By Songül Arslan. Lebanon, a small, cosmopolitan country on the Mediterranean that shares borders with Syria and Israel, has been suffering from political deadlock countless times in its political history. Apart from the current decisive external sources of instability—the conflicts raging around both the Syrian and Israeli borders—Lebanon also has internal political problems worth considering, which are independent of external crises. For example, in 2013 the causes of Lebanon’s internal political instability, which saw the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s 30-member cabinet in March, even predates the Lebanese civil war (1975 to 1990) and the rise of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). To understand the Lebanese political system, one has to look back further in history,  before the creation of the Lebanese Republic. The history of Lebanon makes it a very interesting country. Various civilizations have left their mark on the region throughout the centuries: the Phoenicians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Roman Catholic nations from which the Crusaders came, but also the Ottomans and the French. These have given the region a rich cultural and religious diversity. The voicing and practicing of these religions remains an important part of Lebanon’s politics through their denominations or sectarian groups. Today, Lebanon’s religious groups include 18 denominations, such as Maronite Christians, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholics, Armenian Orthodox, Sunni Muslims, Druze, and Shii Muslims, among others. After the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, Lebanon emerged as a state and was brought under the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon. France established the Republic of Lebanon in 1926 as a democratic republic. In 1943, during the Second World War, France granted Lebanon its independence. The Maronite Christians, the largest demographic group, closely allied with the French and the only Eastern Christians never to break communion with the Roman Catholic Church, assumed the largest representation in government. In the tripartite political system that has existed since then, the President’s office remains mandated to be filled by a Maronite Christian, while the Prime Minister is a Sunni Muslim and the Speaker of the House a Shii Muslim. This would be an awkward and uncomfortable arrangement even under the best of circumstances, but in Lebanon’s case it has became the source of growing antagonism as the region’s demographics have changed dramatically. Sunni Muslims now outnumber Maronite Christians, and yet they remain underrepresented in government and barred from the presidency. Moreover, Syria’s influence on Lebanon’s politics has persisted, even after the withdrawal of its troops in 2005. Now with the crisis in Syria, Lebanon has been once again affected, through more than a million Syrian refugees. Lebanon’s democracy could be described as a “consociational democracy”—a term coined by the Dutch political scientist Arend Lijphart to denote a government whose political elite negotiates the politics of accommodation between different groups or “pillars” of a fragmented society, a ‘multiple balance-of-power’, in order to achieve a stable democracy. A consociational democracy seeks fair representation for minority groups, but Lijphart has always held that a consociational democracy is inherently less stable than a liberal democracy. One of the preconditions for the success of such a democracy is an effective working relationship of political elites, which functions to ensure a balance of power among multiple subcultures. This is problematic in the Lebanese system, in which there is often more disagreement than agreement on major issues because balancing the power-shifts between the different denominations is understandably cause for conflict. However, unbalanced political power also gives rise to conflict. In addition, there is more room for conflict when the fact is being taken into account that related positions such as Cabinet ministers or a head of the Central Bank are also chosen through the same denominational distributions. Another condition is that there must be a relatively low total load on the political decision-making apparatus. According to Lijphart, in 1968 there was a relatively low total load on the political structure in Lebanon, but in 2013 that was not the case. In 2014 the political load only increased. Lebanon with a population of about 4 million people harbours more than a million Syrian refugees which bring their own problems to the already internally conflicted political system of Lebanon. It is because of the above mentioned conditions which have not been met that Lebanon experiences increased internal instability. While external regional tensions at the Israeli and Syrian borders (including threats of ISIS) increase overall instabiliy, the hardening sectarian positions of the denominations within Lebanon exacerbates the internal struggles. However, the cooperation of these same denominations are the ones who could actually help focus the government’s priorities inwards on creating the conditions necessary for improved democratic and overall internal stability.

By Guillaume Kavaruganda, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda. On April 7, 1994 my father was killed. Twenty years has passed and it is as if it was yesterday. My father was among the first victims of the genocide that happened in Rwanda 1994. At that time I was concluding my law studies in Italy in the City of Perugia. In early morning, I got a phone call from my sister Juliette, who was at the time studying Political Science in Belgium. She was the one who told me the sad news. From then all my life changed drastically. My father left behind a wife and five children. We had never overcome his passing away in an unusual manner. Since the world was created, death has been part of the human beings. Few human beings have succeeded to accept death, especially the one of their loved ones. We celebrate when a child is born and yet we forget that one day he will depart as he had just come into existence. My grandmother, (on my mother side), died at 105 years old for old age/natural causes. For an African lady lasting that long is indeed exceptional. Life expectancy in Rwanda is less than 60 years old for women. It is even much less for men. When I came home, I was unaware of the passing away of my grandmother. I found my mother crying. I asked her what has happened. With lots of tears in her eyes, she told me the fate of my grandmother. I was then a young man, and I asked her tactlessly how come one can be so sad for the one who passed away at 105 years. I did not wait her answer to notice how imprudent I was with my observation. Quite often young age goes alongside with stupidity! A passing away of a human being is always a sad event no matter what age the deceased had. If we agree with the principle, we have also to agree that it is more difficult to accept the death of a human caused by the killing of other humans. The suffering of the people close to the one killed is beyond imagination.  Who was my father? My father was born in May 1, 1935 at 40 kilometers from the Capital of Rwanda named Kigali. He saw the sun on the hill called “Va’’ and in suburbs of ‘‘Ruganda’’. He was named Kavaruganda which means/ in our mother language/ the one who came from Ruganda. His first name was Joseph. He studied law and finished his PhD in Belgium in 1966; worked in the Rwanda Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 3 years; became a CEO of the Caisse d’Epargne du Rwanda for one year; Headed the National Prosecution Office of the Republic of Rwanda for 7 years; and became the President of Constitutional Law and Court of Cassation in the Supreme Court for 13 years until his assassination on April 7, 1994. He was 59 years old. My life was somehow an imitation of my father’s life. Both of us studied law, even though he obtained a PhD and I limited myself to a master degree in International Law and European Union laws from Louvain la Neuve University /in Belgium; both of us has worked in our Ministry of Foreign Affairs even though he has had different other jobs as I mentioned above; I only worked in foreign services for the last 15 years in Washington DC, Geneva, as the Head of Protocol in Foreign Affairs and as First Counsellor and then Minister Counsellor in Netherlands, a position that I still hold now. The choice of Diplomacy was not a coincidence for me; my father has told me in one of the many discussions we used to have, how the profession of diplomacy, if well done, can be an added value for the person who is exercising it. He was indeed right. I took from him the love of books even though I read mostly in English languages, contrary to him who used to read in French. My country shifted from French to English in 1998. Even though I am of the view that we have to live our life as we personally intend it to be, I quite happen to wonder (if in case my father was still alive), if he would be proud of me now as a human being and of my achievements. Of course I do not know the answer. He would be the one to know. Who knows? Maybe!!! Dear Father, May God Welcome you among his own!      

The European Economic and Social Committee and the Fellini Foundation are presenting the world première of the exhibition Fellini as demiurge and travelling performer in Brussels. This exhibition leads the visitor into the circus atmosphere that imbues Fellini’s whole œuvre, from La Strada to La voce della luna. For over a generation, Fellini the magician conjured up the world of his childhood under the big top of Teatro 5 in the Cinecittà film studios: Rome, the sea and steamships, the Venice of Casanova, a fantastical menagerie including a large family of clowns. On behalf of the European Economic and Social Committee, its president, Henri Malosse, would like to point out the importance of this exhibition honouring Federico Fellini: “We are proud to welcome Federico Fellini – a true European and one of the major directors of the 20th century. It is through art and culture, and the quest for talent, that we can safeguard our values in the European Union and so preserve our innovative spirit”. “For our foundation, being at the EESC in Brussels means recognising the commitment of our foundation to cultural dialogue and to championing a vast cinematic heritage. The interest in culture demonstrated by the EESC as a key social stakeholder will encourage us to further step up our activities, which include research, exhibitions, publications and education.” (speech by Stéphane Marti, President of the Fellini Foundation) The Fellini Foundation was set up in 2001 and has the world’s largest collection of items relating to the work of Federico Fellini (9 000 original documents). The Foundation has organised more than 70 exhibitions and cultural events in Switzerland and internationally in partnership with prestigious museums, festivals and galleries. It runs a cultural centre and educational programme devoted to cinema in the Swiss town of Sion, where it is based. The vernissage of this very European exhibition was attended largely by artists, business people, and diplomats from the EU, Italy and Switzerland. The Fellini Foundation is represented in the Benelux countries by the reputable Italian journalist, based in Brussels, Mr Federico Grandesso. www.eesc.europa.eu                                                     www.fondation-fellini.ch    

Introduction Eelco Dykstra writes a monthly column called “A smile and a thought…” The columns put a playful spotlight on the interface between the Dutch and the International Community it hosts. Yes, his musings may appear at times to be mildly provocative at first sight but they are first and foremost playful – with a little irony thrown in here and there… You be the judge! His columns are intended to give you ‘a smile and a thought’. A smile because perhaps you hadn’t quite looked at something that way and a thought because the column may leave you wondering… ————————————————————————————————————————— How secure is The Hague as a UN City of Peace and Justice…? The city of The Hague has long aspired to become a fixed item on the list of “UN cities”. After New York and Geneva and with an emphasis on “Peace, Security and Justice”, The Hague has been busy to find a niche to promote and position itself as a city of geopolitical relevance. With ambitions this high, it is time to take a look at the results – and the future. At first sight, things look impressive. Many international entities related to “Peace” and “Justice”, have flocked to The Hague. Below this surface however, I hear that things are not running all that smooth. What is going on? Due in part to the recent and ongoing Euro-crisis, most cities in the Netherlands, including The Hague, have been forced to bring down costs and cancel high-profile investment plans. Despite the gallant efforts of entities within City Hall such as the International Desk – where staff are dealing with an onslaught of questions by visitors and expats on a daily basis –,  I hear that The Hague is increasingly putting the burden of cooperation on  its international partners. While everyone knows that true partnerships require an investment from both sides, I hear that the city of The Hague is increasingly taking an “all talk and no money” approach. Eventually, this will drive the international organizations out-of-town. Is The Hague also a city of “Security” – along with Peace and Justice? It is clear that the topic of “Security” is structurally related to “Peace” and “Justice”. But what that means in The Hague remains unclear. Sometimes The Hague is linked with Security, sometimes it is not. The Dutch language only uses one word (“Veiligheid”) to incorporate both “Safety” and “Security”, even though the two are clearly different. In the case of Peace and Justice, the City of The Hague (and the national government right behind it…) invested in attracting well-known foreign entities to set up shop in its city. The focus was on practice, experience and knowledge. In the case of Security, the City of The Hague (and the national government right behind it…) did not so much seek foreign entities with practical experience but invested instead in setting up various platforms for Dutch “security expertise” to be exported to other countries. This is not working well, perhaps because the focus was too much on policy (and not practice), technology (and not on human factors) and emphasizes trendy topics (short-lived attention span). So, what will our advice as readers of Diplomat Magazine, be to the City of The Hague? Some suggestions for the City of The Hague and the Dutch:

1. Invest in establishing a stronger and more visible ‘International Office’ in the City of The Hague;
2. Be more pro-active about involving the diplomatic and international community, for instance by establishing an “International Council”
3. Combine the policy-driven and export-oriented Dutch approach to Security with the practical experience and knowledge from partners abroad, for instances through HSD (The Hague Security Delta) and conferences such as PISAS (www.pisas.org)
4. Establish formal working relations with Diplomat Magazine…

What you say?                                

First Dutch king, Willem I has been honoured in the City of Fulda, Federal State of Hesse in Germany.  By Baron Henri Estramant It is little known that before becoming the very first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxemburg, Willem I, was the “Sovereign Prince of Fulda”. The Principality of Fulda was carved out of the Nassau lands in today’s Hesse to compensate the then Prince Willem VI of Oranje for the lost his governorship over the Dutch states. Willem I thus reign as “Fürst von Fulda nebst Corvey” from 1802 to 1806 under the name Wilhelm Friedrich. His reign was an ephemeral one as his princely throne was overtaken at Napoléon I’s behest after the Wilhelm Friedrich was defeated at the Battle of Jena in 1806. To reminisce the brief reign of Wilhelm Friedrich of Fulda the city unveiled a monument depicting the a copper likeness of the Fürst on the Dyba-Allee in the vicinity of the city’s cathedral on 23 October 2014.  

The Dragon in the Caribbean: China moves to deepen ties in the Caribbean By Roy Lie A. Tjam. China recently opened a Consulate-General in Willemstad-Curacao. Curacao is part of the Dutch Caribbean. China’s interest in the Caribbean region dates back many decades. In the summer of 2013, the Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Trinidad and Tobago and also met the leaders of Ten Caribbean Islands. The president came bearing some $3 billion in development loans, a hefty sum for a small region. Nearly every island in the Caribbean, from the smallest upwards, has received a substantial investment from the Peoples Republic of China. In his welcome remarks at the 2014 National Day reception for the People’s Republic of China Ambassador Chen Xu observed that: “Just three days ago I attended the opening ceremony of the new Chinese consulate-general in Willemstad. The hospitality and friendship I received in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom are so touching, and local people’s enthusiasm and aspiration to strengthen exchanges and co-operation with China are so inspiring”. This is the first ever Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Since 10 October 2010, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has consisted of four countries: the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao and St Maarten. Aruba, Curacao and St.Maarten are autonomous countries with their own governments, whilst Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba: are all municipalities of the Netherlands, with the status of “special municipalities”. The newly inaugurated consulate-general in Willemstad also serves Aruba and St Maarten. His Excellency Mr. Ivar Asjes, Prime Minister of Curacao officially inaugurated the consulate-general. In his opening address Mr. Asjes remarked that: “It is with great pleasure that I officially, on behalf of the government and people of Curacao, welcome the first Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China to Curacao, Mrs. Chen Qiman. I also would like to welcome Consul Zhang Huixan, Consul Xue and the rest of the staff of the Chinese Consulate General to our island. As the People’s Republic of China is a major player on the global scene and one of the world’s largest economies, both in terms of manufacturing and trade, we are delighted that its government has seen the merit of having an official presence in our country. The Chinese Government’s decision to formalize its relationship with Curacao is therefore further proof of the vast opportunities present here”. As a historical aside, the first wave of Chinese nationals came to Curacao over one century ago. The travelers were on their way to Venezuela, however, they fell in love with the island and decided to make it their home. The community worked as cooks and opened the first laundries in Curacao, later diversifying their economic activities by opening restaurants and hotels, thereby being among the first entrepreneurs in the Curacao’s hospitality sector. Today the Chinese community dominates the island’s retail food sector and, as owners of small and medium-sized enterprises, contribute to the economic development of Curacao. The recent bilateral cooperation between China and Curacao offers many possibilities. Tourism, trade, logistics, education, culture and the energy sector are some of the areas in which the two countries can work together and create mutually beneficial outcomes.

By William Rumley-van Gurp. I have been working with people using Microsoft Word through many versions and languages.  I have seen some strange results in a Word document.  What is the most common problem with Word documents is the idea that you build a new document with text from an old one. The older the source document the more trouble you can get. The problem is that in the Word software program all the formats are stored with the text, but they are hidden from view.  These formats change from older version to newer versions of the software.  They are also different from one software program to another, such as Word Perfect to Microsoft Word.  All these formats need to be translated. When you copy and paste you copy not only the text, but also all the formats and codes from the source.  This causes problems like, the text doesn’t lineup, or the styles will not match.  Sometimes you even get the ghost table effect over the text. There is one solution to this and it is to Paste-as Match destination formatting, or paste as plain text.  Either of these options will let you have the text, without the formatted history. Like this? Look us up at cftrainingtoday.com or Facebook.com/candles flame training

By Dr. Sjaak de Boer, Parish Priest. The Parish of the Church of Our Saviour organises a large-scale charity event every year, which we call Food Fair. On the third Saturday in November every year our many different nationalities come together to prepare and sell their own national food specialities, wines, pastries etc. There is a huge bookstall and also handicraft, Fair Trade, jewellery and bric a brac stalls. Each country or region takes pride in decorating the booths with national flags and colours and working together as a team. There are activities for children, such as face painting and other fun events. Our largest source of funds is from our raffle where local sponsors donate wonderful prizes. It is a great opportunity for everyone in the community to come together and volunteer their time and talents for a greater cause. Not only does Food Fair promote community spirit, but it has a much deeper purpose, namely to take the proceeds (over €40,000 from the 2013 Food Fair) of the event and offer them to a range of charitable organisations operating around the world. Our parishioners are the ones who identify suitable projects to be considered and these have included such things as farming ventures, building, women’s support, street children education and rehabilitation of homeless people, to name just a few.