Diplomat Magazine

This month, the Dean of ambassadors in The Hague, H.E. Ms Adia Sakiqi, ambassador of Albania to the Netherlands, hosted at Leonardo Hotel a...

By Mr. Kung Chan The recent mutiny of the mercenary Wagner Group in Russia concluded abruptly in less than two days. Through the intervention of...

Tuesday, 27 June 2023, NRW, Germany: Federal President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the Ruhr region and the southern Münsterland with around 150 foreign ambassadors working in...

The 2023 theme, “Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan.”  - Freedom. Future. History By Roy Lie Atjam The Embassy of the Philippines in the Netherlands joined Filipinos around the...

Le 26 juin 2023, à l'Hôtel Royal Leonardo (La Haye), l’Ambassade du Vietnam aux Pays-Bas a célébré solennellement le 50ème anniversaire de l’établissement des...

On 26 June 2023, at the Royal Leonardo Hotel in The Hague, the Embassy of Vietnam in the Netherlands solemnly celebrated the 50th anniversary...

In Europe, freedom of religion or belief is often overlooked in comparison to other human rights. However, advocates argue that it is the foundation for all other freedoms. The recently appointed EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the European Union, Frans van Daele, highlighted the challenges faced in defending and promoting religious freedom in Europe, such as indifference and ignorance. Additionally, the fragmented nature of EU institutions and their own agendas make it difficult to address violations of religious freedom consistently. Collaboration between the EU and the UN is seen as complementary in addressing these issues. In some countries, tensions arise between established majority religions and newer or historic religious minorities, as the state aligns itself with the dominant religion. The EU's public diplomacy aims to promote tolerance, respect, and non-discrimination through education, particularly by eliminating negative stereotypes from schoolbooks. Prioritizing countries based on certain criteria is also part of the EU's strategy, focusing on those open to the EU's message and willing to make progress. However, the EU's public diplomacy is complex, involving navigating its own internal architecture and engaging with the political and social dynamics of target countries. Human Rights Without Frontiers suggests that the EU needs to allocate appropriate resources and funding to its advocacy mechanisms, such as the EU Special Envoy on FoRB and the Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief at the European Parliament, in order to be more effective in promoting religious freedom.

By Roy Lie Atjam On the bright sunny day of 24 June 2023, the Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania in the Netherlands, H.E. Caroline...

By John Dunkelgrün June is herring month in The Netherlands. The Dutch Fish Authority decides every year when the herring is just right for the catch. It...

By Professor Richard T. Griffiths There are not many two-faced buildings in the World. One of the best-known is the former Moskva hotel that was...