Pope Francis attracts 500,000 tourists to Rio de Janeiro.
Official diplomatic sources informed Diplomat Magazine that at least 500,000 tourists will fly to Rio de Janeiro during Pope Francis’ visit, to celebrate the World Youth Day (WYD) this coming July. The data was confirmed by Civil Aviation Minister Moreira Franco. According to a Dutch travel agency in Amsterdam, some 5000 travellers from the Netherlands alone have reserved plane travel ticket to Brazil for this purpose.
Minister Franco said that the government is engaged in a “contingency plan” at the Galeão – Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport to enhance Pope Francis’ security in Brazil.
In regards to the number of tourist, Brazilian authorities in Rio, Galeão – Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport receives some 14 million passengers a year and is undergoing a modernization plan for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
World Youth Day will take place from July 23-28 in Rio de Janeiro, where there are expected to be more than 2.5 million visitors. The tour will mark Pope Francis’ first international expedition.
General Elections in Pakistan: An Indian Perspective
By Ambassador Paramjit Sahai, (DiploFoundation, Malta).
The world attention was focussed on the historic General Elections in Pakistan in May 2013, amidst an air of excitement and trepidation, as these signified transfer of civilian power, for the first time in the 67 years of its existence. There were also concerns over Army’s role and fears of likely disruption by the terrorist outfits. The return of General Musharraf to Pakistan, to join the election fray, added an element of drama. So did truancy played by Bilawal Bhutto, leader of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), through his frequent visits to UAE, symbolically signifying abdication of leadership mantle, well before the elections. The election process was completed peacefully, with a turnover of over 60 per cent of around 86 million voters, including a significant portion of women and youth voters. The election results were a decisive victory for Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) was victorious, securing close to majority of the seats; a positive development , thereby avoiding political uncertainties of a hung Parliament. The other two parties- the ruling party-PPP and Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI)- were a distant second and third. This vote was against the incumbent PPP for lack of governance and mismanagement of the economy. A negative outcome, was the emergence of sub-nationalism, as each of the three main parties managed to secure seats in their respective areas of dominance – PML in Punjab, PPP in Sindh and PTI in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. It was also for change, but for change with governance experience, as shown in the choice for Nawaz Sharif rather than for the Cricketer Imran Khan, heart throb of the youth. Nawaz Sharif would, therefore, become Prime Minister for the third time, after a lapse of fourteen years, which may turn out to be lucky for him and the country. The election results received catchy headlines in leading English dailies in India, each conveying a message. Some of these were: ‘Pakistanis vote for change’; ‘Pakistan’s ‘Yes’ we can moment’; ‘Democracy wins, federation loses’ and ‘Minorities in a Naya Pakistan’. All these headlines conveyed a clear message that economic development and governance would be the guiding deities of ‘Naya’ (New) Pakistan. India-bashing was missing from the election campaign. Internally, Sharif has a daunting task, as he undertakes immediate steps to uplift the economy, while containing the menance from terrorism. His maturity and political acumen would be tested in the appointments of President, Army Chief and the Chief Justice of Supreme Court. He has to ensure peace and stability, as he integrates dominant Punjabis with other sub-national groups. Externally, Sharif will have to delicately balance relationship with USA, as he protects Pakistan’s sovereignty and not let it be drowned in drone attacks; provide political space to other regional players in its declared strategic backyard of Afghanistan and adopt a friendly posture towards India, as dictated by Pakistan’s economic compulsions. What is of importance for India in this election? The results have been received positively by the leaders and peoples, who see this as a strengthening of democratic forces. Exchange of warm congratulatory messages has already set the tone, with Sharif promising to pick up the threads, from where he left in 1999. Sharif has reiterated now his earlier statement that good relations with India were crucial for Pakistan. The moot question still remains. Would Sharif be able to deliver on his promises, as he traverses the chosen path. He will also have to ‘Walk the Talk’ with India, in taking concrete steps to prevent Pakistan from being used as a launch pad for terrorist activities in India. We all live in a world of hope and we expect to see these positive vibes, leading to peace and friendship, as herein lies salvation, for two peoples and two countries and world at large. About the author: Joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1963 and superannuated in August 2000. Had been posted to a number of diplomatic missions in Singapore, Moscow, Aden, WashingtonDC, Lusaka, Stockholm and Kuala Lumpur. Served as India’s Ambassador/High Commissioner to Malawi, Lesotho, PDR Yemen, Sweden, Latvia and Malaysia. Was posted as Deputy Chief of Mission at Moscow during 1991-92 and was involved with the establishment of India’s diplomatic relations with the newly independent countries and visits of leaders from Central Asia to India. Presently working as Hony Principal Advisor, Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID, Chandigarh) and Faculty Member, DiploFoundation, Malta. Involved with academic work in the areas of Consular, Cultural and Economic Diplomacy, Indian Diaspora, Migration and India’s relationship with USA, Russia, Caucasus, South, South East and Central Asia. Has contributed papers to a number of Publications and edited three books – ‘India-Eurasia: The Way Ahead’ (2008) and ‘Women Guiding the Destiny of South Asia” (2010), ‘Indian Diaspora: Migration and Development with focus on the State of Punjab’ (2012)#Digitaldiplomacy’ synergy
By James Lambert,
Canada’s Ambassador to the Netherlands.
I really welcomed the creation of Diplomat Magazine when I was asked to write an article for its first edition. It reminded me of Embassy, Canada’s foreign affairs news source. The popularity of diplomatic focused publications such as Embassy and the great interest raised by the launch of the monthly Diplomat Magazine show the increasing importance of online tools in communicating foreign policy matters to the diplomatic community as well as to a wider public. The digital magazine fits in a broader communication mix used by the Embassy of Canada to the Netherlands, which also encompasses social media.
In addition to inform our publics using our website, we are also active on Twitter and Facebook. We publish content on Twitter that focuses on political and economic issues, especially the very significant commercial relationship between Canada and the Netherlands. What we publish on Facebook gives more prominence to the daily activities of the mission. Photos are a nice touch! Alongside these tools, we use the website to create awareness about bilateral relations, consular advices, Canada and official visits. We also started giving the website a more personal touch by publishing my own reflections on subjects of the moment.
While we communicate differently on all three platforms, they are a great opportunity to target various audiences and create synergy. An example of how we embedded all three platforms is the recent blog entry Canadian Reflections on a Royal Relation I wrote and published on the Embassy’s website, and promoted through our Twitter and Facebook accounts to mark the investiture of the new King. This text not only underlines the unique bilateral relation between Canada and the Netherlands, it also presents the meaning of a royal transition for a country. It is worth mentioning that this blog entry attracted the attention of a broader audience than only the diplomatic community.
The integration of social media to our digital presence has proven to be a useful addition to our public diplomacy toolkit by allowing us to increase the visibility of the Embassy’s activities. Followers on Twitter and fans on Facebook form a captive audience that receives information without having to search for it and the content sharing allows us to connect and exchange with previously non-reachable publics. We have also been keen to share the Embassy’s lessons-learned with diplomatic colleagues and The Hague’s thriving academic and think-thank communities. The arrival of a media specifically dedicated to diplomatic and political news, information and events in the Netherlands will surely be a valuable addition to our digital approach. Because media are not only used to communicate, they are also wonderful sources of information.
Ambassador Lambert tweeting on his way out of the Embassy.
Ambassador Lambert tweeting on his way out of the Embassy. The Plurinational of Bolivia and the Peaceful Settlement of Interstate Disputes
By Roberto Calzadilla,
Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
The pacifist vocation of the Latin American States shows today a great attachment and respect for International Law and the use of mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes as the best means to achieve peace and international security. Several states in Latin American have chosen to solve their disputes by peaceful means such as the judicial proceedings before the International Court of Justice, under the American Treaty on Pacific Settlement known as the “Pact of Bogotá”.
The Bogotá Pact signed on April 30, 1948, represents for Bolivia the culmination of efforts made for several years by the American States to achieve an independent peaceful regional dispute resolution system. Signatories and member Stats of the Pact of Bogota reaffirmed their commitment in regard to international disputes, to the double obligation that the problem holds; refrain from the threat or the use of force or from any other means of coercion for the settlement of their controversies, and to have recourse at all times to pacific procedures, such as the judicial settlement.
The 11 Resolutions of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) on the Bolivia’s maritime problem approved between 1979 and 1989, urged, inter alia, in underscoring the continuing hemispheric interest, the parties to enter into negotiations in order to find an equitable solution whereby Bolivia should obtain appropriate sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean taking into account mutual conveniences and the rights and interests of all parties involved.
Taking in to consideration the spirit and object of the Pact of Bogotá and the OAS resolutions, and fundamentally the non compliance of Chile to negotiate a sovereign access to the sea for Bolivia, the Plurinational State of Bolivia on April 24, 2013, instituted proceedings against the Republic of Chile, at the International Court of Justice, with regard to the dispute concerning the obligation of Chile to negotiate the sovereign access of Bolivia to the Pacific Ocean, controversy which affects deeply and seriously the relations of both countries and the hemispheric integration.
This action undertaken by Bolivia should not be regarded as an unfriendly act against the Republic of Chile, as determined by the Resolution 37/10 of November 15, 1982, of the UN General Assembly, known as “Manila Declaration on the Settlement Pacific International Disputes” which states that “recourse to judicial settlement of legal disputes, particularly referral to the International Court of Justice, should not be considered an unfriendly act between States”. Bolivia has confirmed its commitment to the principles contained in Article 3 of the Charter of the OAS, particularly to the provisions, which states; “Controversies of an international character arising between two or more American States shall be settled by peaceful procedures”.
Nowadays only Bolivia and Chile are the States in Latinamerica who don’t maintain diplomatic relations. Solving peacefully this interstate dispute with Chile at the International Court of Justice, the Plurinational State of Bolivia looks forward to achieve in the near future a lasting peace and friendship in a spirit of good neighbourhood, to achieve a true Latin-American integration.
This action undertaken by Bolivia should not be regarded as an unfriendly act against the Republic of Chile, as determined by the Resolution 37/10 of November 15, 1982, of the UN General Assembly, known as “Manila Declaration on the Settlement Pacific International Disputes” which states that “recourse to judicial settlement of legal disputes, particularly referral to the International Court of Justice, should not be considered an unfriendly act between States”. Bolivia has confirmed its commitment to the principles contained in Article 3 of the Charter of the OAS, particularly to the provisions, which states; “Controversies of an international character arising between two or more American States shall be settled by peaceful procedures”.
Nowadays only Bolivia and Chile are the States in Latinamerica who don’t maintain diplomatic relations. Solving peacefully this interstate dispute with Chile at the International Court of Justice, the Plurinational State of Bolivia looks forward to achieve in the near future a lasting peace and friendship in a spirit of good neighbourhood, to achieve a true Latin-American integration.
Picture: Mapa de Bolivia 1851 (Collection: David Rumsey Historical Map Collection http://www.davidrumsey.com (0466.076) Autor Martin R.M;Thalis J & F. Año de publicación: 1851)
FINE ARTS. Sarina Missot
Sarina Missot – Get your vision.
After a while of looking around in one of Sarina Missots (1981) overwhelming hallucinations of lines, color and movement, you increasingly see that you are not surrounded by chaos. There is structure and direction in these spatial installations of video, drawings and paintings that may at first sight seem erratic, but the experience has no beginning or ending. Wander around, let yourself get pulled around by all the visual impulses. Imagine an unrestrained theatre, a show by freaks and free spirits that consumes you. Colored light and a thundering drone surprise you, yet there is such freedom and this grand lust for life that you gladly surrender yourself to it. There is so much to unearth that you want to keep discovering, looking and learning more.
Something like this is what Sarina Missot feels when she is working. Blue and red seamlessly melt into the punk rock she plays and the exuberant spectacle in her mind. She wants to get carried away by her work, but she also wants the viewer to be overwhelmed by giving him a similar experience abundant in colors, patterns and visual effects. She also makes the spectacle from her mind more explicit by adding film and photos she takes at punk rock ‘n’ roll shows, or even by hosting actual performances with the work. Walls, ceiling and virtually everything seems to enter the space, all of which is warm-bloodied and alive.
Missot grew up in a house full of batiks, masks and wajang dolls. Her mother was born on the island of Java and taught ‘folk painting’. This heritage laid the foundation for a broad, also non-Western perception on things. The impulsive way of drawing Missot had as a child, at art school turned into a more deliberate choice for following impulses. She took on an intuitive approach which is regularly paused for contemplation. She lets herself get swept by what she sees and feels whilst working, but invariably she takes a moment to critically study what she has formed. And that in turn leads to a response, often in a constructive form of destruction: tearing, cutting or over painting. Some pieces disappear whilst others are combined with something old and given a new role. In this way, Missot works on several things at a time and in some cases, years on end. The titles she gives reflect this. Pieces that are closely connected, like the ones in the series Get Your Vision, all get the same title. Only the years that follow it are changed.
What is presented in the end is not necessarily a static whole, since she constructs the works out of pieces of paintings in combinations that change with every location. A clear and ‘finished’ result is not something Missot is looking for. Surely beauty can seduce for a moment, but it doesn’t hold your attention like something that has lived. Like a visible struggle of some duration with form and material.
The work calls upon the viewer to actively see, to be open to visual impulses. Get absorbed, walk back and forth, look around as though you just discovered vision.
Skulls are one of the few recognizable and recurring elements. For Missot it is a very rich symbol that does not necessarily represent only death. It is where your entire identity, all your feelings and thoughts are formed. So skulls may also represent life and the abundance of possible experiences.
A space filled by Missot is a refuge, a free and vivid theatre in which you have a part.
Lynne van Rhijn, 2013
Sarina Missot is Fine Arts Editor for Diplomat Magazine. She works and lives in The Hague.
www.sarinamissot.nl
Missot grew up in a house full of batiks, masks and wajang dolls. Her mother was born on the island of Java and taught ‘folk painting’. This heritage laid the foundation for a broad, also non-Western perception on things. The impulsive way of drawing Missot had as a child, at art school turned into a more deliberate choice for following impulses. She took on an intuitive approach which is regularly paused for contemplation. She lets herself get swept by what she sees and feels whilst working, but invariably she takes a moment to critically study what she has formed. And that in turn leads to a response, often in a constructive form of destruction: tearing, cutting or over painting. Some pieces disappear whilst others are combined with something old and given a new role. In this way, Missot works on several things at a time and in some cases, years on end. The titles she gives reflect this. Pieces that are closely connected, like the ones in the series Get Your Vision, all get the same title. Only the years that follow it are changed.
What is presented in the end is not necessarily a static whole, since she constructs the works out of pieces of paintings in combinations that change with every location. A clear and ‘finished’ result is not something Missot is looking for. Surely beauty can seduce for a moment, but it doesn’t hold your attention like something that has lived. Like a visible struggle of some duration with form and material.
The work calls upon the viewer to actively see, to be open to visual impulses. Get absorbed, walk back and forth, look around as though you just discovered vision.
Skulls are one of the few recognizable and recurring elements. For Missot it is a very rich symbol that does not necessarily represent only death. It is where your entire identity, all your feelings and thoughts are formed. So skulls may also represent life and the abundance of possible experiences.
A space filled by Missot is a refuge, a free and vivid theatre in which you have a part.
Lynne van Rhijn, 2013
Sarina Missot is Fine Arts Editor for Diplomat Magazine. She works and lives in The Hague.
www.sarinamissot.nl FINE ARTS. Miguel Wetzel (Lima 1951)
By John Dunkelgrün.
Diplomat Magazine’s fine arts Editor.
ARTANA Latin American fine art.
Miguel Wetzel Gayoso,
Los caballos de paso, The paso horses of Peru.
When people think about horses and Latin America usually the first thing that comes to mind are Argentina’s Gauchos. However the horse has a very important place in all of the continent. It was thanks to the horse that Europeans were even able to colonise it at all and for over three hundred years it was almost the only method of transportation other than walking. Peru has even bred its own special race of horse, the caballo de paso. It was bred for long distances and high altitudes. It is of medium size and has a wide chest to accommodate the large lungs necessary for the high altitudes. It is very elegant both in appearance and movement, proof of its Arabian bloodlines. However the most notable quality is its ambling gait. The way the caballo de paso walks and (sort of) trots, affords the rider a much smoother ride, which on long trips is less tiring for both horse and rider.
Miguel Wetzel (Lima 1951) was brought up next to a cavalry barracks where as a little boy he became fascinated by the sheer elegance of these horses and their riders. He became an artist and – like many Peruvian art students – was first trained as a water colorist. Watercolors can be painted very fast, which is useful when trying to capture posture and movement. He paints his horses and riders and paints nothing else: no background, no clothes, no saddles or other accoutrements. It is not even clear whether his riders are women or men. He is merely interested in capturing the movement and the position of rider and horse. Often he achieves this by painting his subjects in different positions in the same painting.
Wetzel is also an accomplished sculptor, whose three-dimensional works are abstract … unless you know of his main artistic interest. Then you will perceive elements of his equine world even in an otherwise fully abstract work.
It is said that for any deep specialisation one needs ten thousand hours of experience.
Wetzel has spent that several times over on his horse paintings and has become the maestro par excellence of bringing the caballo de paso to life.
John Dunkelgrün
ARTANA latin american fine art
Wetzel is also an accomplished sculptor, whose three-dimensional works are abstract … unless you know of his main artistic interest. Then you will perceive elements of his equine world even in an otherwise fully abstract work.
It is said that for any deep specialisation one needs ten thousand hours of experience.
Wetzel has spent that several times over on his horse paintings and has become the maestro par excellence of bringing the caballo de paso to life.
John Dunkelgrün
ARTANA latin american fine art
Roberto Azevêdo’s WTO appointment: some views from Brazil.
By Marília Maciel.
Unlike soccer, foreign policy is not a Brazilian national passion. Nevertheless, the election of Roberto Azevêdo as Director General of the WTO engendered demonstrations of pride. Brazilians celebrated the victory in social media channels, while many analysts mentioned the technical excellency of Brazilian diplomats and pointed out that this fact reflected a new world order in which power shifts towards the South. For Brazilian traditional media, the election was a missed opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of multilateralism and commerce for social welfare. Emulating some views from abroad, most media coverage dwelled on the issue of a supposed protectionism in Brazil’s commercial policies, and seemed to be primarily aimed at influencing national politics. A few valuable analyses explored the meaning of this election to Brazil, to the developing world and to the WTO. It seems reductionist to affirm that this election is a victory for the South. Although a North-South divide remains in some of the issues discussed at the WTO, such as Intellectual Property, the majority of them actually cut across geographies. In addition, Mr. Azevêdo received support from a broad range of countries from all regions. The division of European Union member states in this election is an example of that. Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to deny the importance of electing a DG from a developing country. His sensibility to developing needs will probably make him struggle harder to conclude the Doha round. And this may be positive for the Organization. Many analysts agree that the most important task of the new DG is to preserve the normative and institutional acquis of the WTO and to move the pillar of negotiations forward. It is critical that there is a strong voice to remind all actors of the contribution that the WTO has made to stability and welfare. An open and frank dialogue is needed, and Mr. Azevêdo seems to be willing to act as broker of compromise, currently focused on achieving early harvest deals until Bali. His first task will be to reanimate Doha negotiations, even if it means to conceptually rethink the round. That does not mean to put aside the mandate: according to him, agriculture, services and liberalization of industrial goods should evolve together. The round needs to be kept alive so new themes can be introduced without the fear that the former ones will be abandoned. With regards to Brazil, the election reaffirmed the country’s willigness to take greater responsibility in world affairs. Although Mr. Azevêdo will no longer represent Brazilian interests, the outcomes of his efforts will reflect on Brazil’s image in international politics. This election also shows that the Brazilian government is able to act with a unique voice towards key goals. More than fourteen departments were involved during the campaign and the President was actively engaged. But the election is actually the result of a long-term diplomatic effort. The political influence and respect that Brazil acquired in the commercial regime is based on its support to multilateral solutions, on the prominent role it has played in the G20 and the new Quad and on its commitment to the effectiveness of the dispute settlement mechanism. Hopes are high that these attributes will reflect on Mr. Azevêdo’s mandate and inspire him to find creative solutions to current deadlocks. The game is just beginning, and it promises to be a challenging and exciting one. About the author: Graduate degree in Law from the Federal University of Pernambuco (2005) and master’s degree in Latin American Integration from the Federal University of Santa Maria (2008). Research fellow at the Center for Technology and Society of the Getulio Vargas Foundation – Rio de Janeiro, where she worked in the Free Culture project, funded by the Ford Foundation, and in the Brazilian Observatory of Digital Policies, the result of a partnership between CTS / FGV and the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br). She was an invited professor in several courses at FGV, such as the course on Intellectual Property Law (undergraduate), the LLM Litigation (specialization) and the MBA in Cultural Management. Also taught classes in the Information Society module in the Jean Monnet Chair (FGV Law School). She was a lecturer and a tutor in courses offered by DiploFoundation (Geneva), such as the Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme, the course on Global Normes against terrorism (in partnership with UNODC), and the course on E-diplomacy, in which she worked with emphasis on computer-mediated diplomatic negotiations. Between 2011 and 2012 she was a member of the Working Group to propose improvements to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF / UN) under the auspices of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UN CSTD). In 2012 she was invited to speak at the opening of the 15th session of CSTD. Between 2009 and 2011 she represented CTS / FGV in meetings of the Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). She is currently a member of the Advisory Board on Internet security, created under the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee.Vietnam – Netherlands, by Ambassador Huynh Minh Chinh
By Huynh Minh Chinh, Ambassador of Vietnam to the Netherlands.
VIETNAM – NETHERLANDS, FORTY YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS (1973 -2013)
Forty years ago, 2 years before the war ended in Vietnam, Vietnam and the Netherlands officially established diplomatic relations. The last 40 years proved to be the most fruitful and inspiring period in 400 years of bilateral relations that dates back as early as the first contact in 1601 in a commercial habour of Vietnam.
Some people would still relate Vietnam to wars. In fact, after a long period of severe war to fight for and regain its independence, in 1975 Vietnam came out in ruins and ashes but soon has since rapidly rebuilt and developed the country from a battle field into an emerging market economy. Over the last 20 years, Vietnam was recognised as one of the fastest growing economies in the world with the average growth rate of about 7.5% a year. In spite of the present economic downturn, in most recent 3 years, Vietnam has been able to maintain its sustainable growth at more than 5%. Some of the main impressive indications of the development of the country are: Vietnam achieved most of the Millennium Development Goals in 2008, long ahead the final deadline of 2015; in 2012, Vietnam got out of the group of least developed countries and entered the group of medium income countries with GDP per capita of about 1,200 USD; Vietnam has also gained a number of top positions in the world’s export. For example, in 2012 Vietnam was the world’s No. 1 in export of black pepper with 110,000 tonnes worth 800 million USD; No. 1 in export of cashew nuts worth 1.6 billion USD; No.2 in export of rice with 8 million tonnes worth 3.7 billion USD, 1/3 of the world rice export market; No.2 in export of coffee with 1.6 million tonnes worth 3.2 billion USD; No.5 in natural rubber with 1.02 million tonnes worth 2.8 billion USD etc… Vietnam now is an internationally open, hospitable and attractive market. Until the end of 2012, foreign investment in Vietnam has reached about 210.5 billion USD; annual export of Vietnam accounts for about 170 billion USD. This is also a market of 90 million inhabitants with skilled, young and hardworking labour force. Centrally located in South East Asia, with long coastlines near the strategic sea lanes of communications connecting the Pacific and the Indian oceans, the country is an ideal hub of trading development.
Bilaterally, in undertaking its commitment to actively promote international integration policy, making itself a responsible member of the world’s community, a good friend and partner of every country, in order to materialize the country’s industrialization and modernization strategy, Vietnam is committed to further enhance and deepen its good existing relation and cooperation with the Netherlands. Vietnam always remembers with gratitude to the Netherlands that, prior to the establishment of the bilateral relations, the Dutch people had taken to the streets to demonstrate their strong support for the peace in Vietnam and then afterwards, had been much kind as to receive many Vietnamese migrants to come and settle down here in the country.
The present excellent relations between the two countries have been clearly reflected in a number of high level visit exchanges over the last 20 years, most importantly the visits of the Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok to Vietnam in 1995, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to the Netherlands in 2001, H.R.H Crown Prince Willem Alexander and H.R.H Princess Maxima (now H.M. the King and H.M. the Queen of the Netherlands) to Vietnam in 2005 and 2011, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung to the Netherlands in 2011. The highlight of the bilateral relations was the Vietnam – Netherlands Joint Statement issued on the 1 October 2011 in the Hague which stated, among other things, that “The two sides welcomed the robust development in the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherlands and agreed to further broaden and deepen this relationship. In this spirit, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in five prioritized economic areas, adaptation to climate change and water management, agriculture, maritime industry, energy, and logistics. The two sides also agreed to broaden potential cooperation in other areas of mutual interest”. Yet, the two countries also enjoy close cooperation at many international fora such as United Nations, ASEM etc…
Development assistance from the Netherlands for Vietnam has been playing an important role in the reconstruction and building up the latter country, especially in the fields of education, healthcare, water, forestry, environment etc…and is considered “a successful model”. The last 20 years have evidenced an incredibly rapid growth of effective and mutually beneficial business cooperation between the two countries leading to the great achievements such as: the Netherlands has been the biggest European investor in Vietnam since 2010 with about 163 projects and the total of about 6 billion USD capital invested; a leading European trade partner of Vietnam with the annual turnover reaching 3.2 billion USD, increasing by 15-20% every year; the Netherlands is an important “gate way” to Europe for Vietnam. Most of the Dutch businesses in Vietnam, including Unilever, Shell, Friesland –Campina, Heineken, Akzo Nobel, Damen and many small and medium size companies are successful and create good mutual profits. Vietnam is well positioned to be the “gate way” to the East and Southeast Asia for the Netherlands in term of trade and industrial production. Especially, Vietnam and the Netherlands have become strategic partners in climate change adaptation and water management since 2010. Some other strategic partnership arrangements are under consideration with regards to agriculture, maritime industry (port development, shipbuilding, commercial shipping). There has appeared a good ground to elevate our cooperation from development assistance onto the level of economic and trading cooperation between equals. Inevitably, the two countries also have close cultural relation and educational cooperation, reflected by the combined image of lotus and tulip flowers and common fascination of football. A large number of Vietnamese students studying in the Netherlands could well be a good workforce source and bridge for the bilateral economic and scientific cooperation.
The achievements in the bilateral relation and cooperation have been resulted in by sharing many things in common: the traditional struggles against water and for independence, the maritime and agricultural backgrounds of the economy, the hardworking, kind peoples etc… Despite vicissitudes that any relation could come across, there is always a very strong willingness to connect Vietnam and the Netherlands which has been built up on the basis of humane respect and sympathy, and the economic cooperation is also the backbone of this relationship.
As a Vietnamese King put it in his letter to a Dutch Governor-General in 1670: “…that we shall remain friends for ever for as long as the sun and the moon will shine”, this is strongly believed that the good bilateral relationship and economic cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherlands will be carried on and deepened significantly in years to come.
Syria, a Dutch perspective
By Peter Knoope.
The situation in Syria is one of these regular items that has slowly become a constant factor in our daily news diet. Such even that we would almost come to ignore it, and maybe we should to a certain extend. The Dutch press especially impresses me with its coverage of the issue. More specifically the fighters that leave their own quite village, like Gouda and Delft (you should go and see these places, really nice quite places where nothing really exciting ever happens) to go and join one of the dirtiest and confusing conflicts in recent history.
Every single traveling fighter has been interviewed and has talked to several journalists. We now know these people and their personal stories. So much for “one minute of fame”. This week there was even the result of a research into the opinion of Muslims compared to non-Muslims about these brave young people going to war. And (surprise surprise) our Muslim youngsters feel more sympathy for them than our non Muslim population. This is lesson number -1- from the book on “how to effectively divide a country into two opposing groups: the “us” and the “them”. And all this press coverage almost creates the idea that Syria is invaded by the Dutch. That without the Dutch fighters the conflict would soon be over and done with. Nothing of that kind is the case obviously.
The reality is that most of the active foreign fighters are not made in Holland; on the contrary. Only a rough ten percent of the total number of foreign fighters in Syria are European; out of this ten percent few are Dutch. The majority are from the region itself and from Northern Africa. Recently Hezbollah announced officially that they have people on the ground. But Hezbollah is not the only faction involved. We know for a fact that many fighters come from Tunisia and Libya, to mention just two countries of origin of these self-proclaimed heroes. And here is the real issue: Syria has become the attraction of the decade. The place to be for heroic action and some real life violence.
Even though the FSA has asked not to come, even though war is a dirty business, even though the presence of the fighters is not contributing to the solution but rather aggravating and adding to the issues. The Dutch press may want to make us believe that this is a bolder issue. One would even almost start to hope so. But the reality is that Syria has become a playground for many and that at least part of the attraction is the attraction itself.
The real questions remain to be answered. Why do individuals want to lose their life in vain? What do they think they contribute to peace and reduction of human suffering. And may be for the press to contemplate on: why make it look as if this is a Dutch issue instead of picturing the full reality? Syria is an international top attraction for youngsters looking for instant fame and a cause to live and die for. May be, just may be, because “most people do what most people do”. Which means that the more we give it a platform and expose it, the more it happens. Which implicates that we should consider to reduce the talk and pay as little attention to it as possible. We know that our press can do it, since they have no radar when it comes to the majority of the foreign fighters in Syria: the non Dutch.
Andrew Carnegie, “the dreamer”
By Willem Post.
They called him a dreamer. The Scottish-American Andrew Carnegie built his way up from humble origins to becoming a steel magnate. The American Dream in a nutshell. But for Carnegie it was not a dream about materialism. The richest man on earth, the Bill Gates of his era, gave away a fortune to build libraries and other useful institutes, in order to educate people about world peace. He funded the building of the PeacePalace in The Hague. In utopian way Carnegie called the new building ‘The Temple of Peace’. He was convinced that the dedication on the 28th of August 1913 was one of the most important events in world history.
But was he naive? A year later the First World War broke out, creating misery on an immense scale.
My answer to the question is ‘NO’ with capital letters. This so called ‘first modern war’ was from a moral and realistic perspective a disaster. Literally the destruction of almost a generation in several countries. And an enormous waste of money and capital goods in the newly industrialized world. In Carnegie’s days the consensus in diplomatic circles was to talk about peace after a war. The 1919 Treaty of Versailles can be placed in this tradition.
In our times there is a vivid, intelectual discussion, influenced also by the withdrawal of the military from Iraq and Afganistan, to implement the principles of ‘Responsibility to Protect’ as adopted by the United Nations in 2005. One of the key principles of this very human doctrine is that we have to invest more in averting war. So the PeacePalace with its courts is a very modern phenomenon. The peaceful settlement of disputes, the core ‘business’ of the Palace is nowadays more important than ever.
Therefore, this Mr Carnegie is a true ‘The Hague world icon’. A man we still have to thank for his inspiration and foresight.
Willem Post is a senior fellow on international affairs at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague and a commentator for several European, American and Australian media