd Thissen
Since 1996, the federal presidents have organised an annual information and encounter trip with the heads of mission of the diplomatic corps and international organisations to one of the 16 federal states. The aim is to present Germany and the diversity of its regions to the foreign diplomats.
Last year, Bavaria was the destination of the trip.In total, the field trip included stopovers in Mülheim an der Ruhr (visit of Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG); Essen (Customs Union, allocution of the German Federal President in the framework of a luncheon hosted by the Premier of NRW); Castrop-Rauxel (visit of the Natural Reserve „Emscherland“); Dortmund (visit of the German Football Museum); and Nordkirchen Castle (evening reception).
The 2023 theme, “Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan.” – Freedom. Future. History
By Roy Lie Atjam
The Embassy of the Philippines in the Netherlands joined Filipinos around the world in celebrating the 125th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence and Nationhood with a Diplomatic reception at the Philippine Embassy in The Hague, on 15 June 2022.
In a celebratory message, H.E. Ambassador Eduardo Malaya, reflected on the past, presence and future developments of his beloved Philippines. “ He stated: maraming salamat, dank u wel, thank you for joining us this afternoon to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.
The 125-year milestone is being commemorated because by proclaiming independence from Spain, Emilio Aguinaldo and other revolutionaries triggered the creation of a national consciousness among the different peoples and ethnic groups across the Philippine archipelago, and for a shining yet brief three year period, gave birth to Asia’s first republic, securing the Philippines’ place in history as the earliest modern democracy and republic in that part of the world.
Among the contemporaries of Aguinaldo was Jose Rizal, a medical doctor, sculptor and writer. He lived for a time in Madrid and Paris, travelled across Europe and published two influential novels – the Noli Me Tangere in Berlin and the El Felibusterismo in Ghent, Belgium, which contributed to that national consciousness and together are taken as the country’s national epic.”
Though Rizal advocated for autonomy and peaceful reforms for the then colony, he was charged with rebellion and made to face a firing squad. The embassy will inaugurate the profile bust of Rizal on July 4 in honor of the Philippine national hero.
Ambassador Eduardo Malaya went on to say, “Filipinos look back to 1898 and not 1946 as the most glorious period of our history, and are grateful to Rizal, Aguinaldo, Andres Bonifacio and numerous others for their patriotism, courage and supreme sacrifice.
Pardon this brief excursion on the meaning of today’s event. It happens to be one of the subjects dealt with in my book on the Philippine presidents and their inaugural visions, whose second edition was published five years ago.
In addition there is a second part in celebrating this year’s Philippine National Day, the introduction of Philippine cuisine, for which we brought in two celebrity chefs from Manila, we also would like to thank many of you for the friendship, support, and partnership that you and your embassies, agencies and organizations have extended to me and my team these past two and a half years:
Firstly, dank u wel to the Government of the Netherlands for the friendship and the productive partnership, which have grown each year. Our two countries marked 70 years of fruitful diplomatic relations in 2022. The meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Mark Rutte in December boosted our cooperation, along with a number of high-level visits and exchanges, including the visit of the Philippine Trade and Industry Minister next month. Thanks in particular to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Asia and Oceania (DAO), represented here by Max Valstar, for their constant eagerness to work with us to strengthen relations.
Thanks as well to the multilateral organizations here in Hague, starting with the OPCW with which many of us in the diplomatic corps are deeply engaged in addressing threats from chemical weapons and towards strengthening capacities on the peaceful uses of chemistry. We thank especially the members of the Asia Group of the OPCW, many of whom are here today, who we serve as regional coordinator, for their cooperation in ensuring that the Asia group is able to reach consensus on matters before it.
We thank the Hague Conference on Private International Law, specially Secretary General Bernasconi, for the many productive collaborations, notably possible the conduct of the HCCH Asia-Pacific Week in Manila in October last year, which was attended by over 450 experts and legal practitioners, as well as guiding us in the Philippine accession to HCCH Conventions, including the Child Support Convention last year. Thanks also to the HCCH Member States for their support to the recent election of one of the embassy’s officer, Marisar Cabatingan, this program’s emcee, as chair of the Standing Committee of the HCCH Council of Diplomatic representatives.
Finally, our profound thanks to the Contracting Parties of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and Secretary General Czepelak for the trust and confidence in me to serve as the Acting President of the Administrative Council for term 2023-2024. I also wish to thank the Contracting Parties for their support to the initiative to preparate and conduct meaningful yet cost-effective activities in commemoration of the PCA’s 125th anniversary – that is something in common between the PCA and the Philippines. The Secretary General and I are proceeding to New York at the end of this month to serve as resource persons on the proposed adoption of a U.N. General Assembly Resolution on the PCA’s 125 year milestone. We hope that all these will further highlight the PCA’s contributions to world peace through the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
As the Filipino nation chart its future and shape its history, we at the Philippine Embassy are committed to contributing to this mission through meaningful engagements and proactive diplomacy, both bilaterally and multilaterally. We will work tirelessly with many, if not all, of you in pursuit of shared aspirations.”.
H.E. Mr. Jose Eduardo Malaya, Ambassador of the Philippines.
In concluding, Ambassador Malaya proposed a toast “– to our partnership and cooperation; to the continuous success of our host country, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and of the international organizations based here; to the good health of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and His Majesty King Willem Alexander; and to the prosperity and abiding strength of the Philippines and its people!
Mabuhay! Long life! Maraming salamat. Dank u wel. Thank you.”
The celebration of the 125th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence and Nationhood provided an interactive experience, allowing attendees to experience the rich heritage of the Philippines.
Le 26 juin 2023, à l’Hôtel Royal Leonardo (La Haye), l’Ambassade du Vietnam aux Pays-Bas a célébré solennellement le 50ème anniversaire de l’établissement des relations diplomatiques entre les Pays-Bas et le Vietnam.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà.
Le Vice-Premier Ministre vietnamien Tran Hong Ha et Son Altesse le Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Envoyé spécial des Pays-Bas pour le climat, les vices ministres vietnamiens de l’Office du Gouvernement, des Ministères des Affaires Étrangères, des Ressources naturelles et de l’Environnement, de la Planification et de l’Investissement, de l’Agriculture et Développement rural, du Transport, les représentants des ministères néerlandais des Affaires Étrangères, de la Défense, des Infrastructures et de la Gestion de l’eau, de l’Agriculture, de la Nature et de la Qualité des aliments, ainsi que les représentants des entreprises, des associations de la communauté vietnamienne aux Pays-Bas, de nombreux anciens Ambassadeurs, experts et des chers amis de longue date du Viet Nam y ont assisté.
De nombreux Ambassadeurs, chefs de missions diplomatiques à La Haye sont également venus pour partager le moment important des deux pays.
H.E. Phạm Việt Anh, Ambassador of Vietnam
Dans son discours d’inauguration, S.E. M. Pham Viet Anh, l’Ambassadeur du Vietnam aux Pays-Bas, a souligné que ce sont le partage de circonstances naturelles, les similitudes d’idée, de perception et la confiance mutuelle qui ont rapproché les deux pays et créé le fondement solide de la coopération et motivé les deux pays à resserrer et à élever leurs relations.
Et en plus, les deux pays ont une bonne vocation: cette coopération vise non seulement leurs propres intérêts mais encore les progrès de la communauté internationale.
His Royal Highness Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme.
S.E.M Tran Hong Ha, Vice-Premier Ministre vietnamien a bien souligné l’histoire de plus de 400 ans de relations entre les Pays-Bas et le Vietnam et de grandes réalisations de coopération de 50 ans. La 8e réunion du Comité intergouvernemental Pays-Bas-Vietnam à La Haye co-présidée par lui-même en est l’une des étapes importantes de la coopération en matière de partenariat stratégique sur l’adaptation au changement climatique et la gestion de l’eau.
Pour sa part, Son Altesse Royale le Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme a confirmé que la base durable de la relation entre les deux pays est l’amitié et la confiance mutuelle ainsi que la relation commerciale de longue date, lorsque les flottes marchandes néerlandaises ont accosté au port de Hoi An au Vietnam. Il a rappelé ses vives impressions de son voyage au Vietnam il y a quelques mois. Son Altesse Royale est heureuse de voir le Vietnam florissant d’une façon spectaculaire et avec un grand potentiel. Il était également fière que les Pays-Bas aient apporté un soutien efficace au développement du Vietnam et exprimait le grand souhait des Pays-Bas de renforcer davantage ce partenaire complet des deux pays, en particulier dans les domaines où les Pays-Bas ont des atouts.
Some of the ambassadors attending the 50 Anniversary of Vietnam / Dutch diplomatic relations.
La combinaison créative d’instruments de musique des ethnies vietnamiennes tels que t’rung, k’longput, nhi, ding pá… et du violon, les plats vietnamiens et néerlandais mis côte à côte contribuaient à compléter une atmosphère d’amitié et de compréhension mutuelle des invités.
S.E.M. Tran Hong Ha et Son Altesse Jaime de Bourbon de Parme ont inauguré la série d’expositions de photos et de films documentaires sur le thème «Exploration du Vietnam » d’ici la fin de l’année anniversaire 2023 aux Pays Bas.
