Burundi, moving on an international scale

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Burundi, moving on an international scale
By H.E. Vestine Nahimana, Ambassador of Burundi in The Kingdom of The Netherlands. From its beginnings as a Belgian colony to undergoing a brutal civil war, Burundi is finally celebrating peace and moving from strength to strength on an international scale. I am happy to underline that Burundi is in its 52nd year of independence. As part of the country’s first official long-term diplomatic mission in Europe, I have been given the opportunity to solidify Burundi’s relation with the Netherlands. Financially speaking, Burundi is Africa’s most rapidly improving nation and as such, has been awarded for its efforts. As the political situation in recent years has stabilized, Burundi’s economy has been allowed to develop. Burundi relies mainly on an agricultural economy, accounting for over 30% of the GDP. The country’s main exports are coffee and tea, which make up 90% of foreign exchange earnings. Our coffee is ranked in the top three on a global scale. Joining the East African Community has been a tremendous economic boost as well as opening up Burundi’s doors to further collaborations. A beach culture is starting on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, which is part of an untouched eco-region in the Albertine Rift. Other water-based tourism options available, such as the many natural hot springs. A possible cruise is also being put into place. Foreign investors are very welcome as most of Burundi remains unspoiled. For example, Burundi is fairly rich in minerals but needs help with the exploitation of mines. Due to its commitment to progress and improvement, Burundi is a model for other African countries and has sent help to resolve other conflicts. I would like to highlight the role of women and the government measures implemented to ensure the involvement of women. A government subsidized program is set in place to allow women to give birth in hospitals with modern tools at their disposition rather than at home. This act has decreased the infant and maternal mortality rate. Also, elementary school is now free, meaning that the education of girls has increased. Additionally, women compose half of the senate, thus ensuring their participation in Burundi’s development. Despite being a recent addition to the diplomatic corps in the Netherlands, I am very honoured to have been appointed ambassador to the Netherlands and will continue in my endeavours to forge better communication and understanding with my country in the hopes of establishing a strong tie between the two entities.    

Ambassador of Macedonia visiting Schermer Winemerchants & Distillers

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Ambassador of Macedonia visiting Schermer Winemerchants & Distillers
The new ambassador of Macedonia in The Hague, HE Mr. Igor Popov, has brought recently an official visit to Schermer Winemerchants & Distillers since 1782- in Hoorn, The Netherlands Schemer Winemerchants and Distillers -since 1782- Hoorn exist 232 years this year, for the last 12 years as “purveyors to the royal household”. Last year marked a changing of the guards. Daughters Esther Ophoff- Blom and Tanja Philipse-Blom together with her husband Martin Philipse (viticulturist and liquorist) are continuing the century-old business that Paul Blom had taken over in 1982. All three have ample experience in this sector and are taking the business into modern time commerce. Schermer has been importing quality wines and spirits for many years from various wine-producing countries. They produce all the traditional Dutch gins, bitters, liqueurs, eggnog and Boeren Jongens (raisins on brandy). This working visit was especially organised in honour of the new ambassador of Macedonia, HE Mr. Igor Popov. In this manner Schermer is shining the light on the importance of the seed-enhancement and development that is taking place in Seed Valley West-Friesland and in Macedonia. A joint-venture is to be set up to facilitate exchanges and trainee-internships for students. The guests were shown around the Seed & Agro Laboratory NHN of the Clusius College of Hoorn by Mrs Nancy Boterblom. Mr. Martijn Heddes of Iribov b.v. led the visit of this laboratory in Heerhugowaard and gave an account of their activities. Iribov is a service laboratory for companies in plant ennobling, plant increase and seed- enhancement. The most applied techniques are tissue-culture of plants, analysis through flow cytometry and molecular techniques. All participants were truly impressed by the exceptionally well organised day that, beyond the pleasant aspect, was also substantially informative and promising for future cooperation. Also present during this visit Mrs Nancy Boterblom – Program Manager Biotechnology at the Clusius College Lab., Mr Bob Smit – Executive Director at the NL Chamber of Commerce in Macedonia, Mr Aart Ruppert – former alderman in Hoorn. Paul Robert Blom, Esther Ophoff-Blom, Tanja Philipse-Blom and Martin Philipse were representing Schermer.

In private, from The Hague to Brussels and beyond

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In private, from The Hague to Brussels and beyond
By Dr Richard Blauwhoff, Legal counsel at the Internationaal Juridisch Instituut in The Hague, and  by Prof.dr. Vesna Lazic, Asser Instituut, Utrecht University and Rijeka University. Readers of Diplomat Magazine experience the international dimensions of personal and business relationships in a globalizing world daily. Private international law (PIL), also often known in English as the conflict of laws, provides rules on jurisdiction and the determination of the applicable law governing such relationships. It also deals with the recognition and enforcement of foreign judicial decisions. As the ‘legal capital of the world’, the position of The Hague in PIL receives less attention, but is also well established.  At a global level, the Hague Conference on Private International Law in particular, has played a leading role in harmonizing and unifying PIL. Within The Netherlands, the Internationaal Juridisch Instituut (IJI) has been giving advice to courts and lawyers in cases with a PIL or foreign element since 1918, while the Asser Instituut, as a centre of academic research into international and European law, has its own PIL consultancy. The Hague Conference is currently addressing two disparate issues: regulation of surrogate motherhood and the creation of a global instrument for the recognition and enforcement of foreign judicial decisions. An overview of the work being done by the Conference in these two areas was given by Ms Marta Pertegás, First Secretary of the organisation, at an expert meeting held at the Asser Instituut on the 22nd of May. The ‘Europeanisation’ of  PIL was recognized by all experts as a broad trend. Thus, in Europe, over the past decades many rules of PIL have come from ‘Brussels.’  This has spawned a regional regulatory framework which co-exists – not always easily- with national and ‘Hague’ regulation of PIL.  In some areas such as child abduction, parental responsibilities and maintenance, the EU and the Hague Conference have worked successfully together, so Ms Pertegás affirmed. She also highlighted the greater geographical reach of the organisation, as exemplified by the opening of regional offices in Hong Kong and Buenos Aires in recent years. In Europe, the ‘recast’ of the EU Brussels II Regulation sparked the interest of scholars and practitioners alike. This regulation contains rules regarding the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and parental responsibilities, including child abduction within the EU. In preparing a ‘recast’, the Commission has welcomed the input from legal practitioners by means of an on-line consultation. Many PIL experts recognized that the current Brussels II Regulation contains some serious drawbacks. Professor Katharina Boele-Woelki (Utrecht University) foresaw a number of problems stemming from the apparent reticence of the Commission to tackle complex cross-border family relocation issues. Since the deadline for completing the survey is approaching on the 18th of July 2014, both staff from the IJI and Asser will be making some practical recommendations.  It is hoped that some of the expertise in PIL gathered in The Hague will find its way to Brussels.      

Kuwait and The Netherlands, Fifty Years of Diplomatic Relations

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Kuwait and The Netherlands, Fifty Years of Diplomatic Relations
By Hafeez M.S. Al-Ajmi, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Kingdom of the Netherlands & Permanent Representative to the International Organizations since October 2010. It gives me great pleasure to write a short article  in the Diplomat Magazine and share some facts about my country, its  relation with the Netherlands and its global views and activity. The State of Kuwait gained its independence in 1961 and ever since, Kuwait has  two fundamental objectives: to preserve  political stability and economic welfare of its nation and people and to promote peace and  stability regionally and internationally. Geographically speaking, both Kuwait and the Netherlands share common features. They are both   small nations with access to the sea  and both  are  privileged for having a strategic location which allows  them to be one of the leaders of trading nations in the world,  especially in the field of oil and gas related issues. In 1964, The Netherlands was one of the first countries which established Diplomatic Relation with Kuwait and based on this solid foundation,  both countries maintain strong bilateral relations and enjoy their diplomacy at high level. Beside the Political ties,  Kuwait  and the Netherlands have also  comprehensive partnership founded on the commitment of strong economic development. Within the EU countries, the Netherlands is the biggest trade partner of  Kuwait.  Kuwait exports about 2.5 billion euros worth of oil  (including other products)  to the Netherlands annually and this is more than half of what it exports to all the EU countries.  The Netherlands on the other hand,  exports about 500 million Euros worth products to Kuwait every year and   the common interest of both countries keeps growing. As its name refers, Kuwait Petroleum International, KPI, is a company, which is engaged  in  research, refinery, marketing and sale of petroleum products internationally.  As part of its oil refinery in Europe, KPI has been very  active in the Netherlands for more than 30 years through its establishment of   Kuwait Petroleum Europoort (KPE) in Rotterdam. KPE is a refinery which processes about 4 million tons of crude oil every year. In pursue of this economic growth and close partnership with the Netherlands,   various Memorandum of Understandings, (MoU),   Treaties and Agreements have been signed and implemented between the two countries. One of the latest was the MoU on the environment sector,  signed in April 2014,  between officials from Kuwait Environment Public Authority  (KEPA) and concerned Dutch Authorities,  in  presence of the Mayor of Rotterdam.  In May 2014, Kuwait also signed  a six year Liquefied Natural Gas  (LNG) Agreement with Royal Dutch Shell, with an estimated worth of 12 billion dollars. With respect to  enhancing  sustainable economy regionally and globally,  Kuwait has an honorable record in contributing funds for developing and least developed countries. Established in 1961, The Kuwait Fund for Economic Development, contributes  billions of Euros by playing an active role in the fields of  education, water supplies, power  plant etc. reaching  out more than 100    countries all   over the world.  Simultaneously, in terms of peace, security,  respect of sovereignty of states and issues of  justice, crime against humanity, human rights which need global solution and international  coordination,  Kuwait plays a vital role through its donation and contribution to the activities of the  concerned International Organizations based in the Hague as well   abroad. With these objectives, Kuwait  also facilitates and hosts many International Conferences aimed to rally financial support  and meet basic humanitarian need of affected communities. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Kuwait – Netherlands Diplomacy. To commemorate this milestone and to further deepen and enhance the  mutual cooperation,   the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs  of the State of Kuwait,  His Excellency Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah visited  the Netherlands on the 21st and 22nd of May, 2014. During  this  time, Sheikh Al-Sabah met his counter  part,  H.E. Mr. Frans Timmerman,  followed by a  tete a tete meeting with His Excellency  Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands. Sheikh Al-Sabah also took the above opportunity to address the opening ceremony of three new residences in Wassenaar together with the Mayor of  Wassenaar,  Drs. Jan Hoekema. The villas are built for Kuwaiti Diplomats  who gets  assigned to  the Netherlands periodically.  The ceremony was also honored by the presence of  officials from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and concerned authorities.  This month, on June 20th last, the Minister of Oil and Minister of State for National Assembly of the State of Kuwait, H.E. Dr. Ali Saleh Al-Omeir, also visited the Netherlands upon the kind invitation of H.E. Mr. Henk Kamp, Minister of Economic Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with all the primary objectives to the continuation and fostering a strong spirit of economic cooperation between the two countries. The  fore runners of both countries who planted the seeds of friendly relationship between the two countries, are now  reaping the harvest of strong and solid  bilateral relationship heading for a greater and brighter  future.  

India and Indo-Dutch Relations

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India and Indo-Dutch Relations

By H. E. Rajesh N. Prasad, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

Less than two months ago, India completed the largest democratic exercise ever conducted in history.  An electorate of more than 800 million registered voters cast their votes in over 900,000 polling stations. This was done through nearly two million electronic voting machines to choose candidates from over 300 political parties for the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Indian Parliament).  Apart from the large turnout in the elections (over 66%), for the first time in 30 years, a political party secured a majority in the national Parliament on its own.

The new government led by Prime Minister Modi has come to power on the twin planks of governance and development.  It has already made known the emphasis it is placing on development through a number of measures focusing  on, inter alia, the supply side of agro and agro-based products, skill development, development of infrastructure, etc. as also its desire to rationalize and simplify the tax regime to make it non adversarial and conducive to investment, enterprise and growth.

India today means many things to many people.  The images range from that of a large overpopulated country with poverty to a vibrant democracy with a robust and growing middle class, a large pool of skilled manpower and a country which has made advances in the fields of IT, space, biotechnology etc.  For many, the connection to India comes from its spiritualism and things like yoga, Ayurveda and meditation. However, to my mind, the defining characteristics and by far, India’s greatest attributes are its open society, tolerance, pluralism and democracy.

The linkages between India and the Netherlands are historic with contacts going back more than four hundred years.   Traders, scholars, itinerant travelers have come to India from the Netherlands during this period.  By some accounts, the first Indian came to the Netherlands in 1667.

Diplomatic relations between India and the Netherlands was established in 1947 and has been cordial and friendly. In the more recent past, trade and investment have become the dominant themes in our bilateral ties.  Today, the Netherlands is both a significant trade and investment partner of India.  A number of Dutch majors have had a presence in India for a long time and are household names.  We now also have a large number of Indian companies in the Netherlands including all the IT majors. The substantial Indian diaspora in the Netherlands is also playing a useful role and acting as a bridge between the two countries.Ambassador of India 1

There is a good potential for taking bilateral ties between the two countries to a higher level.  The complementarities are fairly obvious.  On the one hand, India has a young demographic profile, large and growing domestic market, a significant pool of knowledge workers and huge developmental requirements especially in the infrastructure. The Netherlands, in turn, has expertise and niche technology across a broad range, solid credentials in research, world class educational institutions as also a requirement for skilled personnel and a market for its exports. There is a natural match. Areas of special interest for greater cooperation include water and waste management, infrastructure and logistics, agriculture, shipping, cold storage chains etc.

The Netherlands is a friendly, informal and hospitable country.  I have found goodwill and friendship from my Dutch interlocutors as also a genuine interest in India and a desire to strengthen ties with India.  This has been most gratifying.

Embassy of Mongolia congratulates Diplomat Magazine

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Embassy of Mongolia congratulates Diplomat Magazine

The Embassy of Mongolia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands congratulates the ‘’Diplomat Magazine’’ on its first anniversary and wishes all the staff and friends of the magazine success and long lasting fruitful activities that will, for sure, bring together more and more participants from Diplomatic corps in the Hague and beyond it. The launching of Diplomat Magazine is an important event for Diplomatic Corps not only in The Hague but also for the Missions accredited to the Netherlands as a whole, including our Embassy in Brussels as it helps us to be informed about the events hold in The Hague and recent developments in the Netherlands and the world.

We are confident that the Diplomat Magazine is an attractive and useful platform for exchanging news and information on various events and activities in the diplomatic life in the Netherlands as well as a convenient tool for promoting friendship and cooperation between nations through organizing friendly gatherings and extending a possibility to publicize interesting articles and interviews with prominent politicians and public figures from many countries in the region and the globe.

It is also a good opportunity for our Embassy accredited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands with residence in Brussels to be in touch and informed about latest news and events held in the country as well as to introduce Mongolia to the general public and international community presented in the Netherlands.

Laura Fygi at Kastell De Wittenburg

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Laura Fygi at Kastell De Wittenburg
By Eva Mennes. On 6th of July the great Dutch/International singer Laura Fygi gave a wonderful concert at Kasteel De Wittenburg. Laura has performed throughout Europe, South America and Asia. As a Dutch singer, she even managed to conquer the Chinese market! “I’m always on the lookout for something new, because I don’t think one should repeat oneself” she told me. That willful quest for renewal has rendered collaborations with such music luminaries as Toots Thielemans, Michel Legrand and Michael Franks. Laura has also been presented with various gold and platinum discs and awards, as well as playing the lead role in Singapore of her favorite musical Victor/Victoria. Meanwhile she signed a contract with one of China’s largest record companies and recorded the CD Flower specifically for the Asian market. It contains original Chinese compositions that Laura had arranged in her own style. Some songs were translated into English and French, but she also sings four songs in the original Chinese! What is the secret of her success? It is the combination of a number of things. First of all she has a husky voice with a beautiful diction and great timing, which has already been compared to that of Peggy Lee, and the intimacy of Julie London. She has an international appearance that enables her to perform in Ronnie Scott ‘s Jazz club in Soho with the same ease as on the biggest stages in most of the world cities. She looks beautiful and is as Latin as Jazzy. But the most important thing Laura is a storyteller, someone who knows how to turn a song into a story that touches you directly from her heart to yours. While it still swings like crazy!   Photographer: Pieter van Lierop

FETE DE LA MUSIQUE in the Netherlands 2014

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FETE DE LA MUSIQUE in the Netherlands 2014
                            Direct from the Alliance Francaise in The Hague. After a first edition of FETE DE LA MUSIQUE in The Hague on June 21, 2013 ENTENTE FRANCOPHONE, national Dutch Federation of Francophone non for profit organizations in the Netherlands, set-up again a big concert on June 21 this year at the Maritiem Museum in Rotterdam. Some 10 music groups and soloists from various musical horizons from classic to jazz, from French chanson to choir music… entertained the audience of this free and very “gezellig” event. Completely different from other music festivals, the FETE DE LA MUSIQUE is above all a free popular fête, open to any participant (amateur or professional musicians) who wants to perform in it. This “Music day” allows the expression of all styles of music in a cheerful atmosphere. It aims at a large audience, working to popularize musical practice for young and not so young people from all social backgrounds. It gives an opportunity to communicate and share a very special moment through music. Launched in 1982 by the French Ministry for culture, the FETE DE LA MUSIQUE is held in more than hundred countries in Europe and over the world. It takes place every 21st June, the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. Thanks to the impulse and the dynamism of the French cultural network abroad (the departments of Cultural Affairs at the French Embassies, the French Institutes and Alliances Françaises… the Fête has an important international growth. FETE DE LA MUSIQUE is invented again and again every year, taking care of each country cultural specificities. In this way, it will become a real emblematic international event to promote music and “music making” for professionals and amateur musicians. The annual event organized by ENTENTE FRANCOPHONE in the Netherlands especially attracts the French and Francophone community, but the doors are wide open for everyone and Music is probably the most universal language of all in the world. ENTENTE FRANCOPHONE and Alliance Francaise are already starting to prepare June 21st 2015, with a big gathering that could take place in Amsterdam next year.  

Sculpture tour Westbroekpark

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Sculpture tour Westbroekpark
On Thursday afternoon, the 26th of June, the head of the department Scheveningen, Mendy van Veen, members of ART&JAZZ and the board of ART&JAZZ visited the magnificent Westbroekpark. The beautiful weather, the blooming roses, and the fine sculptures in the park made the visit a special moment. The occasion of the visit for ART&JAZZ has been the creation of the new version in two languages of the booklet “Sculpture tour Westbroekpark”. In this booklet you find all the sculptures described and represented. With the booklet it is possible to make a perfect tour through the park enjoying the sculptures and at the moment the roses. It is also possible tot do the tour with a guide of ART&JAZZ. More information: http://www.artandjazz.nl/activiteiten/beeldenwandeling/ During this walk of the 26th of June Wiebe Dekker, president of ART&JAZZ, offered the new booklet to Mendy van Veen as a token of gratitude for the support of the department Scheveningen for the work of ART&JAZZ. We followed though this afternoon on a terrace of the Waterkant, enjoying a nice cup of tea.

Korean Unification and Global Peace

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Korean Unification and Global Peace
                              By Byung-se Yun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. Special Contribution for Diplomat Magazine in the Netherlands. 

While the United Nations celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2015, Koreans will lament 70 years of national division. Considering all of the challenges and opportunities that the divided peninsula faces – and will continue to confront in the coming years – unification remains an important goal that we must continue to pursue.

Founded formally in 1948 under UN auspices, the then-fledgling Republic of Korea immediately became engulfed in Cold War power politics, which hampered its efforts to join the UN – a goal not achieved until 1991. Since then, however, the Republic has more than made up for its late arrival. It is playing an active role in the UN – the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and the Human Rights Council – and it is participating in numerous initiatives related to peacekeeping, development cooperation, climate change, non-proliferation, and human rights.THE NETHERLANDS,DEN HAAG, 24 march 2014 - NSS Groupphoto at the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague. POOL/Frank van Beek/Hollandse Hoogte

Together with the head of the states before the Dinner hosted by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander during the 3rd Nuclear Security Summit in March 2014. The subscriber is between the King and Prime Minister Rutte. In the picture, Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein King of Jordan, Barack Hussein Obama President of the United States, Her Magesty Queen Máxima. 

During this time, the international community has also dramatically changed. Globalization and technological transformation have deepened interdependence, and yet insecurity, inequality, injustice, and intolerance remain undiminished worldwide. Two decades after the Rwandan genocide, we continue to bear witness to human cruelty and horror – in Syria, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic, for example. Meanwhile, a billion or so of the world’s poorest people, including women and children, are barely surviving.

Northeast Asia has its share of trouble. A rising China, a resurgent Japan, an assertive Russia, and an anachronistic North Korea have added new complexities and uncertainties to the region. The latter’s pursuit of nuclear arms is particularly worrying. On its part, the United States is now “rebalancing” toward Asia.

Growing conflicts over history, territory, and maritime security, combined with an ugly resurgence of nationalism, risk triggering military confrontation, quite possibly through political miscalculation. Left unattended by policymakers and peacemakers, Northeast Asia’s tensions could undermine the region’s flourishing economy.

It is in this challenging environment that the Republic of Korea’s president, Park Geun-hye, took office in 2013. Her foreign policy – called “Trustpolitik” – aims to transform this atmosphere of suspicion and conflict into one of confidence and cooperation, and to build “a new Korean Peninsula, a new Northeast Asia, and a new world.”

The greatest obstacle to achieving this transformation is the North Korean nuclear question. Over the last couple of months, North Korea has threatened to carry out yet another nuclear test. Today’s most urgent task therefore must be to prevent this from happening, and then to check further advances in the North’s nuclear weapons and delivery capabilities.

The semblance of peace on the Korean Peninsula remains fragile, and South Korea’s government has engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts to rally friends and partners in the region and worldwide to deter the North. The UN Security Council has adopted a series of resolutions to impose extensive sanctions, following the North’s three previous nuclear tests. Any further provocation will bring the full force of the organization’s sanctions to bear.

Under these circumstances – in addition to the dire human rights and humanitarian situation in North Korea – Park laid out her vision for a unified Korea. In a recent speech in Dresden, she proposed three concrete and action-oriented proposals to the North that would address its humanitarian problems, build infrastructure for the common welfare and prosperity of the two Koreas, and promote integration of the Korean people.

The humanitarian component of this strategy could be implemented regardless of political and security considerations. For example, it would involve implementing the UN’s 1,000-day project for maternal health and infant nutrition, aimed at ending the North’s chronically high rate of infant malnutrition. We can only hope that North Korea will respond positively to our proposal. It would be an important first step on a much longer journey.

Korea’s road to unification will undoubtedly be difficult, and will require the international community’s support. In return, the new, unified country that we aspire to build will serve the interests of its neighbors and those of the wider international community in promoting global peace and prosperity.

There is a recent precedent for this vision, and thus reason to be hopeful. Some 23 years ago, the geopolitical context that sustained the division of the two Germanys changed radically. Similarly, the day will come when Korea’s two UN nameplates will be replaced with one.

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