By Bonnie Klap, Editor in Chief For the last couple of weeks the news in The Hague was justly and understandably  dominated by the NSS, the Nuclear Security Summit,  and consequently the large influx of world leaders into the City of Peace and Justice, amongst whom US President Obama. Needless to say these two days created a lot of excitement among the press and general public. With this important and successful summit behind us, allow me to share with  you another topic related to The Hague, which is perhaps not equally important, but certainly deserves its fair share of attention as well. Probably unknown to most of you the city of The Hague has chosen the organization ‘Save the Children’ as its Charity of the year 2014.Why am I telling you this? There are two reasons for me to do so. First and foremost I truly believe that our children are the future and that they deserve to be protected. The independent international organization ‘Save the children,’ which was founded in 1919 and has 14,000 professionals working in 120 different countries worldwide,  does exactly that. It strives to protect  all children in the ages from 0 to 18 years, regardless of the child’s religion, gender, race, skin color, nationality or political preference. Save the children goes about this by providing medical care, quality education and better living conditions. The second reason why I am mentioning this The Hague charity is because I recently had a most inspiring conversation with a lady called Wendy Kweens, who is a Project Manager for  Save the children in The Netherlands. Ms. Kweens is also eager to bring The Hague’s 2014 charity to the attention of the diplomatic and international community in The Hague. As she tells me  their motto is: ‘do or donate something,’ encouraging people to start their own fundraiser with the children as the beneficiaries. Perhaps we can all think of a way to contribute in a small ( or big) way. After all, the NSS was meant to make the world a safer and  better place. Don’t children, wherever they live, deserve the best possible living conditions as well?  

Have you ever heard of the expression “Banks give you an umbrella when the sun is shining and when it rains they are taking it away.”? You must have heard of it. For me it brings a bitter smile on my face, because I know it is true. I have lived through it by experience – I had numerous clients over my 16 years of experience as real estate agent, who went through this rainy period in their lives. And each time it is very dramatic on a personal level. As a professional I stay cool and say and do the right things at the right time. However, in my heart I know that compassion is only a patch on a deep financial wound. Although, I must admit that there is some good news concerning the residential housing market. The property prices finally stabilized! These are magic words in everybody’s ears who own properties.  Residential property prices were down with just 0.5% in January 2014, compared with a year earlier. Exactly this is showing that property prices have now stabilized, says the CBS (The National Statistics Office) last week. Month on month, there was a slight rise of 0.4%. However, one of every five homes that are sold, are being sold with a loss. This has been a serious development and it might give you better insights in the saying “When it rains – it pours!”.  In those cases the owners have received a lot less than what they have paid for.  This has been published beginning of February 2014 by the NOS based on research of the ground-book (Kadaster).  The result of the research was as such, 17.913 residences were sold for less than they were bought for. That is 40% less than in 2012. The damage is quiet big. 20% of all properties which were sold with a loss, the damage was bigger than € 40.000. Usually people who are selling their properties are involved in a divorce and sometimes the damage is even over € 100.000, leaving the parties with a huge debt. Not everybody is so lucky that they can go to a real estate agent and agree on a price and conditions to sell their home.  There are plenty of people how HAVE TO sell their residences. In 2013 this has risen by 27% compared to 2012. According to the Foundation of Housing (Stichting Waarborgfonds Eigen Woning) the direct increase was caused by the price drop, the growth of unemployment and the number of divorces. The average loss per home ran in 2013 up by 11% until about € 38.877. To give you a clear picture on forced homes sales over the past 5 years: 2009 = 763 homes 2010 = 1.336 homes 2011 = 2.005 homes 2012 = 3.552 homes and in 2013 = 4.522 homes. The banks really don’t like to sell homes off through an auction and that has 2 selfish reasons. One is that they are suffering from image-loss. Yes, you heard me – image-loss! We are not talking about the image of the poor sod who is just about to loose his home, his base, his safety heaven – we are really talking about The image of the bank. And then of course is the financial point, which will be written off in the books as a loss. The second reason is that an auction provides a higher loss (much more over €20.000) than a private sale through a real estate agent. Despite the fact that the housing market is recovering this year, even more people will have to face a forced sell of their properties. The expected numbers will raise in 2014 from 5.000 to 55.000 according to Mr. Karel Schiffer, Director of the Foundation Guarantee Fund Own Properties (Stichting Waarborfonds Eigen Woning; WEW). He also stated “We hope that the recovery in the housing market continues, however, we are still taking into account that this year the prices might drop further. It is a very exciting year.” Personally, I think Mr K. Schiffer is taking a canon to shoot a mosquito. This can go into all directions. There is a big difference between 5.000 and 5.500. My conclusion, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.    

By Bonnie Klap, Editor in Chief It is no mean feat to capture the multi-faceted career of Reinildis van Ditzhuyzen in a few sentences. Apart from being a well-known personality  on Dutch, German and French television, she is a historian, journalist and author of close to two dozen books on topics varying from history and culture, to etiquette and Royalty. It is because of her vast expertise on the latter, that I sit down with her this month, as on April 26th  The Netherlands will celebrate its first Kings Day with a new King. Q: Obviously it is a big moment when somebody gets to meet the King. What is the correct etiquette? A: “First of all: You can never introduce your self. If the King happens to be present at some event  or reception, you can not just walk up to him and say ‘hello.’ The King must always take the initiative. People are usually introduced to the King through courtiers.  Generally speaking the rule is: never go to a higher ranking person. When meeting the King there is no need to bow. Queen Juliana, King Willem-Alexander’s Grandmother, abolished this rule, but for instance when meeting the Queen of Britain, Spain or Denmark, people should bow.” Q: The Dutch Monarchy has the reputation of being a rather laid-back and relaxed Monarchy, as opposed to for instance the British Monarchy. Is this true? A: “Yes, it is true. I have been travelling with the former Queen Beatrix and last June I also went to Germany with the new King. He is more relaxed than his Mother, but of course it is necessary to keep that distance, that dignity.” Q: Why did you accompany  HM the King to Germany last June? A: “ Well, I write books about the House of Orange and also about etiquette. For me these trips are very important as I see up close how the Monarchy functions.  I don’t go along on all State visits, but the trips are very interesting, also regarding how the Protocol works. I will give an example: The rule is, that there may never be an empty seat next to the King, so  when the King attends a lecture and the person sitting next to him gets up to deliver a speech, then immediately somebody will move next to the King. This is all arranged beforehand of course. Queen Juliana detested Protocol. For instance, if she would visit  a theatre, she would say: ‘Just pretend I’m not here.’ Consequently all the people would  get confused and had to improvise. Should they help her into her coat, or not, that kind of thing. Protocol is useful and helps everything  to run smoothly. Queen Beatrix understood this and when she succeeded her Mother, Queen Juliana, she changed it, as she knew: Protocol ensures an orderly organization.” Q: I understand discretion is of the utmost importance in your position. Still, is there perhaps an anecdote, some small tidbit about HM the King, that you can share with the readers? A:  “During the trip to Germany the King also visited the Opel-factory. There was a  hall filled with Opel-employees and the King was seated on a separate stage together with a number of people, who were selected beforehand. After a while the King turned around to the group of people, who were not on the stage and started talking to one of them. You could clearly see how delighted that person was. In this instance the King broke the protocol, but in a very nice way. Everybody was very excited. I would also like to mention the advantage of Monarchy. Monarchy brings stability and continuity, because a King or Queen will be there for 20 or 30 years, whereas Prime-Ministers come and go. We have had the House of Orange for centuries and they also mean identity. We are a small country and the Royalty gives us that extra myth, tradition and the  fairytale-aspect. People need the fairytale-aspect.”

Cyprus is considered the island where Aphrodite was supposedly born, risen up from the foam (aphro in Greek) produced by the sea waves hitting on rocky coasts. This island which was chosen to give birth to the Greco-roman mythological goddess of love, beauty and pleasure, is also known for the production of the oldest wine in the world, commandaria: The wine of kings and the king of wines, as King Richard the Lionheart said during his wedding in Cyprus, at the 12^th century. Commandaria Commandaria, the amber-coloured sweet dessert wine made from sun-dried grapes of the varieties Xynisteri and Mavro, in the Commandaria region of Cyprus on the foothills of Troodos Mountains has a rich history. It represents an ancient wine style documented in Cyprus back to 800 BC (Greek poet Hesiod named commandaria as the Cypriot Manna, food from haven) and has the distinction of being the world’s oldest named wine still in production, with the name Commandaria dating back to the crusades in the 12th century. During the Crusades, Commandaria was served at the 12th century wedding of King Richard the Lion-heart to Berengaria of Navarre, in the southern coastal town of Limassol; it was during the wedding that King Richard pronounced Commandaria “the wine of kings and the king of wines”. Near the end of the century the Lion-heart sold the island to the Knights Templar who then sold it to Frankish nobleman Guy de Lusignan, but kept a large feudal estate at Kolossi, close to Limassol, to themselves. This Kolossi estate was referred to as “La Grande Commanderie”. The word Commanderie referred to the military headquarters whilst Grande helped distinguish it from two smaller such command posts on the island, one close to Paphos and another near Kyrenia. This area under the control of the Knights Templar (and subsequently the Knights Hospitaller) became known as Commandaria. When the Knights Templar began producing large quantities of the wine for export to European royal courts and for supplying pilgrims en route to the holy lands, the wine assumed the name of the region. Thus it has the distinction of being the world’s oldest named wine still in production. Legend has it that in the 13th century Philip Augustus of France held the first ever wine tasting competition. The event, branded The Battle of the Wines (fr. La Bataille des Vins), was recorded in a notable French poem written by Henry d’Andeli in 1224. The competition which included wines from all over Europe and France was won by a sweet wine from Cyprus widely believed to be Commandaria. The Commandery region itself fell into the control of his descendant Philip IV in 1307, after the suppression of the Knights Templar. Another legend has it that the Ottoman sultan Selim II invaded the island just to acquire Commandaria; also that the grapes used to make this wine were the same grapes exported to Portugal that eventually became famous as the source of port wine. ZIVANIA: the heavier alcoholic spirit of Cyprus Cyprus has another legendary alcohol beverage the zivania, its colorless and alcoholic with a light aroma of raisins. Its alcohol content varies, with 45% by volume being the typical value. Zivania contains no sugar and has no acidity. In order to produce Zivania of the highest grade, mature healthy grapes of the best quality are used. Zivania has been produced in Cyprus since the time the Republic of Venice ruled the island, around the end of the 15th century. Evidence of its continued production during Ottoman and British rule of the island comes from writers such as the British writer Samuel Baker who in 1879 reported that “…the refuse of skins and stalks is laid upon one side to ferment for the manufacture of raki, or spirit, by distillation…” Since 1989, Zivania’s name has been protected under EU regulations. In old times, the main alcoholic drinks Cypriots consumed were wine and zivania. In some villages of Cyprus, cinnamon was added to zivania giving it a nice red color and a fine aroma and flavor. As zivania ages it gains a stronger flavor and aroma. Aged zivania has been valued very highly and is kept for consumption during special occasions or as a welcoming treat for visitors. Even nowadays at some villages in Cyprus, locals welcome visitors with zivania served together with dried nuts, Turkish delight, or small appetizers like cheeses and sausages. Other than enjoying zivania as an alcoholic drink, Cypriots is using it for several other purposes. Zivania is used to treat wounds, for massaging sore body parts, as a remedy for colds and toothaches or as a warming-up drink during the cold months of winter, especially in the villages of the Troodos mountains. After they are harvested,the grapes are set in the sun for a week to ten days, a process that serves to concentrate their natural sugars. Commandaria gets its name from the Gran Commanderie, an area surrounding the well preserved Kolossi Castle which is located west of Limassol. Commandaria gets its name from the Gran Commanderie, an area surrounding the well preserved Kolossi Castle which is located west of Limassol.  

By Fahim Masoud The five republics of Central Asia (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan) are endowed with an immense amount of natural resources and are located in the center of Eurasia. The collapse of the Soviet Union made it possible for these Central Asian states to develop independent relations with the rest of the world.   However, the emerging economic and geopolitical significance of these five republics to China is currently defining the international relations of these republics. Kazakhstan in particular has attracted the interest of the Chinese government. Geographically, Kazakhstan shares a border with China’s western province, Xinjiang. Politically, Kazakhstan is still a dictatorship. China, unlike the United States and European powers, registers no objections to the Kazakh government’s “human rights abuses”. This makes China’s political and economic transactions with the Kazakh government much easier. As China’s thirst for oil and natural gas has stimulated the Chinese to invest heavily in the markets of Central Asia, Kazakhstan will continue to be a particular target for that investment. Janet Liao describes Chinese economic interest in Kazakhstan: With the steady growth of the Chinese economy and its energy demands, Kazakhstan together with other central Asian states— has become one of the key sources for China’s energy supply. In terms of absolute amounts, oil from Kazakhstan still only accounts for a small portion of China’s total oil imports: in 2004, China imported 1.19 million tons (8.3 million barrels) of crude oil from Kazakhstan, compared with the country’s total imports of 91million tons (636.8 million barrels), about 1.31 percent. Nevertheless, a bilateral strategic partnership underpinned by energy cooperation is believed to fit the fundamental interest of both nations. Of course, China is not the only country eyeing the natural resources of Central Asia. Western Europe, Russia, India, and the United States are interested as well. Thus it is no surprise that Central Asia in recent years has become the center of world attention. It is not only energy demands that draw China to Kazakhstan, but also security concerns. The western province of China—Xinjiang or the “NewTerritories”—was annexed to the Chinese empire in 1884. However, ever since its addition to the empire, the [Muslim] Uyghurs, the natives of the province, have been trying to separate and create their own independent state. During the upheaval and instability in China in the 1930s and 1940s, the Uyghurs broke away and created an independent Xinjiang. However, as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) emerged, Mao crushed the natives and re-annexed Xinjiang. Many of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang left China and settled throughout the region now governed by the five Central Asian republics. Uyghurs remaining in China have fomented unrest and been found responsible for “several bombings” in Xinjiang and other parts of China, writes Susan Shirk who is an expert on Chinese politics. China has been working with the Central Asian states to avoid political problems and to extinguish the remnant Uyghurs’ aspirations for an independent Xinjiang by preventing the Uyghurs’ partnering with the diaspora scattered throughout the region. The Uyghur dynamics are just one source of the multifactorial ethnic unrest that will continue to be a major domestic issue for China. Non-Uyghur separatist groups in Tibet and Mongolia also pose strategic threats to the regime. Thus, social unrest, in addition to economic concerns, contributes to need for China to march westward. Central Asia is at the center of a super-continent whose strategic importance is many fold: it is a continent that is home to three of the world’s most sophisticated and advanced economic regions. Seventy-five percent of the world’s population lives in Eurasia and, as Zbigniew Brzezinski notes, “three-fourths of the world’s energy resources” are there as well. Eurasia is also the world’s most dynamic continent, as it is the location of six of the largest economies as well as the six biggest military spenders. The location of Central Asia has made it a “strategic pivot.” The interconnectedness and high degree of economic interaction among great powers makes it unlikely that a strategic player (China or Russia) could use Central Asia as a staging ground for an invasion. However, it should be “America’s primary interest to help ensure that no single power come to control this geopolitical space” [Zbigniew Brzezinski] because any strategic player dominating Eurasia would likely seek to control other parts of the world. Central Asian countries, especially Kazakhstan, can be a conduit of stability, as their natural resources can satisfy some of the energy demands of the People’s Republic of China. Central Asian countries are rich in oil, natural gas, and other resources, and therefore, it makes sense for the Chinese to extend their economic muscle to that part of the world. Kazakhstan is a country that is rich in natural resources and can help Beijing with the prospect of creating jobs for its citizens. China has been working on many infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan: roads, railroads, bridges, airports, and pipelines. These efforts further demonstrate the importance of Central Asia to the Chinese government.

Direct from the European Commission. There is an end to the five-year on December 1, 2014 Stockholm Programme of the European Council and its Action Plan, the Commission ( IP/10/447 ), identifying priorities in the area of freedom, security and justice are established. Transition also ends that had been committed. In the Lisbon Treaty concerning justice Therefore, the Commission presented in Annex future package that will be submitted to the Council on 26 June 2014. JUSTICE POLICY

• Mutual trust should be the basis of justice policies of the EU (eg EU instruments such as the European arrest warrant and the rules relating to conflicts between Member States)
• It should be a priority to continue to take that EU citizens encounter when they exercise their right to freedom of movement and residence. In another EU country, the obstacles
• Companies must be assured that they are an efficient way to enforce compliance with contracts across the EU and disputes can make without the problems it while still experiencing now pending.

INSTRUMENT OF LAW In order to cope with the threats to which the rule system is exposed in each of the 28 Member States, the European Commission adopted a new framework today. The new framework for the rule of law complements the infringement proceedings – which apply when EU law is not respected – and the so-called “Article 7 procedure” of the Lisbon Treaty, the new framework provides a tool early warning.. With this, the Commission and the MemberState concerned may consult in order to prevent systemic threats escalate. When offering the new framework of the EU law no solution, 7 is always the last resort to resolve a crisis and to ensure that European values ​​are observed. The new framework makes visible how the Commission exercises its role under the Treaties. No new powers for the Commission created or claimed. Examples of system threats in recent years: Attempt to dismantle (Romania), attempt to undermine (Hungary) the independence of judges to the Constitutional   Court. HOME AFFAIRS POLICY The Stockholm Programme, which in 2010-2014 was decisive for the policy in the area of home affairs, is nearing its end. Therefore, the Commission now presents a strategic vision for the future priorities for Home Affairs: the agreed legislation and existing instruments should be fully implemented and the EU to respond to new opportunities and challenges. What improvements are possible?

• Synergies with other policies (such as trade) can be improved,
• the movement of highly skilled service can be better controlled,
• a structured dialogue on labor migration can be set up with Member States, industry and trade unions,
• the recognition of foreign professional qualifications and skills can be simplified,
• and that more work can be made ​​of the integration of migrants into the labor market and the host societies at large.