Tashkent International Investment Forum: History of creation and significance for the implementation of Uzbekistan’s Investment Policy

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Tashkent International Investment Forum: History of creation and significance for the implementation of Uzbekistan’s Investment Policy

By Oybek Khamrayev, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Since 2017, amid a wave of structural reforms affecting all areas of state and society without exception, the international community has unanimously called Uzbekistan a driving force in the region. During this time, the country has gone through an accelerated transformation of the economy and is increasingly appearing in the international community as one of the symbols of openness, innovation and determination in removing various barriers to business and investments.

The liberalization and modernization of the national economy has been carried out, the multiplicity of exchange rates has been eliminated, and the opportunity for unhindered currency conversion has been created. Investment activity is stimulated through the development of public-private partnership instruments and project financing. These measures are necessary to ensure accelerated growth of investments in infrastructure, which is a key factor in increasing investment attractiveness and sustainable economic growth.

The recognition of the country, its openness, aspirations for integration into the world trade, financial, and industrial circles finds positive responses and support from the global business community, including through the holding of new major international events in the country. The Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) is one of such landmark events that allowed Uzbekistan to declare itself as a reliable, self–confident, promising partner in the international arena.

In order to further promote Uzbekistan as one of the promising countries for investment and business development in 2019, the issue of organizing the first TIIF was worked out. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the related aspirations of various states to ensure stable health and safety of the population have made some adjustments to the international agenda of Tashkent, as a result of which the first TIIF was held in 2022, bringing together more than 1.5 thousand distinguished guests on its site. As a result, a package of contracts and investment agreements worth $7.8 billion was signed and preliminary agreements were reached on the implementation of projects worth $3.5 billion. Significant results and breakthrough agreements on the sidelines of the Forum steadily held the top positions in the international media for almost 2 weeks after the event.

In April 2023, the capital of Uzbekistan hosted the guests of the 2nd Tashkent International Investment Forum. This year it was attended by more than 2.5 thousand leading investors, officials, heads of large companies and holdings, financiers and experts in the field of economics from 70 countries, including the USA, Great Britain, Turkey, China, India, Egypt, the EU, CIS, Southeast Asia, the Middle East.

For comparison: last year, 1.5 thousand guests from 50 countries gathered in Tashkent at the TMIF-2022. This suggests that the interest of the international financial and business community in Uzbekistan has grown significantly and strengthened over the past year.

More than 30 events of various formats were held on the sidelines of the Forum: a plenary session attended by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, dozens of panel sessions and round tables, business breakfasts and B2B meetings. 

The experts had the opportunity to share their views and experience on various issues of the global and regional economic and investment agenda. In particular, the focus was on the development of e-commerce, the “green economy”, digital banking, the investment potential of the regions, the steps taken to industrialize the country and orient the industry to produce products with high added value, as well as the transformation of corporate governance in companies with state participation, energy sector projects, water resources management and other relevant topics.

According to experts, holding such a grandiose event in Uzbekistan is the result of consistent and comprehensive reforms implemented in the New Uzbekistan in recent years.

By the way, the topic of qualitative structural changes in the country was a red line both on the official agenda of the Forum and on the discussions on its sidelines. Significant steps were noted to radically improve the investment climate, create comfortable conditions for business, and deep institutional reforms that completely renewed the country’s image in the international arena. For 6 years, child labor has been completely eradicated in Uzbekistan, zero tolerance to corruption has been introduced, freedom of speech and religion has been guaranteed, private property has been protected, legality, interethnic peace and stability have been strengthened.

The speeches emphasized the country’s desire to become the best place for investment. To achieve this, a colossal work aimed at practical results has been carried out and continues.

All bureaucratic barriers that hindered the free activity of investors have been eliminated, a business-friendly fiscal system has been created, the total number of taxes has been reduced from 13 to 9, the value-added tax rate has been reduced from 20 to 12 percent. 

Foreign investors are exempt from taxes for a period of three years on dividends received from their shares, as well as from paying customs duties on raw materials and goods for more than 7 thousand items.

The processes of privatization of large banks, industrial and infrastructure facilities have been launched in the country, bringing the share of private financial organizations in the banking sector to at least 60%. Work is underway on the privatization of large state-owned companies in the mining, chemical, financial and telecommunications industries. Mechanisms of public-private partnership are being actively implemented.

In the course of the Administrative Reform initiated this year, the number of ministries was reduced from 61 to 28, more than 500 state functions for business regulation were canceled and transferred to the private sector.

At the Constitutional level, the State’s obligations to protect the rights of investors, ensure a favorable investment and business climate, the inviolability of property, the development of market relations, the creation of conditions for fair competition and the independence of the judicial system are enshrined. The State has assumed the obligation to ensure the rights of investors and guarantee their protection in court. From now on, investors do not need to prove the legality of their claims in court. On the contrary, now government agencies are obliged to prove the legality of their decisions. Administrative courts have been set up to ensure that any legal ambiguities that may arise between public institutions and private investors are interpreted in favor of investors.

Moreover, a completely new approach of working with foreign investors on the principle of “one window” has been introduced.

Uzbekistan is moving by leaps and bounds towards the “green economy”. Over the past three years, more than $8 billion has been attracted to the renewable energy sector. In particular, the world’s most influential companies, such as ACWA POWER, MASDAR, TOTAL EREN, are implementing large-scale solar and wind power projects in the country. In 2023, more than 2,000 MW will be commissioned, next year — 8000 MW. “Green Economy” creates new areas of industry, in particular, for the production of solar panels, wind turbines, inverters and other electrical products.

Small and medium-sized businesses are developing, where special attention is paid to supporting women’s entrepreneurship.

The Tashkent International Arbitration Court is being created, which will provide an additional level of protection for foreign investors in Uzbekistan.

The Council of Foreign Investors under the President of Uzbekistan has been established – the most important platform for the development of direct dialogue between foreign investors and the government aimed at continuously improving the investment and business climate. 

Negotiations on joining the World Trade Organization are actively underway. Import duties have already been reduced, and the harmonization of national legislation with international norms and standards is in full swing.

A visa-free regime has been introduced for citizens of almost 100 countries.

The effect of the reforms is obvious, and it was repeatedly voiced during the 2nd Tashkent International Investment Forum. Uzbekistan has firmly secured its status as the country with the most diversified economy in the region. In total, about 100,000 new enterprises were created in a year. The annual volume of foreign investments exceeded $11 billion, which is 3 times more than in 2017. About 1 million people have been lifted out of poverty, and the poverty level has been reduced from 17% to 14%. Just five years ago, this figure was above 30 percent.

Private investment boldly penetrates into previously purely state-owned industries. For example, in aviation, where 5 private companies have been created and the number of flights has increased 2.5 times. The Samarkand Airport has been transferred to external management. The airports of Andijan, Namangan, Bukhara and Urgench are next in line.

Reforms and openness inspire the confidence of major foreign partners. For example, the Islamic Development Bank is actively working on public-private partnership projects worth $1.5 billion without government guarantees. For the third year in a row, Uzbekistan is the largest recipient of the EBRD in Central Asia. The joint portfolio with the Bank today amounts to 3.3 billion euros and consists of 88 projects.

Here are some more facts. As a result of the reforms to create a favorable investment climate over the past 5 years, the volume of foreign investment in our economy has increased 10-fold and amounted to about $40 billion. The goal has been set to attract investments in the amount of at least $120 billion in the next 4 years.

Bold plans of Uzbekistan have been announced, made possible thanks to the trust of international investment circles. This includes, in particular, the introduction of separate programs in the amount of $14 billion in the framework of public-private partnerships in the fields of transport, housing and utilities, water management, and healthcare in 2023 alone.

The “thousand, thousand, forty” program for the privatization of state property will also be implemented, which means that state shares in 1,000 enterprises and another 1,000 state-owned real estate objects will be put up for public auction, and 40 enterprises of strategic importance for the economy – for gold and copper mining, telecommunications and insurance companies, banks will be put up for IPO.

Industrial development is being brought to a completely new level, especially in the production of building materials, textile, leather and footwear, electrical engineering, and machine-building industries. All of them have sufficient potential for a “huge breakthrough” and a doubling of production and exports.

Development is impossible without good neighbors. This was also discussed at the Forum. The speakers emphasized the deeply thought-out policy of Uzbekistan to strengthen good neighborliness in Central Asia for the further development of economic cooperation. At the initiative of Tashkent, joint investment funds are being organized, major regional projects are being implemented in the fields of industry, energy, transport and water management. The country is consistently increasing industrial and agricultural cooperation with its neighbors on the basis of the “complementarity” of national economies.

As experts noted during the Forum, our country has a number of unique advantages that turn the country into an attractive “investment hub”. First of all, this is a high human resource potential – 36 million people, over 60% of the educated youth under 30 years of age.

Secondly, the country occupies a strategic geographical position as a bridge connecting the West with the East, North with the South by main transit corridors. Broad trade and economic opportunities were also noted, in particular, the free trade regime with the CIS countries with a population of 300 million.

Broad trade and economic opportunities were also noted, in particular, the free trade regime with the CIS countries with a population of 300 million people, established trade mechanisms with South and Southeast Asia, the status of the beneficiary of the EU GSP+ system of preferences.

Moreover, Uzbekistan is among the top 20 countries in the world with huge reserves of many minerals. This is the 2nd place in the world in reserves of gold, 7th – copper, 8th – tungsten, 9th – silver, 12th – uranium.

But all these riches will not be useful if there is no responsible approach to their use for the benefit of development, if there is no targeted work with each investor, support and protection.

A high level of organization, mutually beneficial proposals, working cases – all that has already proved itself during the first TIIF, brilliantly showed its effectiveness this year. If 105 documents totaling $7.8 billion were signed on the sidelines of the first Forum, this year 164 agreements and contracts were signed during the TIIF-2023. Their total amount is estimated at $11 billion.

Among the large companies with which agreements have been concluded: Gezhouba investment (PRC), Cengiz Energy (Türkiye), AL Bawani Company and SAJCO (Saudi Arabia), LASSELSBERGER Group (Austria), DEWAN CEMENT (Pakistan), Mareven Food (Vietnam), Commerzbank AG, KfW IPEX-Bank, Landesbank (Germany), Cadila Pharmaceuticals (India) and others.

TIIF, having declared itself as a large-scale communication platform for strengthening and developing interregional and international ties, at the same time became a powerful catalyst for inter-country and interregional investment and foreign economic cooperation. The Forum has become a permanent platform for attracting foreign investment and modern technologies to the economy of both Uzbekistan and the entire Central Asian region, as well as identifying areas of mutual interest for establishing direct ties between entrepreneurs of the region and foreign business circles. All this is a reflection of Uzbekistan’s main aspirations: to continue the course of constructive reforms and achieve new heights.

10th Ibero-American Week of International Justice

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10th Ibero-American Week of International Justice

On 7 June 2023, the Opening Ceremony of the 10th Ibero-American Week of International Justice in The Hague (“the Week”) co-organized by the Ibero-American Institute of The Hague (IIH) and the International Criminal Court (ICC or Court) was held at ICC headquarters. The Week is an annual academic event that has consolidated itself as a benchmark event in Spanish in the field of international law. Due to the pandemic, the Week had not been held in person since 2019.  

The Opening Ceremony, which in previous editions was held at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) took place in Spanish in its entirety. The event, enlivened with live music financed by the Embassy of Spain, was attended by about 150 persons: representatives of States, international organizations, Latin American students, professors, judges and prosecutors, and members of civil society committed to the importance of both the influence of Spanish and the Ibero-American tradition in international justice.

ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler. On 7 June 2023, the 10th edition of the Ibero-American Week of International Justice and Human Rights opened with a ceremony held at the Seat of the ICC in The Hague.

As the host, the ICC Registrar, H.E. Mr. Osvaldo Zavala Giler, opened the Ceremony: “As the first Latin American Registrar of the ICC, it is an honor and a pride to host the Opening Ceremony of the 10th Ibero-American Week of International Justice for the first time at the ICC.” The Registrar recalled that the Court has been supporting the activities of the week consistently during 10 years and highlighted the role of Latin American academia in the development, implementation and support of the system created by the Rome Statute. 

Attendees also listened to the words of Dr. Hector Olasolo, President of the IIH and Professor at the Universidad del Rosario (Colombia) who promoted and has coordinated the activities of the Week throughout this decade. “There are many people that have made it possible for the Ibero-American Week to have acquired the form and content that it presents today,” said Professor Olasolo, thanking, among others, the host state and the embassies of the Ibero-American countries for their support. “Their support, and provision of their facilities, has allowed us to consolidate, in this magnificent City of The Hague, a multicultural project such as Ibero-American Week, which is the best proof of the universal scope of international justice, and of the City of The Hague as its epicenter.”

This intervention was followed by that of Dr. Cristina Hoss, Legal Officer of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), who represented H.E. Mr. Philippe Gautier, Registrar of the ICJ and conveyed his remarks. In her speech, she recalled “the legacy of Ibero-American thought and legal traditions not only in international law, but also within the International Court of Justice” and reflected on “the future of Ibero-American legal thought and culture in today’s world – tormented by several international challenges”.

H.E. Ms. Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, President of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC on 7 June 2023, at the 10th edition of the Ibero-American Week of International Justice and Human Rights.

H.E. Ms. Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, President of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC, stressed in her speech: “This week, which consistently brings together Ibero-American states, is very important to strengthen the underlying values of the International Criminal Court. The universal aspiration of the Rome Statute system rests on respect for the diversity of regions and legal systems. Ibero-American countries have come together to promote their traditions, values and interests and, in doing so, they have contributed to furthering the global objectives of the Court and strengthening cooperation with its activities”.

This was followed by the intervention of H.E. Henk Cor van der Kwast, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the ICC and OPCW, who stated: “The Kingdom of the Netherlands firmly believes in promoting respect for international law and strengthening the rules-based international order (…). Your region and our Kingdom already have a strong record of cooperation in multilateral forums, and we continue to work on the development of the international legal order.”

H.E. Jaime Moscoso Valenzuela, Ambassador of Chile to the Netherlands . On 7 June 2023, the 10th edition of the Ibero-American Week of International Justice and Human Rights opened with a ceremony held at the Seat of the ICC in The Hague.

For his part, H.E. Jaime Moscoso Valenzuela, Ambassador of Chile to the Netherlands and current Coordinator of the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC), highlighted “the vitality of the Spanish language in the international legal context and the collective strength of Spanish-speaking countries in making its use visible and generalized”. Ambassador Moscoso reminded the crucial contribution of the countries of the region to the field of international Law, Human Rights and transitional Justice. “This reality encourages us to continue proposing that the use of Spanish be considered as a valid language for the pursuit of international justice and, therefore, that it be recognized in the statutes of the courts and tribunals,” he added.

On 7 June 2023, the 10th edition of the Ibero-American Week of International Justice and Human Rights opened with a ceremony held at the Seat of the ICC in The Hague.

H.E. Judge Luz Ibáñez Carranza, ICC’s First Vice-President, was the keynote speaker with her speech on the centrality of human rights in the field of international criminal justice : “The international criminal justice system of this Court is increasingly committed to the centrality of human rights. This task has never been easy and initially faced considerable resistance, as it was believed that only criminal or public international law criteria should be applied. Fortunately, this situation is changing and evolving, with an increasing consideration of human rights at stake. That is why it is important, that you young people, who have attended this great meeting and come from different parts of Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula, internalize the great battle that international justice has to fight and your great responsibility in the face of the values that sustain us as humanity that are consolidated in the current human rights.”

The 10th Ibero-American Week of International Justice provided a unique and enriching atmosphere for Spanish speakers with different academic activities, presentations of publications, seminars and discussions that took place at the headquarters of several Embassies, the ICC and the Hague University for Applied Sciences.

During the Week, in addition to the 8th Seminar on Ibero-American Thought, the preliminary hearings of the 10th Edition Spanish version of the ICC Moot Court Competition were held. These took place for the first time in person after the pandemic. They gathered 58 students from 11 Latin American countries. The final round took place on 7 June 2023 in the afternoon, also at the ICC headquarters. On the judge’s bench for this competition were ICC Vice-President Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, Judge Socorro Flores Liera and Judge Sergio Ugalde Godínez.

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) won the competition. The University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) and the University of Nariño (Colombia) won, respectively, second and third places. The award for the Best Speaker went to Julieta Valentina Ricagno of the University of Buenos Aires. 

ODIHR opens election observation mission to Uzbekistan

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ODIHR opens election observation mission to Uzbekistan

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 9 July early presidential election in Uzbekistan, following an official invitation from the national authorities.

The mission is headed by Ambassador Urszula Gacek and consists of a core team of 11 international experts based in Tashkent and 24 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 14 June. ODIHR will request 250 short-term observers, to arrive several days before election day.

The mission will assess the conduct of the election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor all aspects of the election, including pre- and post-election developments. Specific areas of focus include the implementation of the legal framework, the conduct of the campaign, including on social networks, the work of the election administration at all levels, election dispute resolution and media coverage. The observers will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

Meetings with representatives of state authorities, political parties, civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation.

An interim report will be published some two weeks prior to the election to update the public and the media on the observation mission’s activities. The day after the election, the mission’s preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference. A final report with an assessment of the entire election process and containing recommendations will be published some months after the election.

His Majesty the King’s Address at the Annual Gala Dinner

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His Majesty the King’s Address at the Annual Gala Dinner

On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, the Royal Palace in Amsterdam witnessed the grandeur of the Annual Gala Dinner hosted by Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Netherlands. The distinguished gathering included Heads of Diplomatic Mission accredited to the Court of His Majesty and eminent Dutch Scientists and scholars.

The highlight of the event was the King’s speech, where the King’s address touched upon pressing global issues, celebrated collective achievements, and underscored the significance of dialogue and cooperation.

H.E. Mr. Roberto Calzadilla Sarmiento, Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the Ambassador of Estonia, H.E. Mr. Lauri Kuusing, Ms. Tanja Röling, Deputy Director Western Hemisphere – Minbuza, the Ambassador of Brazil, H.E. Mr. Paulo Roberto França. Caminha, H.E. Mr. Alvaro Gonzalez Otero, Ambassador of Uruguay, H.E. Mr. Mario Oyarzabal, Ambassador of Argentina, H.E. Ms. Anet Pino Rivero, Ambassador of Cuba, H.E. Mr. Juan Bautista Duran, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, H.E. Mr. Rajendre Khargi, Ambassador of Suriname, Mr. Wilhen Diaz Lara, Charge d’affairs of Venezuela, H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Ward Neiman, Ambassador of Panama, Mr. Lesther Antonio Ortega Lemus, Charge d’affaires of Guatemala and H.E. Ms. Carolina Olarte Bácares, Ambassador of Colombia.

His Majesty highlighted the annual dinner as a gesture of appreciation for the vital role diplomats play in fostering understanding and cooperation. Acknowledging the importance of openness and dialogue, the King emphasized the necessity of knowing and listening to each other’s stories to prevent the world from becoming a threatening and desolate place.

Empathy for Global Concerns

The monarch exhibited a deep understanding of the challenges faced by the international community, especially in regions grappling with crises. “I’m thinking, for example, of the humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region, especially Sudan and neighbouring countries. Millions of people are fleeing the violence, living in fear and suffering from hunger. He declared.  

The King also reiterated unwavering support for the people of Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of upholding international law.

Facing Crises and Finding Solutions

While recognizing the myriad global crises, His Majesty shifted the focus to the positive aspects, highlighting instances where collective action overcame adversity. The King referenced the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent agreement on the High Seas Treaty as examples of international unity. He encouraged a similar collaborative approach to combat climate change. “I hope that we can also find the ability to bring momentum to the fight against climate change. The rapid rise of sustainable energy sources is encouraging.

Please allow me this small expression of national pride: the Netherlands is second only to Australia in its per capita generation of solar energy. Anyone who knows how changeable the weather is we have in this country may find that hard to believe. But it’s true.”

H.E. Ms. Susannah Hayden Gordon, Ambassador of New Zealand, H.E. Ms. Kateřina Sequensová, Ambassador of Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Arnoldo Brenes Castro, Ambassador of Costa Rica and H.E. Ms. Beti Jacheva, Ambassador of North Macedonia.

Celebrating Academic Freedom and Innovation

In a unique twist, the King extended the discussion beyond diplomacy. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this evening made a small contribution to solutions? To help bring that about, we invited a special group of people to join us: Scientists and scholars in fields that are of great international importance. Climate, health, water, agriculture, nature and economics, but also law and philosophy.”

Emphasizing the importance of academic freedom and independence, the monarch paid tribute to the responsibility borne by scholars in guiding society towards a better future.

A Toast to Understanding and Cooperation

Concluding his address, His Majesty invited the guests to raise their glasses in a toast. The toast was dedicated “To understanding among nations and to our cooperation.” The sentiment encapsulated the essence of the evening — an acknowledgment of shared challenges, a celebration of collective achievements, and a commitment to fostering understanding and collaboration among nations.

The Ambassador of Estonia, H.E. Mr. Lauri Kuusing and the Ambassador of Panama, H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Ward Neiman.

Prosecutor Serge Brammertz Addresses the United Nations Security Council

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Prosecutor Serge Brammertz Addresses the United Nations Security Council

Arusha, The Hague, 12 June 2023 – Serge Brammertz, Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), today addressed the United Nations Security Council about the work of the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP).

Prosecutor Brammertz focused his remarks on recent developments following the submission of his written report on 15 May 2023.

He began by briefing the Security Council on the successful arrest of Rwandan fugitive Fulgence Kayishema on 23 May in Paarl, South Africa. The Prosecutor stated, “Kayishema’s arrest is a signal moment in the global effort to punish perpetrators of genocide.”

He noted that an arrest of a fugitive “renews faith in international justice,” as for the victims and survivors of Kayishema’s crimes, “[t]he wrongs they suffered thirty years ago can begin to now be put right.” In addition, this arrest demonstrated again the international community’s “determination to ensure that genocide is repressed and punished.”

Prosecutor Brammertz further highlighted the critical role played by United Nations Member States in the investigation and arrest. He informed the Security Council that the OTP “enjoyed the full and unreserved support of South African authorities, who established an operational task force to assist our investigations.” He also commended the support provided by Eswatini, whose authorities demonstrated exceptional dedication and cooperation, as well as Mozambique, whose Attorney General offered the full support of her office. He noted that as always, Rwandan authorities “made enormous contributions to our success.”

On behalf of the OTP, Prosecutor Brammertz extended “our deepest gratitude to these countries and others who cooperated with our investigation. The challenges were immense, and it was only by working so closely together that Kayishema was finally located and arrested.”

Prosecutor Brammertz then updated the Security Council on the recent appeal judgement in the final ICTY case, Stanišić and Simatović. He noted that the Appeals Chamber accepted the OTP’s arguments and found that both accused were criminally responsible as members of a joint criminal enterprise for a larger number of crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Stanišić and Simatović shared the intention with other Serbian, Croatian Serb and Bosnian Serb leaders to ethnically cleanse non-Serbs from large areas of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. They further contributed to the implementation of the joint criminal enterprise in important ways, particularly by supporting notorious paramilitary groups.

Reflecting on this result, Prosecutor Brammertz stated, “This judgement is a fitting final chapter in the work of the ICTY. Over thirty years of work, we were able to successfully prosecute senior political, military and police officials from all sides of the conflicts. We demonstrated that accountability for the most serious international crimes is possible, while also leaving as our legacy a record of what occurred.”

Prosecutor Brammertz also noted the recent decision in the Kabuga case. While explaining that the decision is not yet final and will likely be appealed, he stated, “What I can say at this point is that my Office believes the trial against Kabuga can and should be completed in a manner that is consistent with the rights of the accused.”

Looking forward, Prosecutor Brammertz informed the Security Council that “the Mechanism is actively planning its future as a true residual institution.” In this regard, he explained that for the OTP, in the coming years “our focus will in particular be on our mandate under Article 28(3) to assist national jurisdictions to continue the accountability process for international crimes committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.” He noted that “there can be no question that much more justice still needs to be achieved at the national level”, highlighting that in Rwanda, “there are more than 1,000 fugitives to be prosecuted”, while in the former Yugoslavia, “national prosecutors still must deal with several thousand cases.” The OTP, he said, “plays a critical role in supporting this continued accountability process”, by which “Member States themselves take the lead in securing further justice and promoting peace.”

In conclusion, Prosecutor Brammertz reminded the Security Council that genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals remain significant concerns. He said, “The international community is determined to bring war criminals to trial. It should be equally committed to promoting the truth after those trials are completed.”

Berlin reception for 19 chefs de mission 

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Berlin reception for 19 chefs de mission 

Friday, 29 May 2023, Berlin, Germany: In the iconic Red City Hall of the City-State of Berlin, Governing Mayor Kai Wegner hosted nineteen recently accredited ambassadors in Germany for a reception meant to become acquainted with the foreign envoys.  

Kai Wegner (b. 1972) took office as governing mayor on 27 April 2023, and hence this reception was of particular importance for him; being the first Christian Democrat to helm the city-state of Berlin since Eberhard Diepgen left the same office in 2001. Previously Governing Mayor Wegner had served as a member of the German federal parliament from 2005 to 2021. In 2019, he became the chairman of the CDU in Berlin, and leader of the opposition in the Chamber of Deputies. 

Dariusz Pawłoś (Republic of Poland); Ilham Ahmed (Republic of Sudan); Jean-Paul Senninger (Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg); Lanka Muthukumarana (Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka); Dr. Nurlan Onzhanov (Republic of Kazakhstan).

In total 158 foreign powers are currently represented through diplomatic missions in Berlin, Germany. 

For further information:
The Governing Mayor of Berlin: https://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/

Picture by Landesarchiv / Wunstorf

India’s G20 presidency against marine litter: the Indian Embassy’s beach clean-up initiative in The Hague

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India’s G20 presidency against marine litter: the Indian Embassy’s beach clean-up initiative in The Hague

By Swami Jonard

“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, or “One Earth, One Family, One Future” is the phrase that India chose to define its presidency to the G20 in 2023. Embracing this spirit, the Embassy of India in the Netherlands gathered over 150 people to clean up the Scheveningen beach on May 12, 2023, as an effort to raise awareness on plastic pollution through a citizen-driven initiative.

As highlighted by H.E. Ambassador Reenat Sandhu, India’s 2023 presidency in the G20, where the Netherlands is a guest member along with 8 other countries, sets a strong focus on fighting marine litter, as reflected by many of the country’s recent initiatives throughout the world. Through numerous beach clean-up events across many countries, India aspires to be a leading actor in the efforts against climate change and pollution and set the example to lead the world to a more sustainable future.

Indian Embassy’s beach clean-up initiative in The Hague.

While being initiated by the Indian Embassy, this event is the result of a collaboration with civil society actors and public administrations of the Netherlands. The trash collection itself was organised by TrashUre Hunt, a Dutch NGO that organises beach clean-ups all over the Netherlands in the playful form of a treasure hunt. Another contributor was Stichting de Noordzee, an organisation dedicated to the protection of the North Sea from pollution and waste by producing knowledge and solutions to influence environmental policy. The city of the Hague supported the event as well, represented by Deputy Mayor Hilbert Bredemeijer who emphasised in his speech how India’s initiative follows the same path as the city’s efforts in fighting marine pollution.

Finally, the presence of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands showed the country’s efforts of cooperation with India on sustainability and environmental challenges. Overall, this inspiring array of actors fully embodied the different sides of the struggle against marine pollution, from scientific to institutional to civil action.

Indian Embassy’s beach clean-up initiative in The Hague.

The event in question took place in a warm afternoon of mid-spring near the pier of the Scheveningen beach, an iconic location where many Dutch people spend their summer days, along with kite-surfers enjoying the strong winds of the North Sea. This highly touristic site is also a victim of its success, as the litter inevitably accumulates in the high season. This makes a perfect location to organise a collective clean-up action. Around three o’clock, the registered participants started accumulating near the meeting point, where they were welcomed by the organisers. The group included local citizens as well as diplomats from other countries and was brought together by the different organisations collaborating in the event.

Their first sight was a museum of marine waste built by TrashUre Hunt, where all different kinds of objects found on the beach and in the sea were categorised and put on display. Its purpose was both to inform the public about what happens to plastic let loose in the environment, and to inspire them to repurpose waste, by showcasing various sculptures created from it.

The attendees were first welcomed to get acquainted with each other and to meet the organisers, around South Indian coffee and millet biscuits offered to celebrate the international year of the grain. They were shortly after invited to assist speeches given by the representatives of the different organisations: Ambassador of India Ms. Reenat Sandu, Director General of the Ministry of Infrastructure Ms. Afke van Rijn, Deputy Mayor of The Hague Mr. Hilbert Bredemeijer, Director of Stichting de Noordzee Ms. Wytske Postma and Founder of TrashUre Hunt Mr. Ralph Groenheijde who explained the rules of the treasure hunt.

After being divided in teams, the participants were sent to several locations on the beach to collect as much trash as possible. The collection was organised as a playful competition where the teams would earn points by the weight of trash collected as well as the number of cigarette butts, which are known to be the most widespread type of marine litter. After some time of walking around, the collected waste was counted and weighed. The participants found out that they had gathered 240 kg of waste, including an impressive 5420 cigarette butts. A sizable result for a mere hour and a half of scavenging. Finally, the contributors were reminded that more than a competition, their achievement was a telling example of what can be accomplished through collective effort, and that joint citizen action is an indispensable force to fight for a sustainable world.

The beach clean-up was overall a great opportunity for everyone to learn that the strive for sustainability is a multifaceted challenge that requires initiatives from many different actors. The dignitaries that introduced the event made sure to show that these initiatives need to extend beyond civil awareness and reach all levels of society, economy and governance.

In her speech, the Ministry’s representative Ms. Afke van Rijn insisted on the importance of international cooperation in addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and congratulated the Indian Embassy for showing it through their initiative. With marine litter as a main focus of the G20 this year, she expressed that plastic pollution should be tackled not only by raising awareness, but mainly through regulations and institutional action all over the world. Such action should be aimed at targeting the problem at its source, and at transitioning to a circular economy that prevents the production of excessive waste. She finally mentioned the United Nations Treaty on Plastic Pollution, which is currently still a project, as an example of international regulations that would help tackle ocean waste coherently on a global scale.

On the other side of this cooperation, Ambassador Sandhu’s speech situated the event in the larger context of the G20’s objectives under the Indian presidency. As shown by the slogan ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, this presidency focuses on the very contemporary SDGs, and the Ambassador highlighted the importance of promoting a sustainable lifestyle to achieve them. She emphasised the contribution that India can give on this aspect through Mission LiFE, or Lifestyle for Environment, a citizen movement meant to encourage a model of resilience in individuals and communities inherited from Indian tradition. According to her, an environmental initiative in the Netherlands has a lot of meaning since the country has a strong focus on sustainability as well as an active civil society to tackle it.

Moreover, the two countries have a strong bilateral relation and show a lot of potential for future cooperation on sustainable development. Finally, she showed how the Scheveningen beach clean-up event is the continuity of a large-scale effort of India to combat marine litter through the Mega Beach Clean-up, a large-scale event where 75 beaches in India were cleaned by volunteers in 75 days, as to mark the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.

Beyond cleaning the seaside, India’s G20 presidency encompasses a much broader scope on the SDGs, including the preservation of oceans. A major event for environmental protection in the G20 was the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group meeting, held twice so far, which defined three areas of focus that the participating countries committed to act upon: land preservation, circular economy and resilient ocean management.

The latter theme focuses on the drive to promote a ‘Blue Economy’, an economic model in which the oceans’ resources are used sustainably, in a way that respects and contributes to their natural cycle and ensures their preservation. This model includes resource management, elimination of waste, preservation of biodiversity while promoting economic growth from the ocean’s resources.

Regarding these goals, India strives for its presidency to be action-driven, as shown by the Mega Beach Clean-up and many other initiatives. Ocean and water management is also a theme that relates a lot to Indo-Dutch cooperation in the area of sustainability. With its long history of expertise in the field, the Netherlands has contributed a lot to so called ‘water diplomacy’ in India by sending Special Water Envoys leading technology transfer projects in areas such as freshwater supply and flood control.

This contribution takes place as well in the field of smart sustainable agriculture and has prospects of extending to renewable energy implementation. In this regard, the cooperation between the Netherlands and India for the SDGs has a bright future ahead of itself.

The overall message of the Scheveningen beach clean-up day is one of collaboration. The event has brought together citizens, government officials and civil society to not only raise awareness but also to mutually motivate and encourage each other’s contributions to environmental actions.

Returning to Ambassador Sandhu’s words on India’s G20 slogan, our shared future on our shared Earth depends on the collective action of different countries, individuals and institutions working together.

Photography courtesy of the Embassy of India in The Hague.

Sources:

The risk of global famine and the disruption in the supply of Belarusian potash

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The risk of global famine and the disruption in the supply of Belarusian potash

By H.E. Ambassador Andrei Yeudachenka, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus in the Kingdom of The Netherlands

“Belarus also offers, unconditionally, its territory as a transit route for Ukrainian grain to reach Baltic Sea ports”

Belarus stands today as the world’s second largest producer of potash, a material integral to the nation’s thriving agricultural sector. The country is renowned for producing high-quality agricultural and dairy products such as butter, cheese, or milk. All in all, Belarus owes its prosperity in part to the use of potash in farming.

A growing concern today is the risk of global famine due to potential disruptions in the supply of Belarusian potash; as fertilizer shortages persist, the threat of food insecurity and severe hunger looms large for millions worldwide.

Statistics from the United Nations World Food Programme reveal that approximately 345 million people across 82 countries are currently grappling with acute food insecurity. This figure is up from 282 million at the end of 2021. Furthermore, up to 50 million people across 45 countries are on the brink of starvation.

Fertilizers are pivotal to achieving global food security. Amidst the ongoing fertilizer crisis, which goes back to a similar situation in the 1970s, the importance of potassium as one of the three primary crop nutrients (alongside nitrogen and phosphorus) cannot be overstated. The absence of these nutrients can potentially reduce crop yield by as much as 50% for certain crops.

JSC Belaruskali, the only producer of potash fertilizers in Belarus and the world’s second-largest potash producer, used to account for 20% of global potash trade. However, due to restrictions and sanctions imposed on Belarusian potash and its sole producer by the US, the EU, and certain EU members, the company’s contribution to global production and export plummeted to 10% by mid-2022. This has led to a global output reduction of 16.3% (or 5.9 million tonnes) and a 20.2% decrease in global exports (or 5.8 million tonnes) compared to the same period in 2021.

Interestingly, other countries, including Russia, have been exempted from these measures due to the humanitarian nature of the commodity. Meanwhile, the demand for potash continues to grow in line with the increasing global population. Due to the lifecycle of potash production, any significant increase in capacity is likely only in Canada, and not before 2025. Thus, neither Canada nor any other country can adequately compensate for the volume of Belarusian potash taken off the market due to these restrictions in 2023 or 2024.

The global food security situation worsens as potash shortages develop, allowing other global suppliers to exploit the situation, inflate prices, and increase profits. This trend consequently places a financial burden on farmers, negatively impacts yields, and contributes to rising food prices.

In light of the significant risk to global food security, Belarus appeals to the international community for assistance in exempting Belarusian potash from these restrictions and restoring unhindered transit of its fertilizers to global markets, including those in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Belarus also offers, unconditionally, its territory as a transit route for Ukrainian grain to reach Baltic Sea ports.

Belarus believes that ensuring global food security should be a priority for all international actors, including European countries.

Ambassador Yeudachenka, Embassy of Belarus in The Hague.

A brief overview of Belarus’ economy:

  • Belarus is a landlocked country bordered by Latvia (161 km), Lithuania (640 km), Poland (375 km), Russia (1,312 km), and Ukraine (1,111 km). Its terrain is generally flat, characterized by marshlands, a result of glacial scouring which also accounts for the country’s 11,000 lakes. Approximately 43.7% of Belarus’ land is agricultural, with 15.9% designated as permanent pasture (2018 estimates).
  • Belarus is characterized by a significant percentage of land dedicated to agriculture (43.7% as of 2018) and a substantial portion allocated as permanent pasture (15.9% in 2018). In fact, the country boasts a wide array of agricultural products, including milk, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, triticale, barley, maize, rye, rapeseed, and poultry.
  • Belarus’ diverse industries range from manufacturing metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, and earthmovers to producing motorcycles, synthetic fibers, fertilizers, and textiles. The country is also known for its production of refrigerators, washing machines, and other household appliances.
  • On the trade front, Belarus has shown a consistent export performance with $49.425 billion in 2021, $37.183 billion in 2020, and $41.975 billion in 2019. The country’s primary export partners include Russia (42%), Ukraine (13%), and the United Kingdom (7%) as of 2019. The leading exported commodities in 2021 were fertilizers, refined petroleum, cheese, delivery trucks, and lumber.
  • Concerning imports, Belarus registered $45.459 billion in 2021, $35.236 billion in 2020, and $42.378 billion in 2019, with figures quoted in the respective year’s dollars. The main import partners are Russia (57%), China (7%), Poland (5%), Germany (5%), and Ukraine (5%), as reported in 2019.

European Judicial Network celebrates 25 years, seeing rise in requests for day-to-day judicial cooperation

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European Judicial Network celebrates 25 years, seeing rise in requests for day-to-day judicial cooperation

The Hague, 12 June 2023

The European Judicial Network (EJN) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The anniversary, together with key EU developments in the area of judicial cooperation,  will be featured during the EJN plenary meeting in Stockholm being held between the 12th and 14th of June. The EJN assists judges and prosecutors with day-to-day cooperation on criminal justice matters worldwide, via a network of National Contact Points.

The EJN has seen the requests for this kind of collaboration rise, with 8 000 new reported cases and approximately 4 million website page views per year. The scope of the EJN meeting will include how to build on this success and improve cooperation in the future.

Per Hedvall

Mr Per Hedvall, Chairman of the 60th EJN Plenary Meeting under the Swedish Presidency said: ’I have the honour of chairing the 60th Plenary Meeting of the EJN, an event which marks that, in 25 years, it has become a key player in the field of international judicial cooperation. Its operational approach has proven to be a success. The plenary meetings are essential to create a forum for the Contact Points of the EJN to meet and discuss issues relating to international judicial cooperation. The networking during these meetings lays the foundation for trust and understanding, which is crucial to efficient cooperation.’

Mr Hugh Dockry, recently appointed Secretary to the EJN, stated: ‘Since its creation, the European Judicial Network has proven to be a very important instrument to enable concrete cooperation between judges and prosecutors, in order to fight crime, combat impunity and reinforce the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. From my experience as an expert in judicial cooperation in criminal matters and a practitioner in Ireland, I can tell how valuable establishing ties with fellow prosecutors and exchanging information via the EJN is. Since taking up my new role as Secretary, I am looking forward to building on this cooperation and enhancing it in the future, in close collaboration with colleagues at Eurojust.’

The EJN was set up in June 1998 by the Council of the European Union to assist judicial practitioners in combating cross-border crime. Its main purpose is to facilitate requests for practical and bilateral direct cooperation between judicial authorities, prosecutors and Ministries of Justice.

The EJN specialises in direct one-to-one contact to resolve legal issues as well as undertaking preparatory work for judicial cooperation. The role of the EJN can be seen as complementary to Eurojust’s and allows national authorities to receive adequate support from either body depending on the specifics of their case. For this reason, the EJN Secretariat is hosted at Eurojust in The Hague.

EJN assistance can, for instance, concern requests on the status of investigations and which authorities are involved or how to establish contacts in other countries. Furthermore, the EJN can assist judges and prosecutors in establishing who is competent to execute requests for European Investigation Orders (EIOs), European Arrest Warrants (EAWs), Freezing Certificates (FC) or Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAs).

This important support enables direct communication between judges and prosecution services, without having to open a case via National Desks or Liaison Prosecutors at Eurojust. This allows them to focus on longer-term and large-scale criminal justice and multilateral cooperation. EJN operates via a network of approximately 450 Contact Points in EU Member States and beyond.

The EJN Contact Points are coordinated via National Correspondents, and its work is supported by a Secretariat and a rotating Presidency Board, which follows the rotation scheme of the Council of the European Union. During the past 10 years, the Contact Points have reported more than 90 000 cases.

The EJN also delivers important contributions to the drafting and implementation of EU legal instruments such as the e-Evidene package. Its website, maintained by the EJN Secretariat, offers practical guidance via its Judicial Atlas of Contact Points and Competent Authorities. The Compendium offers access to forms for EAWs and MLAs in all 24 official languages of the EU, via e-tools designed by practitioners to assist authorities in filling, drafting and sending the requests.

The Judicial Atlas allows authorities to identify the authority that is competent to receive the request depending on the type of assistance, nature of crime and other criteria, determined by the national legislation of the Member States. The majority of the tools and information on the EJN website is publicly available, and is widely used throughout the EU and beyond with visits from more than 100 countries.

Mr Hugh Dockry became Secretary to the EJN in January this year, succeeding Mr Ola Löfgren. He has extensive experience gained from 14 years spent in the Chief State Sollicitor’s Office of Ireland, with  ten of those years working on cooperation in judicial matters. He was, in particular, responsible for the execution of incoming EAWs and extradition requests. He later worked in the Criminal Justice Legislation Division of the Department of Justice, drafting and implementing judicial cooperation instruments.

In 2020, he was seconded as a national expert to the Directorate General for Justice of the European Commission, with responsibility for judicial cooperation instruments, with particular responsibility for EAWs, and detention conditions. Prior to his post at the EJN, Mr Dockry was seconded national expert for Ireland at the Justice and Home Affairs directorate of the Legal Service of the European Commission.

President Gatti Santana briefs the UN Security Council on progress of Mechanism work

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President Gatti Santana briefs the UN Security Council on progress of Mechanism work

Arusha, The Hague, 12 June 2023 – Today the President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, presented the Mechanism’s twenty-second progress report to the United Nations Security Council in New York.

President Gatti Santana commenced her address by recalling the Council’s exceptional decision in May 1993 to establish the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which “asserted the rule of law and served as a warning to others elsewhere that violations of international humanitarian law would not be tolerated and, more importantly, that they should not go unpunished”. The President remarked that with the recent issuance of the Appeal Judgement in the case against Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović, the ambitious journey of the ICTY has come to an end, in so far as the cases against all 161 persons indicted by that Tribunal have now been concluded.

In relation to the ongoing case against Félicien Kabuga, President Gatti Santana referred to the Trial Chamber’s decision of 6 June, in which the Majority found that the Accused is not fit to stand trial and is very unlikely to regain fitness, and decided that it will nonetheless continue the proceedings through an “alternative findings procedure”. She observed that this decision is expected to be appealed.

Turning to other matters, the President praised the work of the Office of the Prosecutor and its fugitive tracking team, noting that the recent arrest of Fulgence Kayishema in South Africa “serves as a stark reminder that even after all these years, justice remains achievable […].” Separately, the President noted that the Mechanism will be responsible for monitoring the proceedings against Kayishema in Rwanda and expressed confidence in Rwanda’s continuing ability to discharge cases relating to international crimes efficiently and effectively.

President Gatti Santana then addressed three areas that require the urgent attention and assistance of the Council, the first relating to the enforcement of sentences. In this context, she conveyed profound gratitude to those 13 States that are contributing to the fulfilment of the Mechanism’s mandate by enforcing sentences, but noted that the burden is not shared equally by Member States. Moreover, due to the limited ability of some States to enforce lengthy sentences, some convicted persons have recently been returned to the United Nations Detention Unit in The Hague, which has repercussions for the Mechanism as well as the Host State.

With respect to the second challenge, concerning the acquitted or released persons relocated to Niger in December 2021, President Gatti Santana underlined that the Mechanism is not in a position to resolve this predicament alone and urged the Council “to appreciate how the status quo is untenable in every respect”.

Finally, the President stressed that arguably the biggest threat faced by the Mechanism is the relentless attempts to undermine its work and that of its predecessor Tribunals, including through genocide denial, glorification of war criminals and the purported re-writing of history, noting also Serbia’s persistent failure to arrest Petar Jojić and Vjerica Radeta. She indicated that in the face of these challenges, one of her key priorities is to consolidate, safeguard and make more accessible the invaluable legacy of the ad hoc Tribunals and the Mechanism.

In closing, President Gatti Santana reflected on the next phase of the Mechanism’s operations, underscoring the significant progress the Mechanism has made with regard to the planning of its future and expressing her determination “to continue pursuing innovative, more efficient ways of operating and to take all necessary steps to keep achieving positive results”. 

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