On 26 June 2023, at the Royal Leonardo Hotel in The Hague, the Embassy of Vietnam in the Netherlands solemnly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Vietnam.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà and His Royal Highness Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Netherlands Special Climate Envoy, Vietnamese deputy ministers from the Government Office, the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources and Environment, Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Transportation, representatives of the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Infrastructure and Water Management, Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, as well as representatives of businesses, associations of the Vietnamese community in the Netherlands, numerous former ambassadors, experts and long-time friends of Vietnam were present.
Many Ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions in The Hague also came to share the significant moment between the two countries.
H.E. Phạm Việt Anh, Ambassador of VietnamSome of the ambassadors attending the 50 Anniversary of Vietnam / Dutch diplomatic relations.
In his opening speech, His Excellency Mr. Phạm Việt Anh, Ambassador of Vietnam to The Netherlands, emphasized that it was the sharing of natural circumstances, similarities in thought, perception and mutual trust that brought the two countries closer and created a solid foundation for cooperation, encouraging the two countries to tighten and elevate their relations. Moreover, the two countries have a good vocation: this cooperation aims not only at their own interests but also at the progress of the international community.
His Excellency Mr. Trần Hồng Hà, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister, highlighted the history of over 400 years of relations between the Netherlands and Vietnam and the great achievements of 50 years of cooperation. The 8th meeting of the Netherlands-Vietnam Intergovernmental Committee in The Hague, co-chaired by him, was one of the important steps in the cooperation in strategic partnership on climate change adaptation and water management.
His Royal Highness Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme.
For his part, His Royal Highness Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme confirmed that the enduring basis of the relationship between the two countries is friendship and mutual trust as well as the long-standing trade relationship, dating back to when Dutch merchant fleets docked at the port of Hoi An in Vietnam. He recalled his vivid impressions from his trip to Vietnam a few months ago.
His Royal Highness is pleased to see Vietnam flourishing spectacularly and with great potential. He was also proud that The Netherlands have provided effective support for the development of Vietnam and expressed The Netherlands’ great desire to further strengthen this comprehensive partnership of the two countries, especially in areas where the Netherlands have strengths.
His Royal Highness Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme and His Excellency Mr. Trần Hồng Hà.
The creative combination of Vietnamese ethnic musical instruments such as t’rung, k’longput, nhi, ding pá…and the violin, Vietnamese and Dutch dishes placed side by side contributed to complete an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding of the guests.
Vietnamese delegation with his Excellency Mr. Trần Hồng Hà, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Ambassador Pham Viet Anh.
His Excellency Mr. Trần Hồng Hàand His Royal Highness Jaime de Bourbon de Parme inaugurated a series of photo and a documentary film exhibitions on the theme “Exploration of Vietnam” that is on display until the end of the anniversary year 2023 in The Netherlands.
HRWF (03.07.2023) – In Europe, freedom of religion or belief is generally treated as a poorer relation of the human rights family, even though its protagonists consider it to be the mother of all other freedoms: freedom of thought, conscience and religion; freedom of expression; freedom of association; freedom of assembly; freedom to share and spread one’s beliefs and to make new members. All these freedoms are not specific to the right to hold beliefs, whether they are theistic, non-theistic or philosophical. They are concomitant and intimately intertwined with other human rights.
At a conference organized at the end of June to mark the 10th anniversary of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief at the Baha’i Centre in Brussels, the recently appointed EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the European Union, Frans van Daele, stated that, on the one hand, the defense and promotion of religious freedom faces some major obstacles in Europe: indifference and ignorance.
On the other hand, EU institutions are fragmented, have their own agendas and must follow their own procedures, which makes it difficult to promote freedom of religion or belief in a consistent and coordinated way or to denounce violations of that freedom, let alone take steps to remedy them.
The UN also has its own institutions and mechanisms but collaboration between the EU and the UN is both possible and complementary, according to Nazila Ghanea, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief who took part in the same conference organized in Brussels by the European Platform against Religious Intolerance and Discrimination.
In some countries, there are tensions between well-established majority religions and newly established ones but sometimes also with historic religious minorities because the state is identifying itself with the contemporary dominant religion. In such conditions, the European Union’s public diplomacy has to promote tolerance, respect and non-discrimination through education, appropriate school and public education, according to EU Special Envoy on FoRB Frans van Daele. This EU vigilance strategy is already in place in countries such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, with varying degrees of progress. The EU strategy is to promote a more inclusive society and to purge negative stereotypes concerning religious and ethnic minorities from the schoolbooks.
Another aspect of public diplomacy involves prioritizing the countries to be targeted, according to certain criteria. Frans van Daele contends that confrontation should be avoided with the selected country, as it is unproductive and even counterproductive. Priority should be given to countries whose centers of power can be considered open to the EU’s message and which are ready to move in the right direction. Most countries that harshly repress the freedom of religious minorities and their members lack the political will to align themselves with international standards despite their formal commitments and are not prioritized in the EU’s strategy.
The EU’s public diplomacy is therefore highly complicated since it has to operate both within its own internal complex fragmented architecture and externally, through the political and social arcanes of the target countries where it has to identify potential leverages to be activated with some chance of success, or at least progress.
Human Rights Without Frontiers considers that, if the EU wants to do more and more efficiently, it needs to staff and to fund appropriately the EU Special Envoy on FoRB, the EEAS unit in charge of FoRB issues, the Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief at the European Parliament, just to name a few of its advocacy mechanisms, but political will has been missing after the end of the mandate of the first EU Special Envoy.
On the bright sunny day of 24 June 2023, the Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania in the Netherlands, H.E. Caroline K. Chipeta, hosted the first edition of Tanzania Cultural Day in The Hague.
The objective of the day is to present and create awareness of elements of the Tanzania culture as language, clothing and food to our Dutch friends and others. But it is more than that.
The Ambassador of Tanzania, H.E. Ms. Caroline Kitana Chipeta with guests.
Ambassador Chipeta declared: “I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Tanzanian Community in the Netherlands and those from the neighbouring countries to express my appreciation for taking your time on this beautiful day and joining us in celebrating our culture.”
Ambassador Chipeta cordially welcomed her fellows Ambassadors and diplomats from Algeria, Angola, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda and Sri Lanka, all delighted in the festivities.
“Balozi, Karibu sana. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to take a minute, to specifically welcome my dear colleague H.E. Ambassador Wiebe de Boer, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Republic of Tanzania, who just arrived this morning from Dar es Salaam he is here with us now.
When I told Ambassador Wiebe what I was planning to do and invited him, he was happy to be here and encouraged me on my plans. Ambassador, your presence here today means a lot in terms of the relationship between our countries. Nakushukuru Sana. Ambassador De Boer, welcome home.”
Ambassador Wiebe de Boer lauded his colleague Ambassador Caroline Chipeta for her achievements in the short space of time since her arrival in the Netherlands. De Boer also praised the long-standing excellent relationship between Tanzania and the Netherlands.
Ambassador Wiebe de Boer declared; Honorable Ambassador Caroline Chipeta, I am happy to join you all today in this first Tanzania Cultural Day in the Hague. It was a happy coincidence that I am here in the Netherlands to attend another conference and when I heard of the ambassadors initiative I immediately volunteered to be with you this afternoon.
H.E. Mr. Wiebe de Boer, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Republic of Tanzania
I am ambassador in Tanzania since August 2021. The Embassy is concentrating on working together on Agriculture, Logistics and Sustainable Tourism. But not in the traditional way with big Government to Government projects. The Embassy is now a platform to bring together government agencies, universities and companies from both countries together to facilitate knowledge transfers, exports and investments.
Next to hard work I enjoy Tanzania’s beautiful nature, beaches, food, its language, and its diverse culture. I love sailing and kayakking over the weekends in the Bay of Dar es Salaam and the islands.
I am happy to see you enjoying this cultural day by embracing local dances, variety of foods like ‘ugali’ and unique traditional clothes made out of Khanga and kitenge here in the Hague.
Mabibi na mabwana,
When I look at Tanzania, it has a lot to offer
The Swahili languange is quite unique. I congratulate the Tanzanian Embassy in The Hague for recently being recognized as the Center of Kiswahili and Culture by the Council of Kiswahili.
We are following with a lot of interest the democratization process headed by president Samia, as diaspora you will surely follow the ongoing political, legal and constitutional reforms happening back home.
We see a great future for Tanzania with the present economic policy. Tanzania will become the food basket for East Africa and important vegetable and fruit provider for the Middle East, Asia and Europe. In 8 years time you will have a bigger economy than Kenya ………and with the right choices on the port of Dar es Salaam the DAR corridor for Tanzania and the neighboring countries will grow tremendously.
In 2022, the Tanzanian diaspora sent over $1.5 billion in remittances to Tanzania. I see Tanzania Investment Center (TIC) and CRDB are here. We have worked with TIC over the last 18 months and I want to underline our very positive experiences with TIC.
H.E. Ms Aruni Ranaraja, Ambassador of Sri Lanka and the Ambassador of Tanzania, H.E. Ms. Caroline Kitana Chipeta.
Mabibi na mabwana,
The Netherlands is the leading EU country for FDI inflows to Tanzania with $753 million.
Mabibi na mabwana,
I would like to end by congratulating the organizers of this Cultural day, especially my friend Your Excellency Chipeta.
Today, you all get a taste of Tanzania but in The Hague. You may be far away from home but feel at home. ENJOY. ASANTE SANA“
Ambassador Chipeta went to say: “On behalf of the Diaspora, I would like to recognize the presence of special guests and express our appreciation for taking your time and join us in celebrating our culture. On a special note, we have representatives from the Tanzania Investment Center, who will have an opportunity to inform us of the investment opportunities in Tanzania. I’d like to call all those interested in investing in Tanzania to make time and meet the TIC representatives. CRDB is the Bank that listens.
I would also like to acknowledge the presence of the representatives of different Dutch Companies who are with us here today, we highly value the importance you have attached to this event by sparing some time to join us.Thank you so much!”
Kwa nini siku yua utamaduni wa mtanzania? – why Tanzania (cultural) day?
“The celebration of Tanzania Cultural Day is in conformity with the strategy of the Sixth Phase Government led by H.E. Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan,President of the United Republic of Tanzania, to ensure that every Tanzanian, wherever he or she is, respects, promotes and develops Tanzania traditional values and culture.
Tanzania Cultural Day food corner.
First and foremost, we are going to taste Tanzanian cuisine. Though we do eat more or less the same type of food, in actual sense, as we say in Tanzania, “mapishi hutofautina” which literally means, the same food, with a twist of a recipe, brings out a completely different taste. We welcome you to get a taste of ours and who knows, you might leave with some recipes to try at home.
We will have Ugali, our main staple food, Pilau, wali mweupe, Green banana, kisamvu, vitumbua, mandazi, chapati, sambusa, name it.
All in all, the Tanzanian food corner cannot be complete if we do not have the famous nyama choma, which goes well with a glass of wine, beer or Konyagi.
I urge you not to leave before you have a taste of nyama choma, kuku choma, or even Samaki choma for that matter.
We can enjoy Tanzania Coffee and chai. Tanzanian wine and beer will be there to taste and Konyagi will be of plenty.
Today, 26 June, we are celebrating Tanzanian culture, which is diverse in nature as it is a combination of about 120 ethnic groups, with different languages and dialects but brought together by a common language, Kiswahili.
Language is part of any culture. Tanzania is so rich in languages. However, despite having more than 112 indigenous African languages in Tanzania, the majority of them (101 languages) belonging to the Bantu language group and 4 Nilotic languages included Maasai and Tatoga, 5 Cushitic languages such as Iraqw, and 2 Khoisan languages, Hatsa and Sandawe/Hadzabe, Kiswahili is the language of Tanzania. It is our national language, and one of our Official languages.
Tanzania Cultural Day 2023 – Joining the dancers.
Kiswahili is spoken all over Tanzania it is our language of Unity. We will have the opportunity to hear the importance of Kiswahili in promoting culture and economic diplomacy.
Kiswahili is one of the main attributes in celebrating our culture, I will now switch and address the diaspora in Kiswahili, as it is only fair that we give you the flavour of the language so that you can tell how easy it is to learn and speak Kiswahili.”
AmbassadorChipeta further stated, “I believe it will not be difficult to understand what I am saying, especially as the diaspora speaks Dutch and a good number of our Dutch friends speak Kiswahili.”
Tanzania Cultural Day – Artist interact with the public.
The cultural item of clothing –Khanga was introduced.
“We will have the opportunity to see what is worn by some of the ethnic groups in and what is worn by ordinary men and women. I am sure you have witnessed several different clothing as Tanzanians go up and about around here.
However, in terms of what we wear, our focus today will be on khanga. The most important piece of cloth for a Tanzanian household, specifically a Tanzanian woman.
You will see different uses of khanga, and realize the value put on this simple cloth. As a Tanzanian woman myself, I never get enough of khangas.
In fact, Khanga is a piece of cloth introduced to the East African coast in the 19th century, and in Tanzania replaced most of the traditional costumes worn before then.
Khanga, the talking cloth of Tanzania-east Africa is a cultural jewel.
Khangas are colourful, and beautiful and have messages printed on them.
It could be romantic messages men can buy for their wives, faith messages and words of encouragement that are given and used in times of sorrow.
At political rallies, Khangas can be used to motivate voters. They can even be used by rival football clubs to send messages when mocking each other.
As said by some, khangas are never enough for a Tanzanian woman. There are women with more khangas than dresses.”
Ambassador Caroline Chipeta concluded her clothing presentation by observing that a Khanga compliments a woman. “As a Tanzanian woman I never get enough of khangas. No Tanzania woman can have enough khangas, manufactures always come with beautiful patterns that will lutre you back to the shop. That was Khanga, one of the most important cloth for Tanzania. I hope you enjoyed watching how different we use Khangas and hence its importance to Tanzania.
Dear friends and visitors, you can buy yourself a pair of khanga and experience how best you can use it. Khanga, the cultural jewel of Tanzania!
Music – entertainment.
We have with us today the Wanne Star Arts group, all the way from Tanzania to lead us in cultural dancing, the diaspora cultural group will be showing how different ethnic groups in Tanzania dance to different beats. We will be entertained and dance together to the Bongo flavas by Tanzanian DJs amongst the Diaspora.
Karibuni sana, feel and enjoy the Tanzanian ambiance! Nawashukuru sana.”
The attendees left the marvellous Tanzania Cultural Day 2023 in high spirits.
June is herring month in The Netherlands. The Dutch Fish Authority decides every year when the herring is just right for the catch. It has to be fatty enough, but not yet ready to spawn. The day the first herring catch comes in is a typical Scheveningen festival, “Vlaggetjesdag”, during which all the fishing boats are decorated with flags and a symbolic first barrel of herring is auctioned off for charity. Then come the herring parties.
Many people and organizations use the occasion to get their friends and relations together for herring and -often- ice-cold old Dutch gin (jenever).
It attracts diplomats, corporate clients, Leonardo partners, and the press. Having started simply with herring, some condiments, and jenever , it has developed into a culinary feast of finger foods.
Leonardo Royal Herring Party 2023.
This year was decidedly different in two ways. The manager of the hotel, Mr. Patrick Aarsman, used the occasion to introduce partners (suppliers), who follow the same sustainable development goals (SDGs) as the Leonardo group .
There were delicious vegan bitterballen made from oyster mushrooms that were grown on used coffee grinds by a company called “Ge-zwam”.
Linda Divon, H.E. Mr. Mark Anthony Pace, Ambassador of Malta and former Israeli Ambassador, Haim Divon.
A large charitable organization called Ipse de Bruggen, which also operates the lunchroom in the Resident, the building of the ministries of VWS and SZW, served a very special herring tartare dish. This foundation, among many other things, employs people with a challenge, physical or mental, and endeavors to help them live a productive and social life.
Oscar Izquierdo, Minister Counsellor of Ecuador and H.E. Ms. Beti Jacheva, Ambassador of North Macedonia.
The second difference this year was the start of the new group’s meeting concept “Now we’re talking”. Chantalle Kaljee, Leonardo’s effervescent events manager, explained that long meetings with only a short pause for a coffee and a sneak outside for a puff, can be numbingly boring. If you cheer them up and make them more playful, people stay more alert, more inspired, and groups more productive.
That is why they have introduced games such as Super Yenga and big red balls to sit on to lighten the atmosphere. The staff is encouraged to interact with the guests during breaks, all with the intention to make boring business baa-blahs into creative and inspirational events.
Skin Care Promenade’s team.
In this spirit, the afternoon was livened up by the music of a wonderful saxophonist, Mr. Rafael Pereira Lima, whose superb playing warranted more attention than a busy garden party affords.
There are not many two-faced buildings in the World. One of the best-known is the former Moskva hotel that was built in Moscow in the 1930s. As you can see in the photograph, the layout of the two wings of the building are completely different. The building, on the site of an existing hotel had already started when a sea-change occurred in Soviet architecture.
Stalin had never liked the modernism of the early Bolshevik artists and architects and, in the early 30s swung towards a more classic style. In 1931, the architect Alexey Shchusev was commissioned to redesign the whole building. Legend has it that he presented Stalin with two alternatives for the exterior. When Stalin signed-off his approval, the signature was in the middle of the document, so that it was unclear which he preferred. The solution – build both!
The Moskva Hotel, photographed in 2010
The truth, however, is rather more prosaic. Weaknesses in the structure of the former building incorporated into the new structure required a more substantial structure. Shchusev was temporarily disgraced in the purges of 1937 but survived to die a natural death in 1949. The Moskva Hotel was demolished in the Four Seasons Hotel Moscow was erected on the site – maintaining the asymmetry of the original.
This excursion into quirky hotel architecture is not prompted by nostalgia for my visits to frequent Moscow in 1990s and early 2000s, although you could hardly miss seeing it on visits to Red Square.
Rather, it was prompted by the research I was undertaking for the Venice site in the Silk Road Virtual Museum. If you look closely at the façade of the Doge’s Palace overlooking the lagoon in Venice, you will see that it too is asymmetrical – the two upper floor windows on the right are placed lower and are more ornate, and above them, square windows have been added, in addition to the round ones on the rest of the frontage.
Doge’s Palace, Venise.
In this case the answer was easy. The architect Filippo Calendario was hanged on 16 April 1355 from the balcony of his uncompleted building.. It was not because he was a bad architect, nor because he was fraudulent. It was because….
It is easiest to explain, if we start at the beginning. Venice was a republic, in contrast with the nobility that rules all the other city states in Italy at the time. However, it was a republic but only in the sense that a small elite of noble families were allowed to participate in the elections of their leader, the Doge. There was always a friction between the powers of the Doge and those of the Great Council that had elected him. In the background there was also the Council of Ten, charged with investigating and preventing plots against the state.
In 1297 the decision was taken to significantly increase in the number of people who had the right to participate in meetings of the legislative assembly meetings. This meant that the existing buildings were too small and it was decided to redesign the entire site, starting with the frontage facing the lagoon. Filippo Calendario was the architect in charge. Building on the new site started in 1340. We know little about Filippo, him than the fact in that year that he owned two boats for transporting stone to the site, and that a year later he had acquired three more. I know that this fact carries with it a whiff of corruption, but that was not the reason for his demise.
In 1348 work on the palace were suspended for several years when Venice was struck by the plague that went on to wipe out one third of Europe’s population. Such events often lead to unease and unrest among the population, but disquiet with the ruling elite increased in November 1354 when the city suffered a naval defeat at the hands of its arch rival, Genoa. Two months earlier, the Grand Council had elected a new Doge, the eighty-year-old Marino Faliero. Interspersed with other high-points of his career, he had served frequent stints in the Council of Ten. Judging the mood of the city ripe for rebellion, he conceived a conspiracy of his own. On 15 April, he would announce an impending Genovese naval attack on the city. Amid the ensuing panic, the conspirators, including his architect Filippo, would murder the leading patricians in the city. Marino Faliero would then declare himself sole leader, and saviour, of the city.
News of the plot conspiracy had leaked. The Council of Ten acted fast and rounded up the conspirators. Justice was swift. Ten conspirators were sentenced to death and hanged the following day. Marino Faliero was beheaded on the steps oof the palaceon 17 April 1355. There is a saying that ‘revenge is a dish best served cold’. Marino Faliero was buried in an unmarked grave, with his head placed between his legs. His portrait in the Grand Council Hall was painted over in black and adorned with a banner reading Hic est locus Marini Faletro decapitati pro criminibus (This is the space reserved for Marino Faliero, beheaded for his crimes). Filippo Calendario’s building was completed by a architect with different ideas on exterior design.
To see the artistic treasures of Venice from these times, please visit the Silk Road Virtual Museum at https://silkroadvirtualmuseum.com. If you know of any other two-faced buildings please get in touch with the editors of the Diplomat Magazine.
With her aristocratic and distinguished looks, Elizabetta Siggia sends a strong message to anyone who has the pleasure to meet her. But if you get to know her better, you discover, above appearances, a fascinating woman, with an educated vibe and a tireless mind.
Born in Rome, from a renowned painter mother and an engineer father, she cultivated her love for art and artistic talent from an early age. ‘I was fortunate to grow up in a family where art was at the center of our interests’, she says to me. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and later specialized in fresco and oil painting restoration. She started her career as a high-school teacher, but found her passion working for over 28 years at the Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome, as an Art Historian.
Mistery books, Elisabetta Siggia
‘Working in a museum has been a great cultural experience for me, enriching my life with new daily discoveries. Moreover, I had the privilege of working in one of Rome’s most beautiful places, the summer residence of Pope Julius III, adorned with valuable frescoes and stucco, housing the most important collection of Etruscan art. Alongside my museum work, I opened, together with a colleague, an oil painting restoration studio’.
But life had much more to offer and took her around the world, enhancing even more her artistic universe.
‘I met my husband at a dinner with friends, and only one year later we got married, just as he was leaving for Dhaka, Bangladesh as Ambassador of Italy’.
China, Germany and Belgium have been ‘HOME’ for her during her husband’s long diplomatic career. She remembers dearly about Shanghai, ‘the most active and interesting period’, but eventually they decided to stay in Brussels, where their son lives and where they have an active and fulfilling family and social life.
’Undoubtedly, the wife of a diplomat has the opportunity to live in different countries and immerse herself in different cultures. This has allowed me to broaden my knowledge of traditions, learn new languages, experience fascinating places and create unforgettable memories while enriching my cultural perspectives,. However, diplomatic life can be demanding and requires flexibility, but such challenges helped me develop a greater adaptability and maturity’.
History books, Elisabetta Siggia
She recalls that leaving a familiar place behind, after a few years, was often challenging.
‘It’s natural to develop an affection for the environment around you, the streets, the parks, the places you have frequented, to build memories and a sense of belonging. Leaving all of that can be emotionally distressing. Furthermore, the friendships you have formed during your stay in a foreign country can be deep and meaningful. You have shared moments of joy, challenges, cultural experiences, and created a social support network.
Losing these relationships can leave a void in your heart’.
That is diplomatic life for all of us, diplomatic spouses, but it teaches about improving our social skills and emotional intelligence with each new diplomatic posting.
Elisabetta talked to me also about the role that we have in our husbands’ careers and in the diplomatic world, in general.
‘A common misconception about diplomatic spouses is that they are merely decorative figures. This idea often stems from gender stereotypes. However, a diplomat’s wife can have a very important and influential role in supporting her husband’s work and promoting the interests of their country. She can fulfill a variety of functions, from organizing social events to establish diplomatic relations, supporting cultural and humanitarian activities, and representing the country on various official occasions. I really think it is essential to promote greater awareness and understanding of the diplomatic spouses’ role.
They deserve respect and recognition for their work. Through education and promotion of gender equality, a new modern society can be created, where the role of diplomats’ partners is fully recognized and appreciated’.
Meanwhile Elisabetta reminded about one of the main goals of diplomatic work, to maintain an atmosphere of mutual respect and courtesy among countries in order to foster open and constructive communication and peacefully resolve any differences. She also noted that certain actions or words can create tensions or conflicts between countries and undermine the progress of international relations. She certainly understands what diplomacy is all about and clearly contributed in an active way, over the years, in building diplomatic bridges.
Children books by Elisabetta Siggia
While living her diplomatic life in different parts of the world, she never silenced her artistic talent and always found new ways to express her creativity.
‘During the diplomatic years abroad, I wrote and self-illustrated several fairy tale books for children. In Shanghai, I had the great satisfaction of seeing three of my books published, even translated into Chinese and English, and which the local authorities then distributed to elementary schools in the city. I felt particularly proud and it was an incredibly gratifying experience to see my work come to life. The Vice Mayor of the city organized presentations, with music and speeches, to celebrate each book launch. It was something that filled my heart with joy and gratitude. Upon returning to Rome, I continued publishing other books related to the world of children’.
A lover of cuisine, she has also published books of recipes and the history of cooking. In recent years, she started writing a series of detective novels, centered on the art world. I discovered many of these books and also some of her trompe- style paintings, as I joined her art studio in Brussels, where she teaches decorative painting, initiating others in the world of art and beauty, that she so much adores.
Her artistic activity mainly revolves around trompe-l’oeil painting which she has exhibited in various galleries and cultural institutions. She also tells me that she is now documenting for a new mystery novel.
How exciting, how fascinating this woman truly is!
The Divan – The Arabic Cultural House, in collaboration with the Embassy of Lebanon in Germany, opened the exhibition “Circle of Life” featuring renowned artists, the Lebanese-Italian Giorgia Fonnesu and Lebanese Emmanuel Guiragossian. The exhibition will be on view at the Arabic Culture House from 1 July to 30 July 2023. The vernissage thereto took place on Friday, 30 June. Both the Ambassador of Lebanon in Germany, Dr. Mustapha Adib, Doyen of the Arab Diplomatic Corps and the Secretary-General of The Divan, Asma Al Bakr welcomed the invited guests.
Emmanuel Guiragossian is one of Lebanon’s most significant contemporary artists and one of the most sought-after artists in the international art scene. He was born in Lebanon in 1954 as the eldest son of the legendary painter Paul Guiragossian (1926-1993). His paternal grandparents were survivors of the Armenian genocide during the First World War. Their experiences, along with his grandmother’s accounts of the horrifying events of their survival and their experiences during two world wars and civil wars, had a profound impact on the young Emmanuel. His painting talent emerged early. After receiving a scholarship to study at the Dresden Art Academy (1974 – 1979), his international career began. He has been a professor since 1984 at the Académie libanese des beaux- arts (ALBA) and the American University (AUB) in Beirut, despite the difficult situation due to the Lebanese Civil War (1975- 1990) that occurred during these years.
Emmanuel Guiragossian is a master in the depiction of the human figure and animals. In many of his paintings, humans are central, not as individuals but in groups. It is characteristic that many people stand together, closely together, leaning on each other, intertwined. These are abstract compositions of woven human figures that symbolize the collective nature of humanity. In the 1980s, the horse became a subject in his work. In many pieces, the horse is central, such as in the “Circle of Life” painting that can be seen in the Divan.
Exhibitions have taken place in countries such as Lebanon, Germany, Canada, the USA, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. Beyond focusing on his own artistic career, he closely worked with his father, Paul Guiragossian. In 1991, the EMMAGOSS Art Gallery was founded in Lebanon in partnership with his father and with the support of his family. In 2007, the gallery expanded with the opening of a second location in Dresden.
Emmanuel lives between Beirut, Dresden, and Berlin. In Berlin, he maintains a studio where he regularly stays for extended periods.
The second exhibition at the Divan – The Arabic Cultural House features the Italian – Lebanese artist Giorgia Fonnesu, who creates objects and sculptures out of clay. Giorgia, born in 1974, grew up on the shores of the Mediterranean between Lebanon and Sardinia.
“The sea has always surrounded my life, furthermore, the Mediterranean influenced my way of thinking, especially when I noticed the great connection between my homeland Sardinia and Lebanon,” says Giorgia. From an early age, she was fascinated by sea urchins, not just because of their appearance, but also because of the significance they hold. “Sea urchins,” she says, “are seen as guardians of the marine ecosystem. That interested me.” Her installation shown at the Divan refers to the importance of sea urchins and their role in climate change.
For the conception of the exhibition, the Arabic Cultural House has enlisted the internationally renowned art historian and curator Karin Adrian von Roques. During her studies of Islamic Art History, she specialized in contemporary art from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in the 1990s. For more than 20 years, she has curated exhibitions worldwide in museums and cultural institutions. She has particularly witnessed the changes in the Gulf states, such as Qatar, and how they have affected the art scene.
For The Divan – The Arabic Cultural House, it is part of the program to address current and controversial topics, such as the thematic complex of women planned for the beginning of 2023, and for the future, the topics of nature, environmental problems, and sustainability. For this purpose, various events are designed and displayed, ranging from panel discussions to lectures or readings and art exhibitions.
The Arabic Cultural House is convinced that art can particularly change the way we think. The vision of the Arab Culture House is not only to bridge the gap between German and Arab culture but also to build a bridge between nations and cultures internationally, as in this exhibition between Qatar, Germany, Lebanon, and Italy.
On 21 April 2021, the European Commission unveiled its proposal for a Regulation on Artificial Intelligence, henceforth referred to as the “AI Act”. This seminal legal proposition seeks to establish a harmonized set of rules governing the creation, marketing, and application of AI within the European Union.
The specific stipulations, chiefly pertaining to data integrity, transparency, human supervision and accountability, are contingent upon the risk stratification of the AI under consideration. This risk spectrum spans from high to low, with an outright proscription of certain AI applications. In an analogous fashion to the GDPR, the AI Act is anticipated to be a cornerstone legislation for the European Union, including an extraterritorial ambit and substantial penalties—including potential fines of up to €30 million or 6% of global annual turnover of a company found in breach thereof.
The most recent development transpired on Wednesday, 14 June 2023 with a plenary vote at the European Parliament. The voted proposal included a litany of proposed amendments that had already been included by the relevant committees back on 11 May 2023. The most prominent key revisions were:
Universally applicable AI principles: Newly instated provisions contain “general” AI principles applicable to all AI systems, regardless of whether they are “high-risk”. This substantially broadens the AI Act’s jurisdiction. Simultaneously, MEPs extended the classification of high-risk applications to include those that pose threats to human health, safety, fundamental rights or the environment. Of particular note is the inclusion of AI in recommendation systems employed by social media platforms (with a user base exceeding 45 million under the EU’s Digital Services Act) to the high-risk category.
Prohibited AI practices: MEPs significantly revised the “unacceptable risk/prohibited list” to include invasive and discriminatory uses of AI systems. These prohibitions now apply to several uses of biometric data, including the indiscriminate harvesting of biometric data from social media for the creation of facial recognition databases.
Foundation models: Although previous iterations of the AI Act primarily focused on ‘high-risk’ AI systems, MEPs introduced a new framework for all foundation models. This framework, which mandates providers of foundation models to ensure robust protection of fundamental rights, health and safety, the environment, democracy, and the rule of law, would particularly impact providers and users of generative AI. These providers would also need to evaluate and mitigate risks, comply with design, information, and environmental requirements, and register in the applicable EU database.
User obligations: ‘Users’ of AI systems are now referred to as ‘deployers’, a welcome clarification given that the previous term did not adequately distinguish between the deployer and the ‘end user’. This change infers ‘deployers’ must now adhere to an expanded range of obligations, such as the duty to conduct an extensive AI impact assessment. Concurrently, end user rights are enhanced, with end users now accorded the right to receive explanations about decisions made by high-risk AI systems.
The AI Act proposal has now moved forth to the final stage of the legislative process, commencing tripartite negotiations with the European Council and the European Commission on the AI Act’s definitive form; in EU jargon it is the so-called ‘trilogue’ phase.
If timelines are adhered to -very unlikely-, the AI Act may become a pioneer legislation in this field, leaving behind other major global players; just as with the GDPR it may become a paradigm for those late-coming regulators.
What about the United Kingdom?
Europe does not equal the EU, and so the AI Act will not cover non-EU member, the United Kingdom, albeit it will likely be incorporated into the legal framework of Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein that are non-EU members but European Economic Area member states.
In September 2021, the UK government announced a 10-year plan, described as the ‘National AI Strategy’. The National AI Strategy aims at investing and planning for the long-term needs of the AI ecosystem, support the transition to an AI-enabled economy and ensure that the UK gets the national and international governance of AI technologies ‘right’.
More recently, on 29 March 2023, the UK Government published its long-anticipated Artificial Intelligence white paper. Branding its proposed approach to AI regulation as ‘world leading’ in a bid to ‘turbocharge growth’, the whitepaper provides a cross-sectoral, principles-based framework to increase public trust in AI and develop capabilities in AI technology. The five principles intended to underpin the UK’s regulatory framework are:
Safety, security and robustness;
Appropriate transparency and explainability;
Fairness;
Accountability and governance; and
Contestability and redress.
The UK Government has said it would avoid ‘heavy-handed legislation’ that could stifle innovation which means in the first instance at least, these principles will not be enforced using legislation. Instead, responsibility will be given to existing regulators to decide on ‘tailored, context-specific approaches’ that best suit their sectors. Already London has become the first non-US home for an OpenAI office, albeit the UK market limps behind the EU in terms of potential regulation. On the other hand, the English language and the welcoming approach by the British government to AI technologies is noteworthy. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has himself described the UK as ‘global home of artificial intelligence regulation’, although concrete legislation has yet to materialize.
May Switzerland serve as a further hub?
The Swiss government’s commitment to fostering an innovation-friendly environment sets it apart on the international stage. This commitment was clearly evidenced by the establishment of the ‘Crypto Valley’ in the Canton of Zug, a highly successful initiative that has attracted a multitude of blockchain and cryptocurrency firms. This willingness to embrace new technologies, combined with Switzerland’s robust yet ‘flexible’ regulatory environment, provides an ideal setting for AI companies to thrive. Just as Zug became the hotspot for blockchain, it could similarly serve as the focal point for the country’s burgeoning AI sector?
Switzerland lies outside the European Economic Area (EEA), companies operating there however have managed to conduct business within the EEA through bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU. While not an EU member state, Switzerland has over 120 bilateral agreements with the EU, which allows her to partake in the EU’s single market. This means that businesses in the Swiss Confederation can trade with EEA countries virtually as if they were part of the EEA themselves. It remains to be seen whether the latter model can be replicated for AI companies wishing to settle their headquarters in Switzerland.
Thus far companies based in Switzerland often establish subsidiaries, or branches within the EEA, providing a direct presence in the area. Ergo, they ensure compliance with EU laws and regulations wherein they operate.
About the author:
Henri Estramant
Henri Estramant, LLM is a former consultant at the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology of the European Parliament. He is an expert in AI & Crypto regulation – certified in Conversational and Deploying AI.
Currently he is enrolled in the ‘Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business’ Executive education program from MIT Sloan School of Management and the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL).
A tribute to Elena Cornaro Piscopia and Aletta Jacobs
Text and pictures by John Dunkelgrün
On June 27th H.E. Mr. Giorgio Novello hosted a remarkable symposium at the residence of the Italian Embassy. Six eminent speakers described the struggle of women for the right to have an academic education.
Elena Piscopia (1646-1684) was the first woman in Italy and probably in the world to graduate from a university, the University of Padua. She was a true polymath, fluent in seven languages, and an accomplished poet and mathematician. She was also a gifted musician, who mastered half a dozen instruments.
She had wanted to get a doctorate in theology, but for Cardinal Gregorio Barbarigo, the bishop of Padua, that was a bridge too far and she had to switch to philosophy. She received her doctorate in 1678.
Piscopia never married, devoting her life to academic pursuits and charity. Her father was instrumental in having the statutes of the University of Padua amended to allow female students. However, it took over half a century before the next woman obtained her doctorate there.
Ms. Miriam Frosi, Innovation manager at Rijkswaterstaat and member of the city council of Eindhoven.
Aletta Henriëtte Jacobs (1854-1929) was the daughter of a Jewish country doctor in a small town in the North of The Netherlands. From an early age on, she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps, but universities would not allow women students.
Only through the intervention of Thorbecke, a powerful minister and well-known liberal, was she allowed to enter the University of Groningen in 1871. She graduated in 1879, the first female university graduate in The Netherlands. Before setting up practice in Amsterdam, she traveled to London, where she met and was inspired by freethinkers, suffragists, and radicals.
Mr. Fausto Pocar, judge ad hoc at the International Court of Justice.
When she set up her practice, she devoted several mornings a week to the free treatment of poor women. She campaigned for birth control and better working conditions for women.
As time went by, she became more interested in the politics of fighting for women’s rights, education, and health. She traveled all over the world, became a member of many women’s rights associations, and was a vigorous anti-war demonstrator. In 1914, during the first months of WW1, she managed to organize an international women’s conference at the Hague, which included participants from the warring countries.
Mr. Harald Hendrix, professor of Italian studies at the University of Utrecht.
In 1919 women in The Netherlands finally won full voting rights.
Aletta Jacobs was not the first woman to receive a university education. An almost contemporary to Elena Piscopia was Anna Maria van Schurman (1607-1678). She was allowed to attend lectures albeit from behind a curtain in order not to distract thimble students. She was not allowed to graduate. Like Piscopia, she was an amazing linguist who published her correspondence with many of the major thinkers of her time. (With thanks to Harriet Feinberg).
Ms Hélène Pichon, director of the Alliance française de La Haye
The speakers all described different aspects of the arduous heights women had to climb to reach acceptance as intellectual equals and how much there is yet to do. It was an inspiring and important symposium worthy of a much larger audience.
Ambassador Novello, Miriam Frosi and Fausto Pocar.
Speakers:
H.E. Ms. Carolina Olarte Bécares, ambassador of Colombia;
Prof. Emile Schrijver, General Director of the Jewish Cultural Quarter and the Jewish Museum in Amsterdam;
Mr. Harald Hendrix, professor of Italian studies at the University of Utrecht;
Ms Hélène Pichon, director of the Alliance française de La Haye;
Ms. Miriam Frosi, Innovation manager at Rijkswaterstaat and member of the city council of Eindhoven;
Mr. Fausto Pocar, judge ad hoc at the International Court of Justice.
As the summer just began, the Diplomat Magazine organized on June 23rd an event to celebrate and showcase the products and culture of Latin American countries. The event was organized in partnership with La Casa del Habano at the Leonardo Royal hotel in the Hague, and featured the embassies of Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Guatemala, each displaying on their stands the various crafts from their countries.
Each embassy was represented by their dignitaries: Ambassador of Colombia H.E. Ms. Carolina Olarte Bácares, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic H.E. Mr. Juan Bautista Durán, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Venezuela Mr. Wilhen Neomar Diaz Lara and Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Guatemala Mr. Lesther Antonio Ortega Lemus.
The Ambassador of Colombia H.E. Ms. Carolina Olarte Bácares
The Colombian embassy showcased the product the country is most famous for: coffee. The high quality grounds are sourced from the so-called Triangle of Coffee.
This coffee is grown by cooperatives that promote ancestral artisanal practices, sustainable agriculture and puts forward the important role of women in this industry. As the Colombian Ambassador emphasized in her speech, promoting Colombian coffee across the world contributes to the peacebuilding effort in Colombia by reintegrating rural communities into a virtuous local economy.
The Dominican Republic’s stand featured the country’s finest rhum and cigars. Dominican cigars are some of the most renowned in the world. Ambassador Durán explained how cigars are an integral part of the Dominican culture, as they originate in ancient indigenous crafts and have been prized by the world for centuries.
As Rhum and cigars form strong social binder in Dominican culture, he expressed that how event is an important symbol for Latin American unity.
The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic H.E. Mr. Juan Bautista Durán
On the other side of the Caribbean Sea, the Venezuelan Embassy chose to display different aspects of their culture. Among various brochures about the rich touristic sites and natural treasures around the country, a painting of Maryolga Nieto, Venezuelan artist could be seen at the back of the stand.
The products presented were Venezuelan rhum and chocolate, produced in the unique climates of Venezuela. The Chargé d’Affaires of the embassy announced in his speech the opening of a university degree of chocolate science to expand the knowledge on this resource.
The Embassy of Venezuela’s team at Cigars & Boleros 2023
Finally, the Embassy of Guatemala presented its own rhum products. With an informative exhibit of the rhum making process, the guests could understand better what constitutes the final product. In combination with the renowned Guatemalan coffee, the stand served a newly concocted cocktail of rhum and espresso.
After completing the tour of the various South American products, and listening to the opening speeches of each country’s representative, the guests could enjoy the musical performance of the talented Mildred Latin Show and Jorge Martinez Galan duo. The event was finally concluded with a dancing party, where all the presented delicacies could be enjoyed in a festive spirit.
Mildred Latin ShowCigars & Boleros 2023Cigars & Boleros 2023
