Diplomatic World 66

66 

INTERLINKING POLITICS, DIPLOMACY, BUSINESS & FINANCE 

ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY, CULTURAL DIPLOMACY & HEALTH 

HER 

MAJESTY 

QUEEN 

MATHILDE 

THE QUEEN 

OF THE BELGIANS 

HER 

ROYAL HIGHNESS 

ELISABETH 

PRINCESS 

OF BELGIUM 

EMMANUEL 

MACRON 

PRESIDENT 

OF THE 

FRENCH REPUBLIC 

CHARLES 

MICHEL 

PRESIDENT 

OF THE EUROPEAN 

COUNCIL 

MOHAMED 

NASHEED 

FORMER 

PRESIDENT 

OF THE MALDIVES 

GABRIELA 

RAMOS 

UNESCO 

ASSISTANT 

DIRECTOR-GENERAL 

SABRA IBRAHIM 

NOORDEEN 

SPECIAL ENVOY 

FOR 

CLIMATE CHANGE 


G20 

MINISTERS 

MEETING 

HIS 

HIGHNESS 

THE 

AGA KHAN 

EDOUARD 

BARON 

VERMEULEN 

COUTURIER 

NATAN 

Winter 2021 www.diplomatic-world.com Quarterly edition 

P409937 - v.u. Barbara Dietrich, Beiaardlaan 25b, 1850 Grimbergen 

€9 ,50

Dear Excellencies 

Dear Partners 

Dear Readers 

INTERLINKING POLITICS, DIPLOMACY, BUSINESS & FINANCE 

ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY, CULTURAL DIPLOMACY & HEALTH 

DIPLOMATIC WORLD IS A QUARTERLY EDITION 

OF PUNCH MEDIA GROUP 

Beiaardlaan 25 I 1850 Grimbergen I Belgium 

T +32 2 770 03 06 

www.diplomatic-world.com 

PUBLISHER 

Barbara Dietrich 

barbara.dietrich@diplomatic-world.com 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

Sasha Lund 

sasha.lund@diplomatic-world-institute.com 

CEO AND PRESIDENT 

Barbara Dietrich 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Nicole Baronin von Vietinghoff-Scheel I Cornelia von Wülfing I 

Sasha Lund I Jan De Maere I Bo Raemaekers I Philippe Billiet I 

Marleen Wauters I Dieter Brockmeyer I Pick Keobandith I 

Alberto Turkstra I Johanna Kouzmine-Karavaïeff I 

Kristina Engels I Mark Raemaekers I Barbara Dietrich I 

Marc Kintaert I Lejton Vokshi I Studio Keiko I 

ADVERTISING 

redaction@diplomatic-world.com 

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE 

redaction@diplomatic-world.com 

T +32 2 770 03 06 

ISSN 2995-3655 

The texts were written in English or Dutch and translated in the other language. 

Some expressions can change by the translation. To safeguard the language and 

tone of all authors, the author’s initial choice of spelling has been maintained as 

much as possible. The editorial staff has done its utmost to identify and mention 

sources and beneficiaries of the text and images used. 

The publisher has made every eff ort to secure permission to reproduce the listed 

material, illustrations and photographs. We apologize for any inadvert errors or 

omissions. Parties who nevertheless believe they can claim specific legal rights 

are invited to contact the publisher. 

Opinions in this magazine belong to the writers and are not necessarily endorsed 

by Diplomatic World. 

All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a 

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical 

photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of 

the artist and publisher. ©2021 Diplomatic World Magazine. 

We live in a time that is characterized by rapid and often 

unpredictable change. Now is the time to undergo a deep-thinking 

exercise about the future we wish to shape collectively in the 

post-pandemic period. 

What is certain is that we cannot forget culture. To this end, the 

G20 Culture Ministers have adopted a declaration calling for the 

integration of culture into national strategies for economic and 

social recovery and longer-term development and urging their 

governments to give the priority to investments in the cultural 

sector and its related activities. 

In November, the all-important COP26 Climate Summit will take 

place in Glasgow. For many countries – in particular small island 

states such as the Maldives – this summit is crucial. It may be 

our last chance to tackle climate changes and its effects on the 

planet and people’s livelihoods. Now is the time for concrete 

action that can deliver a transition to a net zero future. In this 

regard, we are pleased to feature in this issue an interview with 

the Special Envoy for Climate Change of the Maldives. 

Elsewhere in the world, the five Central Asian Republic are 

turning 30 this year. Inside this magazine we are pleased to 

feature statements from all five Ambassadors to commemorate 

this auspicious occasion. In July, we were pleased to attend the 

high-level International Conference “Central and South Asia: 

Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities” held in 

Tashkent. The President of Uzbekistan H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev 

proposed an initiative to strengthen regional connectivity in the 

context of the new open foreign policy strategy of Uzbekistan. 

The idea is aimed at further deepening economic cooperation in 

Central Asia, with access to South Asia, which has historically 

been closely linked to the region in economic, social, cultural 

and civilizational dimensions. After visiting Uzbekistan, we have 

understood how important it is to support the region and create 

new opportunities and possibilities across all fields. We were 

overjoyed to have stood beside the peacemakers of the world in 

the heart of Central Asia. 

We need reforms for the benefit of all people. Solidarity and collaboration 

are key values and approaches in present-day international 

relations. We need less administration, less bureaucracy, 

more innovation and more empathy. 

Barbara Dietrich, CEO 

Diplomatic World 

3

8 12 18 

62 

68 

70 

HER MAJESTY QUEEN MATHILDE, 

THE QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS 

23 

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS 

PRINCESS ELISABETH IN OXFORD 

PRESIDENT MACRON AT THE INTERNATIONAL 

UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE (IUCN) 

WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS 

H.E. SHAVKAT MIRZIYOYEV PRESIDENT 

OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN 

H.E. KASSYM-JOMART TOKAYEV PRESIDENT OF 

THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN 

24 28 72 

75 

76 

H.E. DILYOR KHAKIMOV AMBASSADOR 


PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL 

CHARLES MICHEL AT THE WORLD 

CONSERVATION CONGRESS 

BRDO DECLARATION 

H.E. RADO GENORIO AMBASSADOR 

OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA 

H.E. DR. ERKINKNON RAHMATULLOZODA, 

AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC 

OF TAJIKISTAN 

H.E. MUKTAR DJUMALIEV AMBASSADOR 

OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC 

34 40 44 

78 

82 

86 

EFFECTIVE STEPS OF COOPERATION 

TAKEN BY TURKMENISTAN IN THE FIELD OF 

INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY 

FORMER PRESIDENT MOHAMED NASHEED 

SHARES HIS LIFE JOURNEY AND VISION FOR 

THE FUTURE OF THE MALDIVES 

SABRA IBRAHIM NOORDEEN 

SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE 


FESTIVE LAUNCH OF THE CONSULATE OF THE 

MALDIVES IN FLANDERS 

LUC DEVIGNE DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR 

FOR EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA, EUROPEAN 

EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE - EEAS 

47 48 

50 92 

96 

GABRIELA RAMOS UNESCO ASSISTANT 

DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR SOCIAL AND 

HUMAN SCIENCES 

INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL FORUM 

CENTRAL ASIA AT THE CROSSROADS 

OF WORLD CIVILIZATIONS KHIVA 

H.E. ABDUL GHAFOOR MOHAMED 

FOREIGN SECRETARY OF THE MALDIVES 

H.E. HASSAN SOBIR 

AMBASSADOR OF THE MALDIVES 

H.E. MAHBUB HASSAN SALEH 

AMBASSADOR OF BANGLADESH 

INTERNATIONAL COMICS COLLABORATION 

IN THE SEARCH FOR UNIVERSAL SOLUTIONS 

CARA O SELLO 

JAN CORNELIS FORMER VICE-RECTOR 

R&D & INTERNATIONAL POLICY AT 

VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL (VUB) 

54 60 61 102 

106 

109 

G20 MINISTERS MEETING: 

UNESCO CALLS FOR MORE INVESTMENT 

IN CULTURE 

CROWN PRINCE HIROHITO’S VISIT TO 

BELGIUM IN 1921: A CENTENARY 

HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN 

THIS YEAR, THE FIVE CENTRAL ASIAN 

REPUBLICS MARK THEIR 30 TH 

ANNIVERSARIES OF INDEPENDENCE 

LIVING TOMORROW TAKES 

100 INTERNATIONAL LEADERS ON 

A JOURNEY TO THE FUTURE 

DAVID ARKLESS FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, 

ARKLIGHT CONSULTING GROUP, 

THE FUTURE WORK CONSORTIUM 

VINAY GUPTA A RENAISSANCE MAN 

AND FUTURIST 

4 5

to provide them, in a range of languages such as English, Dutch, French, Russian, German, 

Spanish, Greek, Ukrainian, and Romanian. 

112 116 118 164 

168 

172 

THAT IS A POWERFUL MISSION 

I AM BEHIND 100 PERCENT! 

GORDON EINSTEIN 

HEADLINES OF DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY 

FOR DIPLOMATIC AGENTS 

The firm has wide experience in legal issues surrounding Seat Agreements, Rights and 

Obligations of the guest mission and its hosting State, Investor-State disputes, Inter-State 

disputes and all kinds of legal questions involving International Organizations. We represent 

clients before national and international courts and arbitral tribunals. 

OUR LEGAL SERVICES FOR DIPLOMACY 

Legal compliance with Belgian, European, International laws and regulations 

Diplomatic immunity / Consular support 

Public International Law / EU Law 

Trade and WTO law, treaty interpretation and trade negotiations 

International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution 

Enforcing International Arbitral Awards in Belgian Courts 

Enforcement proceedings against State entities 

Sanctions law and Export controls 

SERGE Global CONESA fraud and Asset Recovery 

WE Foreign CAN Direct DO Investment THINGS in DIFFERENTLY! 

Belgium, EU, Russia and CIS countries 

International Employment and Labour law 

Immigration and International Mobility 

YOUR CYBER SECURITY, 

THEIR PRIORITY 

STIFTUNG FÜR KUNST UND KULTUR BONN / 

FOUNDATION FOR ART AND CULTURE BONN 

SHEPARD FAIREY 

STREET ARTIST 

Our strength lies in our personal approach. As a family business 

(mother and son) we know each other like no other, this 

helps us guide our customers with an identical vision. The 

combination of Karolien's years of expertise in sleeping comfort 

and Mathias's passion and talent for dressing an elegant and 

sophisticated interior form the base of the unique concept of 

Marie-Julliette. Be sure to visit our shop. We would be delighted 

to treat you with a drink while we shape your dream together! 

CARTIER, KERING AND RJC LAUNCH WATCH & 

JEWELLERY INITIATIVE 2030 

Sleeping comfort: Nilson 

Bed linen: Mirabel Slabbinck, Yves Delorme, Christian Fischbacher, 

122 126 128 KEY CONTACTS 

174 

MissoniHome, 175 Snurk, Marc O’ Polo, Essenza, Sognoblu, Casilin, 176 

Avenue Louise 146 | Brussels | +(32) 2 643 33 01 | info@billiet-co.be 

STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES 

AND IMMUNITY OF EXECUTION 

Johan Billiet 

johan.billiet@billiet-co.be 

Dr. Konstantinos Adamantopoulos 

konstantinos.adamantopoulos@billiet-co.be 

Philippe Billiet 

philippe.billiet@billiet-co.be 

Vladimir Lincautan 

vladimir.lincautan@billiet-co.be 

EJET AEROSPACE THE NEW WAY TO FLY 

AD-BillietCo.indd 2 28/07/2020 15:16 

OUR BRANDS 

Libeco, Cassenz (duvets and pillows), Formesse 

Interior: Saba Italia, Miniforms, Spectrum, Oluce (lighting), Woud, 

Gelderland, BeClassics, Magis, Menu, Studio Zar (glasware) 

Decorative cushions and plaids: MissoniHome, Iosis, Lanerossi, 

Christian Fischbacher, Marc O’ Polo, Essenza 

Scented candles: Trudon, Lumira 

Beauty: L’Objet (soap, bath salts, hand and body lotion, room 

spray, etc.), Il Profvmo 

Bath linen: Abyss Habidecor, Yves Delorme, MissoniHome, 

KEVIN PIETERSEN 

Mirabel Slabbinck 

FOUNDER OF SORAI 

Bathrobes: Lacoste, Hugo Boss, MissoniHome, 

Ralph Lauren, Royal Touch, Mirabel Slabbinck 

132 

Table linen: Libeco, Mirabel Slabbinck, Yves Delorme, Marc O’Polo 

186 

130 131 178 

182 

ABOUT US 

BACK TO THE FUTURE: INNOVATION, 

VISUALIZATION, INTERPRETATION AND 

UNDERSTANDING 

MARIE - JULLIETTE 

SLEEP COMFORT INTERIOR 

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE TEXTILE 

INDUSTRY IN UZBEKISTAN 

THE PHOEBUS FOUNDATION 

AT HOME WITH JORDAENS 

FRANS HALS MUSEUM HAARLEM 

MARIE’S CORNER 

DESIGNING EMOTIONS 

THE FUTURE IS IN THE STARS 

IN THE BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GTC V8 

ODE TO THE SAXAUL SHRUB 

140 144 150 188 

191 

192 

FASHION HOUSE NATAN DRESSES MADONNA 

IN THE CATHEDRAL FOR ‘FASHION 2.021’ 

ARC DE TRIOMPHE WRAPPED 

GUY PIETERS HELPS REALIZE 

CHRISTO’S ULTIMATE DREAM 

KOEN VANMECHELEN THE STATE HERMITAGE 

MUSEUM IN SAINT PETERSBURG PRESENTS 

GLASSTRESS: WINDOW TO THE FUTURE 

BRINGING MAGIC BACK 

TO THE PLANET WITH TREES 

154 158 160 

196 

198 

OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI 

PRINCE LUDWIG OF BAVARIA 

DER LÖWENMARSCH 

INTERLINKING DIPLOMACY IN BUSINESS, FINANCE, 

HEALTH, ECONOMICS, CULTURE & INNOVATION 

FALLEN ASTRONAUT 

BY PAUL VAN HOEYDONCK 

FALLING IN LOVE WITH GEOMETRIC DANCES 

BY ALICE ANDERSON IN BRUSSELS 

DIVERSITY UNITED: THE ARTISTIC FACE 

OF EUROPE 

TEMPLE FOOD AND PRAYER 

FOR LIFE AND PEACE 

NOVEMBER IS WORLDWIDE 

PANCREATIC CANCER MONTH 

6 7

HER MAJESTY 

QUEEN MATHILDE 

OF THE BELGIANS 

Address by Her Majesty the Queen 

on the occasion of the launch of 

The Pan-European Mental Health Coalition 

Ministers, 

Your Excellencies, 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

As an Advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals, I have 

made it a point to listen to the voices of people with mental 

health issues, from a number of countries, in both the developed 

and developing world. They want neglect and stigmatization to 

end, they want access to counselling and treatment, they long to 

be recognized as active members of their community, and they 

want dignity. 

The COVID pandemic has reminded us that mental health not 

only relates to mental illness. It is also inextricably linked to 

mental well-being, a fundamental requirement for individual 

development and for the prosperity of any society. In the effort to 

leave no one behind, we must increase our efforts to safeguard 

vulnerable groups: individuals living with mental illness, healthcare 

professionals, young people, victims of domestic and other 

forms of violence, refugees and migrants. 

For children and young people in particular, this period has been 

extremely challenging. The pandemic has profoundly disrupted 

their academic lives, their social and personal development 

and their early professional endeavours. We must therefore pay 

particular attention to the mental well-being of young people, and 

invest in it. Tailored interventions can facilitate access for all and 

respond better to their unique needs and struggles. In order to 

understand their challenges, we need to listen to their voices. We 

need to work together with them to devise appropriate responses 

and to build up their resilience. Our youth are our future and our 

hope. We have an obligation to protect and to support them now. 

We must emphasize prevention, too, community-based services 

and important tools such as peer support. Mainstreaming mental 

well-being components into other policies, such as general 

health, education, or poverty reduction, might open new avenues 

as well. 

Mental health is a universal concern. Anyone can be affected by 

challenges related to mental health. For some, it may come in the 

form of chronic illness, for others it may present short-term challenges 

that necessitate some degree of support, and for some it 

may even take the form of disability. We should all care about the 

status of mental health services, because every one of us may 

potentially require those services, at a certain point in our lifetime. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

The need for cooperation and for sharing our experience in 

the field of mental health on an international level is pressing. 

Transversal approaches, reflection, and discussion will be key, 

between the WHO/Europe, policymakers, mental health professionals, 

educators, persons with lived experience, NGOs and 

other potential actors. Elevating the status of mental health 

and well-being on the agenda is urgent. I am happy to see 

that his cooperative spirit and this urgency are at the heart of 

the Pan-European Mental Health Coalition, which is being 

launched today. 

Photo: Diplomatic World 

8 9

Her Majesty the Queen was born in Uccle on 20 January 1973. 

She is the daughter of Count and Countess Patrick d’Udekem 

d’Acoz. 

She attended primary school in Bastogne and secondary school 

in Brussels, before studying speech therapy and psychology. 

The Queen worked as a speech therapist from 1995 to 1999. 

She married Prince Philippe on 4 December 1999 and they had 

four children: a daughter Elisabeth (2001), now Duchess of 

Brabant, two sons Gabriël (2003) and Emmanuel (2005), and 

another daughter Eléonore (2008). As the mother of four young 

children, the Queen attaches great importance to her family. 

The Queen assists the King in carrying out his functions as Head 

of State. These include numerous visits to institutions, contacts 

with the population, ceremonies in Belgium and abroad, state 

visits, promoting Belgium’s image abroad, audiences with representatives 

of various groups in society and countless trips all 

over the country. 

Apart from her activities in the company of the King, the Queen 

also devotes time to issues that are close to her heart. She regularly 

visits social institutions and medical centres. These contacts 

help her to stay in touch with the people and their needs and 

requirements and with the many initiatives undertaken in Belgium 

to help others. The Queen attaches a great deal of importance to 

close contact with the population. 

The Queen deploys the Queen’s Charities to offer help to citizens 

who are struggling to cope with financial hardship in their daily 

lives and often turn to her as a last resort. She takes part in the 

social debate on subjects of relevance to the population. She 

has a particular concern for vulnerable people. As Honorary 

President of the Queen Mathilde Fund, the Queen endeavours 

to assist the weakest members of our society. 

The Queen is also concerned with a range of social issues 

including education, child poverty, intergenerational poverty, 

the position of women in society and literacy. 

Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth and Belgian composer and violist 

Eugène Ysaÿe. 

In 2016, the Queen was invited by the UN Secretary General 

to join the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocacy 

Group. This group of eminent personalities supports the United 

Nations Organization in mobilizing the international community 

to take action to achieve the SDGs by 2030. The Queen received 

the Honorary National German Sustainability Award 2017 for 

her years of social and humanitarian commitment as well as her 

contribution to the debate on the implementation of the 

UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

In 2018 Queen Mathilde became the Honorary President of the 

Federal Council for Sustainable Development. According to a 

royal tradition, the Queen became an Honorary Member of the 

Académie royale de Médécine de Belgique (ARMB) and a 

Protective Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Medicine 

of Belgium (KAGB). 

The Queen is a member of the Schwab Foundation Board for 

Social Entrepreneurship. She was a United Nations Emissary 

for the International Year of Microcredit 2005, which focused in 

particular on financial inclusion and financial literacy. The Queen 

also attends the annual World Economic Forum in Davos. 

Belgian development cooperation is an important issue for the 

Queen. She has undertaken a number of humanitarian missions 

(mainly in Africa), highlighting areas such as children’s rights, 

health issues, poverty reduction, education, good governance, 

the empowerment of women, HIV/AIDS and orphans (UNICEF/ 

UNAIDS), and non-communicable diseases. 

The Queen is a greater believer in lifelong learning and as one of 

the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders has attended 

a number of leadership courses at the Harvard Kennedy School 

and Yale University. 

Besides Dutch and French, the Queen speaks English, Italian and 

some Spanish. 

The Queen is Honorary President of Child Focus Foundation for 

Missing and Sexually Exploited Children. Children’s well-being is 

for Her a fundamental principle and she dedicates herself in the 

fight against abduction and all forms of sexual abuse. 

The Queen has a broad interest in art and dance. She likes modern 

as well as classical music and plays the piano. She also loves 

literature. She is a keen cyclist, tennis player and swimmer, and 

enjoys nature and outdoor activities. 

The Queen is Honorary President of UNICEF Belgium and of 

the Breast International Group (a non-profit organisation for 

academic breast cancer research groups from around the world). 

She was the World Health Organisation Europe’s Special 

Representative for Immunisation. As from 2014 the Queen has 

given Her High Patronage to the International Queen Elisabeth 

Music Competition founded in 1937 as an initiative of 

Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of The Belgians 

Photo: Koninklijk Paleis / Palais Royal 

10 11

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS 

PRINCESS ELISABETH 

IN OXFORD 

From 4 October, Princess Elisabeth will follow 

the three-year History & Politics Course 

at Lincoln College, which is part of Oxford University 

Princess Elisabeth at the Lincoln College Library . Photo: Royal Palace / Bas Bogaerts 

Princess Elisabeth strolls past Radcliffe Square. The Radcliffe Camera can be seen in the background. 

Photo: Royal Palace / Bas Bogaerts 

12 13

Princess Elisabeth walks in Lincoln College’s Front Quad. 


Princess Elisabeth is in Lincoln College’s Front Quad. 


Princess Elisabeth meets fellow students in the Grove at Lincoln College. 


Princess Elisabeth has a coffee in a bar near Lincoln College. 


Princess Elisabeth walks towards the Grove at Lincoln College. Photo: Royal Palace / Bas Bogaerts 

Princess Elisabeth walks past Lincoln College on Turl Street. The entrance to the Princess Elisabeth and two friends take a punting tour on the River Cherwell in 

College library can be seen in the background. 

Oxford. Punting is a typical Oxford and Cambridge activity with a low wooden boat. 



14 15

PRESIDENT MACRON 

AT THE INTERNATIONAL UNION 

FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE (IUCN) 

WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS 

I am very proud that we have, during this year, organised two 

climate change, is to fight for these peoples who, for centuries, 

highlights for biodiversity: the One Planet Biodiversity Summit in 

sometimes millennia, have preserved the spaces that globaliza- 

January in Paris and this International Union for Conservation of 

tion has shaken up. 

Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Marseille. These 

two events allow us to create alliances and make commit- 

We can clearly see the existence of a virtuous circle, and this 

ments. The more we have elements of mobilization like these, 

for a simple reason, is that we have until now also underesti- 

the more we accelerate the progress of our action, the ability to 

mated the economic impact of nature. The services provided by 

move forward and keep up because the urgency is there. The 

nature are 1.5 times the world’s GDP. And economic activities 

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and 

that directly depend on nature are roughly half of our GDP. If we 

Ecosystem Services and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 

know how to accelerate in the fight against global warming, the 

Change say so in their reports: the gravity of the situation is well 

fight for biodiversity and the fight for indigenous peoples and the 

documented. 

preservation of humanity, we have positive synergies that allow 

us to move forward. 

But there is one thought which came out of all the exchanges 

that we have had these last few hours together and that I wanted 

Faced with this, several commitments were made earlier this year 

to share with you, which seems to me particularly strong and 

at the One Planet Summit. I just want to pick up on four points 

which, in my eyes, nourishes a certain hope if we mobilize. 

here. 

We can clearly see that climate, nature and humanity are inseparable. 

I think we see it much better, unfortunately, since we 

First, there is the question of the protection, the preservation of 

experienced the Covid-19 pandemic - because we have re-ex- 

living soils. We have taken several initiatives. Now it is a question 

perienced our anchoring in living things - these mutations, these 

of implementation. We have brought forward a bill which is about 

transformations, the upheavals brought about by globalization 

the fight against the artificialization of soils. France has made a 

in the porosity between ecosystems, the consequences of the 

destruction of certain ecosystems. 

law, commitments and accompanying measures such as massive 

investments to allow the conversion of existing wastelands, 

French President Emmanuel Macron 

Photo: Shutterstock 

to create new activity without taking again spaces from nature, 

Several initiatives have been taken. With the One Health Initiative, 

but by making it possible to reconvert spaces which have already 

we really wanted to put these agendas at the heart and resyn- 

been artificialized and which are sometimes abandoned. 

space. We are not there yet but there is an explanation for that. 

When we talk about preservation, there is the very sensitive issue 

chronize them. We can see that everything is linked. So, there is 

Our Mediterranean is at the crossroads of many activities and, in 

of pesticides. On this subject, we have started to curb their use, 

a worrying aspect in this link, we know that we cannot live well 

This is what we want to pursue now at European level with the 

particular, fishing and other activities, and therefore it is obviously 

we are continuing to innovate and look for substitutions. Howev- 

and in good health in a sick planet and there is no vaccine in 

European Commission and our partners, because this fight 

extremely hard, but we cannot make all of this protection apply 

er, we know how hard the fight is, giving rise to political contro- 

the face of a sick planet. Bad news. But, if there is a collective 

against artificialization will be at the heart of the French 

to our maritime zone. This is why, after a lot of work in recent 

versies, sometimes tensions in our country. But are we going fast 

mobilization and if we manage to recreate a virtuous cycle, the 

Presidency of the Council of the European Union (next year). 

weeks, a lot of discussions, in particular with our fishermen 

enough? No. Can we underestimate the efforts we are asking our 

accelerating effects are there. 

It is also, of course, about protecting maritime and land spaces. 

whom I want to thank, we will bring by 2027 this 0.2% of strong 

farmers in particular? No. Because our farmers already live rather 

protection to 5% of strong protection in the Mediterranean area, 

badly from their activities and face so many difficulties. We must 

Each time we recreate biodiversity, we provide a solution to 

We made the commitment, in spring 2019, to protect 30% of our 

that is to say 25 times larger, which is a real change. This is what 

build a path, a transition all together to succeed in re-protect- 

climate change. The mangrove helps to solve the problems, 

territory (and 10% under strict protection) by 2027. The law has 

will allow us to reach our objective of 10% strong protection by 

ing our soils, re-protect our agricultural activities and gradually 

precisely those related to the retreat of the coastal lines. The 

been passed and we will be there in 2022 in a measurable and 

2030. France has a special responsibility because we often hear 

reduce do without pesticides. 

fight for biodiversity is also an element that makes it possible to 

quantifiable manner. We have put aside the means to ensure that 

that we are only responsible for 1% of CO2 emissions, but we 

respond to the consequences of climate change and to move 

this 30% of territory is well controlled and verified. When we then 

are also the second largest maritime power in the world. And so, 

We have started to do this on several pesticides that we will 

forward more quickly. These are indispensable fights for not only 

talk about strong protection from where we are located, I have 

when France commits to protect 30% and strongly protect 10% 

further reduce significantly in the coming months, with two meth- 

the good health of the planet, but for the survival of the indig- 

to look at our Mediterranean and today, if I look at things lucidly, 

of its maritime areas, this has an impact on the entire planet. It is 

ods: research and investment. It is in the stimulus plan, and we 

enous communities. Therefore, to fight for biodiversity, against 

we protect with what is called “strong protection” 0.2 % of our 

a real effort that we are all making together. 

are going to increase this budgetary effort even further over the 

16 17

next five years because every time we look, we find non-chem- 

ported deforestation which up to has so often been linked to this 

ical substitutes, each time through research. We can do without 

sector. This is a mobilization of the sector, it is not just states and 

pesticides while remaining competitive. 

governments that are moving, all the stakeholders are moving at 

the same time. 

And then, we must support our farmers, who are the primary 

players in life, who are constantly in contact with the soil, which 

Furthermore, there are several initiatives that we launched at 

they maintain, preserve and protect. We need to help them 

the beginning of the year. The Alliance for the Conservation of 

overcome pesticide dependence. That is an investment which 

Rainforests, which has complemented initiatives taken for a long 

we must assume. In addition to what is provided for in the CAP, 

time by Norway and Germany, pioneers in this area with many 

the Ministries of Ecological Transition and Agriculture, a massive 

large NGOs, in particular such as Conservation International. 

plan for the support for mechanization, for the protein plan, etc. 

We will complete this recovery plan, in the framework of France 

We have also accelerated a strategy which is several years old, 

2030, with a massive investment plan to support our farmers. 

that of the Great Green Wall in Africa. In this regard, I want to 

On this subject of pesticides, I want the French Presidency 

salute the mobilization of President Mahamadou Issoufou, who 

of the European Union to carry out a strong initiative for an 

agreed to put the gloves back on, if you allow me this familiarity, 

accelerated phase-out of pesticides. We will only get there at 

a European level. 

and who, after two terms in office as President of Niger, 

agreed to get involved. President Issoufou served two terms 


as President in Niger, which is one of the poorest countries on 

it must be done now. Then, to preserve the oceans, education 

agenda. But you must go further, you must lead the fight interna- 

The second major subject is forests and ecosystem restoration. 

the planet. During these two terms, he helped reduce poverty. 

plays a very important role. 

tionally, first to convince other powers to make marine protected 

France was one of the first countries to propose a strategy to 

He fought against war and terrorism, but above all he allowed 

areas and to continue working to better understand our oceans. 

fight imported deforestation. We have translated it into law, and 

the first democratic transition in the history of his country, 

When plastic reaches the sea, it is already too late. Collecting 

we wish to accelerate the work carried out by the European 

therefore, it is no coincidence that a man like him considered 

plastic at sea is one of the strong, visible, goodwill initiatives, but 

We have to carry out this work because 60% of our maritime 

Commission so that at European level, we have a clear and 

to pursue the task of taking care of the Great Green Wall. 

it is already too late because plastic, beyond visible macro-plas- 

space is outside the law. And if we do not want 60% of our 

strong strategy to fight against deforestation. 

tic, already has billions of particles that have already polluted, 

oceans to become areas of lawlessness, competition, geopo- 

We have mobilized USD 18 billion for the Great Green Wall. But 

which have already affected ecosystems, which have sometimes 

litical predation, market predation and a disaster for biodiver- 

What does this mean? It means no longer importing palm oil 

above all, we already have 45% of the amounts committed, 

already killed fish, even plankton, and which have infested living 

sity and for science, we must fight for an agenda that puts our 

when its production entails deforestation and when it feeds 

which shows that there is a mobilization on the ground of all the 

ecosystems. 

oceans at the heart of our objectives as a global public good, as 

deforestation. This means no longer importing soybeans or pro- 

actors and now, which is clear, the time is for the actors on the 

a common good. This agenda, we must carry it, I tell you very 

teins when they result in deforestation, especially in the Amazon. 

ground to have the projects and that we can support them in a 

The only solution is that plastic does not reach our seas and 

sincerely, it is an essential scientific, geopolitical, environmental 

We launched this commitment in the spring of 2019. We have 

very concrete way because the objective of this Great Green Wall 

oceans. It is therefore essential to reduce uses, to educate and 

agenda. 

a roadmap, but I will be very clear with you because these are 

is to fight against desertification and to reconquer 100 million 

prevent the waste and the arrival of plastic in our seas. I also 

always transitions. Why do we import Amazon soybeans from 

hectares of degraded land stretching from the Gulf of Guinea to 

want to salute the Mission Starfish under the leadership of 

To respond to the invitation of the United Nations, I hereby make 

Brazil and other countries? Because since the 1960s, there was 

the Horn of Africa. It is a formidable work of geopolitical rec- 

Pascal Lamy which is indeed an initiative that will make it 

the commitment to hold the “One Ocean Summit” which will 

this organization between Europe and the American continent 

onciliation throughout the continent, but it is above all the fight 

possible to reconstitute and regenerate the hydrosphere through 

allow us to bring all the stakeholders around the table to both 

which had built this protein dependence through major trade 

against desertification, the fight against climate change and it is 

5 objectives: Filling the knowledge and emotional gap; regenerat- 

build concrete initiatives, strong international legal agenda to 

agreements and distribution of our specialties. If we wish to 

a contribution from Africa. However, on the Paris agenda, and I 

ing marine and freshwater ecosystems; zero pollution; decarbon- 

carry this global public good project. But this battle is at risk, I 

cease this protein dependence on North and South America, 

say it here because it is not only the rich countries that contrib- 

ising our ocean, and waters; and revamping governance. Beyond 

tell you very clearly. Why? Because on the Antarctic, a fight was 

then we must rebuild our protein sovereignty. This strategy has 

ute to it, but also countries that suffer more than others from the 

that, we also launched the alliance for Sustainable Actions for 

fought several decades ago - a fight which owes a lot to France 

been pursued in France through investments and by mobiliz- 

consequences of this agenda through the Great Green Wall are 

Innovative and Low-impact Shipping (SAILS) to reduce emis- 

and to Michel Rocard (who played a big part in the passing of 

ing all sectors. Our farmers are carriers of solutions in the fight 

over-contributors to the Paris agenda. This is also the creation of 

sions, convert fleets to LNG and to other techniques and join 

the Protocol of Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty) 

against deforestation because we will reproduce proteins in 

economic activities through reforestation, through agroecologi- 

the European Green Marine label. I wish to acknowledge all 

to whom I want to pay homage here, because without him, no 

France that will give us our food sovereignty and allow us to 

cal, agroforestry and agricultural projects. On the forest agenda, 

the actors who have announced their adhesion to this initiative 

doubt we would have decided to divide up Antarctica and exploit 

stop this import-dependence. This is what must be developed 

we will continue to move forward, as you can see, with strength 

and in particular since we are in Marseille, CMA-CGM (a French 

it. Instead, we have managed to designate Antarctica as a natural 

in Europe on a massive scale. These are investments, jobs and 

and determination. But already, since the beginning of the year, 

container transportation and shipping company) which has con- 

reserve devoted to peace and science. 

the reconciliation of the biodiversity agenda for the fight against 

we have made concrete and measurable progress. 

firmed that they joined this initiative. 

climate change, for European sovereignty and for the creation of 

The Arctic is now in danger. One part is inevitable - the con- 

economic activities. 

Third point of note: the oceans. The strategy to fight plastic is 

Fighting for the poles also means hearing what is being said by 

sequence of global warming - and there is what we must now 

absolutely essential. France has passed a law in this regard. We 

the experts. I always listen to what is explained to us, by the 

succeed in launching as an initiative. We must convince the great 

On this subject, I also want to acknowledge the commitment 

are in the process of implementing it. It has been strengthened 

United Nations, by our scientists, who have told us: there are 

powers that are present in the Arctic to build an agenda to try to 

made by several sectors. The cocoa sector, for example, has just 

recently. We are getting rid of single-use plastic wherever we 

these initiatives, they are very useful. But if you want to save the 

preserve what we can still preserve. Our laws are now imperfect 

made a commitment to, within 5 years, fight against deforesta- 

can. We are in the process of building circular economy sectors. 

oceans, you have to cut down on plastic. You must fight for ma- 

and do not protect everything in terms of biodiversity. France 

tion and make it possible to have sustainable cocoa that is thus 

It must be done everywhere, in all developed countries and in de- 

rine protected areas, which we are doing as Europeans, we have 

will not wait for the laws and will take all the measures to protect 

consumed on our soil by drastically reducing and eliminating im- 

veloping countries, because it generates economic activity, and 

said it and we will try to convince others to have this international 

the biodiversity in the Arctic region and prevent its degradation 

18 19

derived from economic projects carried out by multinationals. 

But more clearly, at this summit, I want us to be able to try to 

convince the great powers which are around the arctic table, 

to build a global public good and scientific agenda of climate 

biodiversity to try to save what we can still save. It is our duty. 

A polar strategy will be submitted to me in the fall. I will try and 

convince our partners to join us in this fight for the other pole, it 

is absolutely essential. 

My fourth and last remark concerns our instruments and 

methodologies. We will not be able to achieve all this if we do 

not manage to equip ourselves with the right instruments. The 

first, is to measure. We do not move things well when we do 

not measure them properly. The international mobilization that 

has been possible was key because for the first time we built an 

international agenda with objectives, figures and data and this 

unprecedented diplomatic work was possible because we managed 

to consensually build common measures. When it comes to 

biodiversity, we absolutely must equip ourselves with the same 

instruments to measure impacts, to also measure in terms of accounting 

and succeed in building consensus. Today we see too 

many heterogeneous, divergent and contradictory figures come 

out. Therefore, the first objective that we must complete in the 

coming months - and I think that the UN Biodiversity Conference 

Kunming must allow us to do that - is to have consensual scientific 

standards to measure biodiversity. 

Following, we need to change the inner workings of the model 

in two ways. Our public development banks must keep commitments 

to change their financing. What we have done for the 

climate, we must do for biodiversity. Hereby, I salute the French 

Development Agency and the International Fund for Agricultural 

Development (IFAD). The commitments made at the One Planet 

Summit in January are being kept. But we must expand the club 

of public development banks so that they all devoted 30% of 

their climate funding towards efforts to foster biodiversity least 

and that we manage to do what we have done in the fight against 

global warming. 

Christine Lagarde said it, we launched this task force initiative for 

the transparency of financing for nature. It is a fight that follows 

the one we waged for carbon, and which is producing its first 

results. We have succeeded in convincing an overwhelming 

majority of sovereign funds, asset managers, companies on the 

planet since the first One Planet Summit to go into this initiative, 

the One Planet Sovereign Wealth Funds. And we have results. 

We must do the same with regard to biodiversity. For that, we 

must have a common and precise methodology and we must put 

pressure on all the funders of the planet to join it. 

This methodology should be developed openly and transparently. 

I do not wish the methodology for biodiversity to be done like the 

financial standards, that is to say done on the side-lines, in too 

technical circles and not reaching the objectives that are ours. 

The second major cross-cutting element is the consistency of 

our public policies. France has in a way brought about a resynchronization 

of the trade agenda with our climate and biodiversity 

agenda. When we said no to Mercosur, it was with this in 

mind. France is against the Mercosur as it is negotiated today 

and we will remain so very clearly, not because we are not at 

ease with our friends in Mercosur, on the contrary, but because 

by definition, this agreement as conceived and thought out, cannot 

be compatible with our climate agenda. And so, we cannot 

conclude it today like this. 

Above all, we must build EU trade agreements with the other parties 

which reflect that same goal. Our trade policy must include 

mirror clauses on the climate plan and in terms of biodiversity. 

This is what I want the French Presidency, alongside our partners 

with the Commission, to carry out. We must reinvent our trade 

policies so that they are consistent with our climate policies, with 

our biodiversity policies. It is a necessity. 

And then, finally, this is all part of the transition agenda. We will 

not be able to do all of this overnight. We must reconcile ecology, 

the economy, the social aspects. We must therefore accept 

in this transitional period to change our paradigms, agree to 

massively finance these transitions, agree to support our farmers, 

our fishermen, our fellow citizens, so that these transitions are 

possible. We must agree to support the developing countries 

and the poorest countries to help them make these transitions 

and therefore we must change the financial paradigms that are 

ours as governments and help to change the financial paradigms 

that international private investors have. In a way, what was at 

the gates of international capitalism, we have to put it back to 

the heart and really build this economic, ecological and social 

responsibility. We started with the European recovery plan and 

the national variations to make this transformation. We are going 

to have to go a lot faster and a lot harder. 

This effective multilateralism in which I believe is the one which 

makes it possible to find all together a meaning and to rebuild 

ecosystems (that is to say what we have deregulated), but it will 

not happen overnight. It entails a set of decisions where we bring 

coherence to this battle for the climate, for nature, for indigenous 

peoples and, ultimately, for humanity. 

This is a fight which I want us to lead together. I for one am 

extraordinarily confident. The situation is unfortunate, but our will 

is immense. The capacity to innovate the human species is massive. 

We just have to put it back at the service of these solutions. 

We will get there because we are going to fight! 

The speech has been translated by the Diplomatic World team. Any errors or 

inaccuracies therefore are ours. 

21

ENJOY THE UNIQUE EATING EXPERIENCE 

OF THE BISTRONOMY 

PRESIDENT 

OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL 

CHARLES MICHEL 

AT THE WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS 

OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION 

FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE (IUCN) 

I’d like to join in the thanks to France and the Mayor of Marseille, 

and to the organisers of this Congress, which comes at a crucial 

juncture. Because, as we can see quite clearly, our generation is 

at a turning point. And the first thing that needs to happen is for 

us put our trust in the science, in the explorers, so that we make 

the right choices and take the right decisions. 

Some time ago now – in December two years ago – the EU’s 27 

heads of state or government took the first step with a decision 

that was strong, clear and unequivocal, and that many had 

thought impossible only a few months earlier: we decided to 

make Europe the first climate-neutral continent. 

One last point I would like to make briefly: we will have the 

opportunity over the coming weeks and months, as we work with 

great determination to implement the European Green Deal, to 

make sure we put biodiversity at the heart of our plans, at the 

heart of our ambitions, at the heart of our efforts. 

And it is very much up to Europe to create momentum in order to 

show the way and lead the way. 

And we are well aware, as the French President noted and 

others, too, have said, that the fight for the climate and the 

fight for biodiversity are in fact one and the same. And it is 

with the same determination that we must be moved to action 

at European level. Let me stress just how clear the commitments 

made by the Greek Prime Minister here just a few moments 

ago are, which shows how things are moving and starting to 

accelerate. 

Turning to some specific points: our oceans and forests are the 

lungs of humanity. Our determined action for the oceans has 

started with a ban on single-use plastic. The next challenge on 

the table: how can we keep all plastic out of the oceans? 

Indringingsweg 1, 1800 Vilvoorde-Koningslo, Belgium - +32 2 263 01 31 - info@thebistronomy.com 

Another extremely important commitment: to increase the coverage 

of protected areas and achieve clarity about the requirements: 

what does it mean when an area is protected? And here 

we come to the key role for the climate that is played by the 

poles, the Antarctic and the Arctic. In the Antarctic, we in the 

European Union are very clear that we want to extend the protected 

areas. When it comes to the Arctic, too, we are perfectly 

clear: we believe we must ensure that transport is sustainable 

and takes account of the criteria for respecting our shared humanity, 

of which every one of us is part. 

H.E. Charles Michel, President of The European Council 


23

BRDO DECLARATION 

6 OCTOBER 2021 

WE, THE LEADERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 

(EU) AND ITS MEMBER STATES, IN CONSULTATION 

WITH WESTERN BALKANS LEADERS, AND IN THE 

PRESENCE OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL 

STAKEHOLDERS, TODAY CONCLUDED THE 

FOLLOWING: 

commitment to inclusive regional cooperation and strengthening 

good neighbourly relations, including with EU Member States. 

Implementing bilateral agreements in good faith and with tangible 

results, including the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the 

Treaty on Good Neighbourly Relations with Bulgaria, remains 

important. Further, decisive efforts are required to foster reconciliation 

and regional stability, as well as to find and implement 

1.The EU reaffirms its unequivocal support for the European per- 

definitive, inclusive and binding solutions to partners’ bilateral 

spective of the Western Balkans and welcomes the commitment 

disputes and issues rooted in the legacy of the past, in line with 

of the Western Balkans partners to the European perspective, 

international law and established principles, including the Agree- 

which is in our mutual strategic interest and remains our shared 

ment on Succession Issues, and the remaining cases of missing 

strategic choice. The EU reconfirms its commitment to the en- 

persons and war crimes issues. 

largement process and its decisions taken thereon, based upon 

credible reforms by partners, fair and rigorous conditionality 

6. We fully support the efforts of the EU Special Representative 

and the principle of own merits. We will further intensify our joint 

for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan re- 

engagement to take forward the region’s political, economic and 

gional issues and expect concrete progress by the two Parties on 

social transformation, while acknowledging the progress made 

the full normalisation of relations between them, which is critical 

by the Western Balkans. We also recall the importance that the 

EU can maintain and deepen its own development, ensuring its 

for the stability and development of the whole region and to ensure 

that they can continue on their respective European paths. 

Photo: eu2021si 

capacity to integrate new members. 

2.The Western Balkans partners reiterate their dedication to 

European values and principles and to carrying out necessary 

COVID-19 

The EU will support the vaccination plans of all partners to 

help reach similar vaccination rates to the EU average by the 

source of financial assistance for the region, including for the EIP. 

The Commission intends to propose an investment package of 

reforms in the interest of their people. The EU welcomes the 

7. The COVID-19 crisis continues to have a severe impact on 

end of 2021. 

EUR 600 million under IPA 2021 for the implementation of the EIP 

restated commitment of the Western Balkans partners to the 

our societies and economies. It highlights the necessity and 

for the Western Balkans, subject to procedures in accordance 

primacy of democracy, fundamental rights and values and the 

rule of law, and to sustaining efforts in the fight against corruption 

and organised crime, support for good governance, human 

rights, gender equality and the rights of persons belonging to 

advantages of our close and effective partnership. The EU, 

together with its Member States, has stood by the Western 

Balkans throughout the pandemic, with health and socio-economic 

support for the region totalling an unprecedented EUR 3,3 

ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PLAN FOR THE 

WESTERN BALKANS 

with the IPA 1 III programming framework and implementing rules. 

Together with the proposal of EUR 500 million announced in July, 

this would provide a total of EUR 1,1 billion for the implementation 

of the EIP by the end of 2021. 

minorities. The credibility of these commitments depends on the 

billion so far. Western Balkans partners are closely involved in 

10. Following the Leaders’ call at the Zagreb Summit, the EU put 

meaningful implementation of necessary reforms, and building 

EU initiatives, notably the Health Security Committee, the Early 

forward an Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) and guidelines 

12. Acknowledging the commitment of the Western Balkans 

a solid track record underpinned by clear and consistent public 

Warning System, the Green Corridors and the Joint Procurement 

for the Implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western 

leaders to fully implement the Green Agenda, we welcome the 

communication. An empowered civil society and independent 

Agreement for medical countermeasures. The EU stands ready 

Balkans. The Plan sets out a substantial investment package 

agreement on the related Action Plan. In line with the Green Deal, 

and pluralistic media are crucial components of any democratic 

to further improve access to vaccines, diagnostics, and thera- 

mobilising some EUR 30 billion for the region over the next seven 

the Agenda is a key driver for the transition to modern, car- 

system and we welcome and support the role they play in the 

peutics and to ensure a better predictability of and resilience to 

years, comprised of EUR 9 billion in grant funding and EUR 20 

bon-neutral, climate- resilient and resource-efficient economies, 

Western Balkans. 

future crises. 

billion in investments, leveraged by the new Western Balkans 

to unlock the potential of circular economy, fight against pollution 

Guarantee Facility. Maximising the potential impact of the EIP 

and improve waste management. Its successful implementation 

3. The EU is by far the region’s closest partner, main investor 

8. The EU also recognises the valuable support the Western 

requires the Western Balkans partners to decisively undertake 

will require a strong commitment from the region. It is essential to 

and principal donor. The unprecedented scale and range of this 

Balkans have given during the pandemic to each other and to- 

economic and social reforms as well as to strengthen the rule of 

focus efforts to ensure a timely and effective transition away from 

support must be fully recognised and conveyed by the partners 

wards the EU. This reflects the solidarity and mutual support the 

law. The plan can spur the region’s long-term, green socio-eco- 

coal through the use of renewable or less carbon-intensive fuels. 

in their public debate and communication. 

EU is built on. This cooperation and coordination should continue 

nomic recovery and competitiveness, support its green and digi- 

Energy security should also be prioritised, including the diversi- 

in the future, including throughout the recovery phase. 

tal transition, foster sustainable connectivity, regional integration, 

fication of sources and routes. The EU will continue to support 

4. EU support will continue to be linked to tangible progress on 

trade, thereby also strengthening cooperation and convergence 

the region in the implementation of the Green Agenda, and on 

the rule of law and socio- economic reforms, as well as to part- 

9. The EU will continue supporting the Western Balkans resolute- 

with the EU, including with the EU’s climate-related goals. 

the development of a carbon pricing policy in the context of the 

ners’ adherence to European values, rules and standards. 

ly, particularly as regards the supply of vaccines. The EU and its 

EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), including 

Member States have provided 2,9 million vaccine doses through 

11. We welcome the recent adoption of the legal framework for 

through technical and financial assistance. 

5.The EU fully supports the Western Balkans partners’ reaffirmed 

various channels to the Western Balkans, with more to come. 

the implementation of IPA1 III, which will continue to be the key 

24 25

13. The EIP enables a new momentum to enhance connectivity in 

all its dimensions, both within the Western Balkans and with the 

POLITICAL AND SECURITY COOPERATION 

EU. The EU will continue to support inclusive regional coopera- 

19. Standing together with the EU is a clear sign of our partners’ 

tion. Further and decisive efforts by the Western Balkans leaders 

strategic orientation. Therefore, we re-assert our expectation 

are needed to deliver on their commitment to establish a 

that partners will further deepen cooperation in the area of 

Common Regional Market, as agreed at the Berlin Process 

Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and make tangible 

Summit in Sofia in 2020. This will help advance the region on its 

and sustainable progress towards full alignment with EU foreign 

European path and will deliver tangible benefits for citizens and 

policy positions and act accordingly, including with positions in 

businesses. Exploiting the potential of inclusive regional econom- 

international fora as an important part of their European path. 

ic integration is essential to boost the socio-economic recovery 

We welcome that some partners are already fully aligned with all 

of the region, and to maximise the benefit from the investments 

CFSP decisions and declarations and encourage them to contin- 

stemming from the EIP. A strong commitment is needed by 

ue doing so. The EU stands ready to further strengthen political 

the entire region to conclude the relevant regional negotiations 

dialogue on matters relating to CFSP. 

swiftly. 

20. The EU and the Western Balkans share a number of secu- 

14. The EU and the Western Balkans agree to step up efforts to 

rity challenges that demand coordinated action. We agree to 

enhance the market integration of the Western Balkans with the 

strengthen our cooperation on core security issues, including 

EU Single Market. In this respect, the EIP provides a solid basis 

at operational level, building on the work done under the Sofia 

to operationalise market integration of the region within the EU 

Priority Agenda. Our partners pledge to demonstrate their 

Single Market, notably in areas such as cross border payments 

commitment to our shared security and to continue to develop 

(SEPA), industrial and consumer goods, e- commerce and cus- 

effective instruments for intra-Western Balkans cooperation. 

toms. 

They have proven their commitment to CSDP, by contributing to 

EU missions and operations, and we will work together to further 

15.Sustainable transport is a cornerstone of the economic and 

develop their capabilities and capacities, notably through the 

social integration of the EU and the Western Balkans. It is a 

European Peace Facility. The EU will enhance its engagement 

priority to further develop the transport connectivity - within the 

also in fields such as space and military mobility to ease access 

region and with the EU, to improve the efficiency and safety of 

transport services, and to achieve the objectives of green and 

of civil-military assistance to the region in the event of pandemics 

and natural disasters. 


sustainable mobility, particularly with regard to rail and inland 

waterways connectivity. 

21. We will reinforce our cooperation to address disinformation 

maximising the use of existing frameworks and available chan- 

27. To further promote our shared interests, we express our read- 

and other hybrid threats, originating in particular from third-state 

nels. Cooperation should also be intensified with Frontex, the 

iness to reinvigorate and enhance regular political dialogue with 

In the context of sustainable connectivity, we welcome the re- 

actors seeking to undermine the region’s European perspective. 

European Asylum Support Office and Europol. The remaining 

the region. In this context, we welcome the holding of EU-West- 

cently endorsed Transport Community Action Plans for rail, road, 

The EU and the Western Balkans will reinforce cooperation on re- 

Frontex status agreements should be concluded without delay. 

ern Balkans Summits as regular events. We look forward to the 

road safety, transport facilitation and waterborne transport. 

silience- building, on enhancing our collective cyber security and 

next summit, which will be held in 2022. 

cyber diplomacy and on increasing the impact of our strategic 

24. Given the seriousness of the situation in Afghanistan, the 

16. Building on the successful implementation of the Regional 

communication. 

EU will work closely with all its partners, including the Western 

28. The EU and the Western Balkans need to work together to 

Roaming Agreement and the start of the free roaming regime in 

Balkans to tackle the evolving challenges and coordinate joint 

face generation-defining tasks. We welcome the initiatives of the 

the Western Balkans as of 1 July 2021, we welcome the roadmap 

22. We commend our partners for their continued efforts and 

responses, as appropriate. 

Western Balkans to contribute to the reflections on the future of 

for roaming, which will create the conditions and set clear targets 

constructive cooperation on migration, which have delivered 

our continent. We remain committed to listen to all Europeans on 

for lowering roaming costs between the EU and the Western 

clear results. Migration management is a joint challenge, which 

25. Terrorism, radicalisation and organised crime continue to 

the issues that matter for all of us – protecting citizens and free- 

Balkans 

the EU and the Western Balkans need to address together, in 

pose serious security threats to the EU and to the whole region. 

doms, developing a strong and vibrant economic base, advanc- 

close partnership. 

We call for further strengthening cooperation on counter- terror- 

ing the green and digital transitions, rule of law, fair and social 

17. We welcome the concept of EU-Western Balkans Green 

ism and countering violent extremism, including the prevention 

Europe, strengthening Europe’s resilience, as well as Europe’s 

Lanes and support its practical application at all relevant borders 

23. Our cooperation in addressing migratory challenges has 

of the financing of terrorism and of radicalisation. We reiterate 

leading global role. 

with full respect for the required EU acquis and procedures. 

demonstrated its value and will be further developed. The EU 

the importance of taking resolute action to address serious and 

is ready to continue its engagement and strengthen its support 

organised crime, in particular trafficking and smuggling of human 

29. We welcome that our Western Balkans partners align 

18. A dedicated Agenda for the Western Balkans on Innovation, 

through a tailor-made and comprehensive approach. Focus areas 

beings, money laundering, drug cultivation and trafficking. 

themselves with the above points. 

Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport - “Innovation 

should include improvement of asylum systems, tackling migrant 

Agenda for the Western Balkans” - is launched today. It will 

smuggling and illegal migration, returns processes, border man- 

26. The EU is fully committed to preventing illicit trade and 

1 

Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) 

promote scientific excellence as well as reform of the region’s 

agement, information exchange, and reception capacity. Partners 

trafficking in small arms and light weapons and their ammuni- 

education systems, create further opportunities for the youth, 

should also work further to enhance return systems, including 

tion, and will continue to support the Western Balkans in this 

and help prevent brain drain. We are looking forward to swift 

the conclusion of readmission agreements with key countries of 

field, including in the context of the Western Balkans dedicated 

implementation of its Action Plan. 

origin. Mutual cooperation on return will be deepened, 

roadmap against illicit firearms trafficking. 

26 27

H.E. RADO GENORIO 

AMBASSADOR 

OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA 

TO THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM 

WE ARE HALFWAY THROUGH THE SLOVENIAN 

PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE 

EUROPEAN UNION, TAKING PLACE UNDER 

THE SLOGAN “TOGETHER. RESILIENT. EUROPE.” 

HOW DO YOU ASSESS THE IMPLEMENTATION 

OF THE PRIORITIES SET AT THE OUTSET? 

I would say we are doing great work and I am assured that 

we shall do more than simply complete our successful Trio 

Presidency (Germany-Portugal-Slovenia) 18-months programme. 

We successfully started our second Presidency of the Council 

of EU and let me emphasise that in the field of Economics and 

Financial Affairs, the process of assessing and confirming 

recovery and resilience plans is working effectively. To date, 

18 national plans have been adopted, while 13 Member States 

have received the pre-financing. The countries that have received 

pre-financing are already in a position to channel the funds into 

the reforms and investments that will best contribute to the 

recovery and help improve the quality of life of their citizens. 

This is of utmost importance for our citizens. 

Moreover, under our Presidency, EU home affairs ministers 

adopted a joint statement on the EU’s response to the situation 

in Afghanistan and the potential implications for migration and 

security in the EU. Ministers also called for the need to stabilise 

the situation in the region and to provide humanitarian assistance 

to vulnerable people. 

My minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Logar, was also able to host a 

two-day informal meeting of Foreign Ministers (Gymnich) chaired 

by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs 

and Security Policy Josep Borrell. Ministers agreed that engagement 

with Afghan powerholders following the Taliban takeover 

would depend on the fulfilment of the five benchmarks. They 

stressed that to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and a possible 

migration wave towards Europe the European Union must 

cooperate with Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries and other 

key international players. The ministers were unanimous on the 

urgent need for an agreement on the EU’s comprehensive strategy 

towards Afghanistan, which will include all the security 

H.E. Rado Genorio, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia and Barbara Dietrich 

Sunrise view on Bled Lake, Island, Church and Castle with Mountain Range in the Background-Bled, Slovenia 

considerations from migration to the danger of terrorist attacks 

and the illicit drugs trade. These would be a few examples of our 

three-months’ hard work so far. 

THE ALL-IMPORTANT COP26 CLIMATE SUMMIT IS 

TAKING PLACE LATER THIS YEAR IN GLASGOW. 

WHAT WILL BE SLOVENIA’S MAIN AGENDA ITEMS 

AND PRIORITIES? 

This week we send to all Member States new draft conclusions 

in preparation for COP26 Climate Summit scheduled from 31 

October to 12 November this year. As you know, it is the most 

important Summit under the UN Framework Convention on 

Climate Change (UNFCCC) and as such, it is one of the priorities 

of Slovenian Presidency. In this regard, I must emphasise that at 

COP26, Slovenia represents the entire EU, and will be speaking 

on behalf of the EU and its Member States. Moreover, it will be 

chairing the EU’s internal on-the-spot coordination meetings. 

Slovenia believes it is of utmost importance at COP26 that 

the international community reach an agreement on completing 

the Katowice Rulebook. The same importance should be 

attributed to concluding arrangements under the Enhanced 

Transparency Framework. We will intensively engage in negotiations 

to conclude comprehensive Article 6 rules in order to 

ensure a smooth transition from the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris 

Agreement. Of course, we will do our best to come to the agreement 

on common time frames for nationally determined contributions. 

This issue has been ongoing for six years, since the 

adoption of the Paris Agreement, and the political international 

pressure to resolve the issue is growing. 


28 29

To deliver success at COP26, all countries must commit to net 

zero emissions by mid-century and undertake significant cuts 

by 2030. For us, the successful outcome of the COP26 would 

be the agreement on the Katowice Rulebook and we work hard 

to achieve that goal. We are convinced that the EU should be a 

vocal partner in negotiations, thus pursuing its climate diplomacy 

as one of the key actions in delivering on the external dimension 

of the European Green Deal. 

economic recovery and recovery of tourism, strengthening the 

resilience of the EU, strengthening of cyber resilience, connectivity 

and digitalisation. Other topics of the second day included 

discussions on building a more effective response to climate 

change, the importance of transatlantic and Indo-Pacific cooperation, 

challenges facing the Eastern Partnership countries, 

the stability of the Mediterranean, and joint management of the 

Adriatic Sea. 

SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2006, THE BLED 

STRATEGIC FORUM HAS EVOLVED INTO A 

LEADING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN 

CENTRAL AND SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE, 

OFFERING A PLATFORM TO EXPRESS AND 

CONTRAST OPINIONS ON MODERN SOCIETY 

AND ITS FUTURE. WHAT WAS THIS YEAR’S 

THEME AND KEY OUTCOMES? 

The Bled Strategic Forum is the leading international conference 

in Central and South-Eastern Europe, which has, for the last sixteen 

years, been an inclusive platform bringing together a diverse 

structure of people from diplomacy, politics, business, the private 

and public sectors, and academia, who have the opportunity to 

discuss Europe’s key challenges of the 21st century. I am proud 

to say, that this year’s event hosted a record number of participants 

over two days and encouraged an open dialogue on the 

future of Europe and its main challenges. 

More than 170 panellists and speakers from all over the world 

participated this year, among others EU high representatives, 

ten heads of government, several foreign ministers, two heads 

of state, five former heads of state, high representatives of 

European and international institutions, MEPs and representatives 

of think tanks, civil society, the economy, and the research 

and academic sphere. 

This year’s Forum focused on the future of Europe and the call 

to increase its resilience. You know this topic of discussion is 

in heart of our priorities. The topics discussed in the first day of 

the Bled Strategic Forum included post-pandemic recovery, the 

green and digital transformation, and the future of the enlargement 

process – the former traditionally one of the most visited 

discussions at the forum. 

And as Prime Minister Janša pointed out during the discussion, 

the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans is of vital importance 

to the future of Europe, adding that “when the European Union 

was established, the founding fathers did not divide it on East 

and West lines. They said that Europe must be whole and 

free and EU enlargement is a tool to achieve this goal.” The 

Presidency slogan is also reflected in the key topics of the 

second day, as discussions focused on the post-pandemic 

HOW IS SLOVENIA POSITIONING ITSELF AS A 

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DESTINATION? 

This indeed is a good question, as our vision is to become a 

green, active and healthy destination offering five-star experience 

and we are getting there. We like to think we offer green boutique 

destinations for demanding guests. 

Our strategy is defined by six key policies, with investments in 

a new organisational structure; infrastructure; human resources 

and space; cultural and natural assets; and legal framework. 

For these, we have prepared 75 different measures to reach 

Slovenian key’s targets, which are to increase international 

tourism revenues to EUR 3.7-4 billion; 5-5.5 million tourist visits; 

16-18 million overnight stays; average length of stay of visitors 

between 3.1-3.4 days, etc. We put a special emphasis on our 

marketing communication among others with our logo: I feel 

SLOVEnia. We are devoted to tackle sustainability issues in our 

touristic sector systematically and strategically, uniting destinations 

and tourism providers through the Green Scheme of 

Slovenian Tourism tool and certification programme. 

Slovenia is popular and admired for its natural beauty, and I 

could count many such hidden treasures and corners in 

Slovenia, from Logarska Dolina to Soča Valley, Bela Krajina 

and Brda. The best way to experience and feel SLOVEnia is to 

come to us. 


Jan Jambon Minister-President of the Government of Flanders and H.E. Dr Rado Genorio Ambassador of Slovenia 

WHAT HAVE YOUR KEY ACTIONS AND PRIORITIES 

BEEN SINCE YOUR ARRIVAL IN BELGIUM? 

My entire professional career has been related to the EU story. 

Since 1991 I have worked on the accession of Slovenia to the 

EU and after this was successfully finished, on other projects 

like introduction of EURO. For more than 12 years, I was also an 

essential part of our efforts to enter the Schengen area. 

Between 2010 and 2016 I was a permanent representative of 

Slovenia to the EU and since 2017 I have been bilateral ambassador 

to the Kingdom of Belgium. I am also accredited to the 

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, to the Republic of Cabo Verde, 

to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the African 

Union. 

My goal is to promote Slovenia in all possible ways, to work 

on good relations and cooperation between our two countries, 

especially on political, economic and cultural areas. And I can 

tell you, results are great! In these few years we have managed 

to intensify our economic exchange, doubling it in service sector, 

for example. 

DID YOU ENJOY THE RECENT TOKYO GAMES? 

AND MORE GENERALLY, HOW IMPORTANT IS 

SPORT IN THE DIPLOMATIC ARENA? AND BY THE 

WAY, CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE FIRST-EVER 

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN SPORT CLIMBING WON 

BY THE YOUNG JANJA GARNBRET! 

They were good games, and I am happy to see that world’s best 

athletes were able to meet and compete live. We won 5 medals, 

including 3 gold, and we are very proud of each and every one 

of them. We have the same good results in Paralympic games 

where we obtained 2 medals. For a small country like ours, this is 

a big success. 

Slovenians are from a very sporty nation; sport is in our genes. 

We declared 23 September as Slovenian Sports Day, a holiday 

carrying a special meaning, dedicated to Slovenian sport and 

its promotion. Sport is an excellent promotion for a country. 

Everyone knows our basketball player Dončić or cyclists Pogačar 

and Roglič and yes, of course, our young gold medallist in sports 

climbing, Garnbret. These are top world athletes and the best 

promotors of Slovenia. 

Photo: Embassy of Slovenia 

30 31

AMBASSADORS’ VISIT 

TO THE PORT OF ZEEBRUGGE 

Slovenian Beehive Apiary Celebration 30 years Independance Slovenia at Arboretum Kalmthout 

Photo: Embassy of Slovenia 

SLOVENIA IS ONE OF THE FIRST TOURIST DES- 

TINATIONS IN EUROPE. YOUR MOUNTAINS ARE 

FAMOUS BUT WHAT ROLE DOES SLOVENIA’S 

CULTURAL HERITAGE HAVE IN THIS SUCCESS? 

You come to Slovenia, you will find everything: from pristine and 

green nature to cultural events and good gastronomy. Our slogan 

I Feel SLOVEnia is correct: you will love Slovenia. 

This year Slovenia is the European Region of Gastronomy. We 

worked hard for this title, but it is justified that the whole country 

is declared as such. We have a lot to offer also, for example Ana 

Roš, one of our Ambassadors of this project; she was declared 

among the World’s 50 Best Female Chef in 2017. Her cuisine was 

awarded two Michelin Stars in June 2020. 

Culture gave us identity. Only two million speak our language. 

This is a small nation but strong in culture. We built our nation on 

our culture. We are very proud of it. 

Our national anthem, the 7th stanza of the poem Zdravljica 

(A toast) by the greatest Slovenian poet France Prešeren is one 

of the few anti-war and non-combatant anthems as it rejects 

war and disputes and gives emphasis to connections and 

friendship between nations. 

MY LAST QUESTION CONCERNS BEEHIVES AND 

TRADITIONAL SLOVENIAN BREAKFAST. BOTH ARE 

IN THE CULTURAL AND PROMOTIONAL PRO- 

GRAMME OF SLOVENIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE 

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 2021. 

WHY BEES AND SLOVENIAN BREAKFAST? 

You touched upon another characteristic that we are recognized 

for: beekeeping. Slovenia is a nation of beekeepers. Our 

traditions include unique painted beehive panels and traditional 

beehive architecture. We managed to proclaim May 20 as the 

World Bee Day and we are proudly working on its promotion, 

raising awareness on the significance of bees, and ensuring their 

well-being. This year was the fourth time. 

Through the importance that we give to bees, our government 

has developed another initiative: the traditional Slovenian breakfast. 

Since 2011 all kindergartens and schools in Slovenia on the 

third Thursday in November, organize traditional breakfast. Kids 

have bread, butter, honey, milk and an apple of Slovenian origin 

for breakfast in school or kindergarten. 

Dr. Pick Keobandith, Founder and Director of Inspiring Culture 

Rado Genorio, Ambassador of Slovenia; Ivan Leković, Ambassador of Montenegro; Edward Michael Brannigan, Charge d’affaires, 

Embassy of Ireland; Rita Kazragiene, Ambassador of Lithuania; Pieter Jan Kleiweg De Zwaan, Ambassador of The Netherlands; 

Suela Janina, Ambassador of Albania; Tamas Ivan Kovacs, Ambassador of Hungary; Beatriz Larrotcha Palma, Ambassador of Spain; 

Josip Paro, Ambassador of Croatia; Pavel Klucky, Ambassador of The Czech Republic; Batu Kesmen, Consul General of Turkey; 

Christian Muller, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Luxembourg; Odd Sinding, Ambassador of Denmark; Raymond Azzopardi, 

Ambassador of Malta; Joana Estrela, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Portugal; Vladimir Frano, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy 

of Slovakia; Sophie Villette, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of France; Marina Jovićević, Ambassador of Serbia; Annika Molin Hellgren, 

Ambassador of Sweden; Dionyssios Kalamvrezos, Ambassador of Greece; Andreea Pastirnac, Ambassador of Romania; Artur Kink, 

Ambassador of Estonia; Plamen Lubomirov Bonchev, Ambassador of Bulgaria 

32 33

FORMER PRESIDENT 

MOHAMED NASHEED SHARES 

HIS LIFE JOURNEY AND VISION 

FOR THE FUTURE OF THE MALDIVES 

TELL US ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC JOURNEY 

OF THE MALDIVES, WHICH YOU HELPED CATA- 

LYSE AS THE FIRST DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED 

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY. WHAT CHALLENG- 

ES HAVE YOU FACED IN USHERING DEMOCRACY 

INTO THE MALDIVES AND HOW IS THE DEMO- 

CRATIC PROCESS PROGRESSING? 

The Maldives is a country with a very young population. More 

than 70% of our people are below the age of 35. And that was 

true in the 1980s and the 1990s. President Gayoom brought in 

mass education: primary and secondary schooling was available 

for everyone. And by the end of the 1980s and early 1990s, most 

people had basic schooling, and therefore, people could read 

and write. People started becoming more aware of many issues 

not only inside the Maldives, but outside as well. 

However, people were unhappy, I had always believed because 

of human rights issues and corruption. There was rampant 

torture in our jails, and this had spread so much that every single 

family could count at least one or two people who had suffered in 

jail. Also, we very becoming very affluent with the tourist industry 

growing but by the 1990s, this new wealth was not distributed 

among the people. And so, there was discontent all around and 

in 1990, I started a small magazine called Sangu. I was only 23 

at that time. The government banned and de-registered the magazine 

and arrested the entire editorial team. And with that, they 

also arrested a number of other young people. More than 300 

people were arrested that night. 

And we very treated in prison for a very long time. I was tortured 

twice. I was in solitary confinement for 18 months and many 

of my colleagues suffered the same fate, but finally we were 

released by 1994 through international pressure and human 

rights organizations. More general discontent within the country 

meant that President Gayoom was finding it difficult to hold on to 

autocratic power. The ruling elite was split and at the same time, 

there was greater discontent, younger people with more education, 

young entrepreneurs who wanted to make more become 

more affluent. All this combined together meant that there was a 

climate where reform had to happen. 

Then, I contested for Parliament in 1999 as MP for Malé and I 

got elected. I was still very young but then soon after elections 

– by this time I had been arrested so many times! – again they 

arrested me and banished me. A few months later, they released 

me again. And soon after my release, a boy died in a prison from 

torture. 

Many people have died by this time, but the police were so 

complacent, to bring the boy, the dead body to Malé and to the 

hospital. The mother of the boy went to the hospital and wanted 

to see the body. The doctors at this time refused to give a death 

certificate, without proper examination. And finally, there were 

riots in Malé. Again, I was arrested, but in the confusion of the 

riots, I was released and left the country with some friends and 

we started a political party, the Maldivian Democratic Party, in 

exile in Colombo (Sri Lanka). We ran the party in Colombo for a 

few months. But then again, the government started harassing 

us in Sri Lanka. 

We fled Sri Lanka and then came to England, where I sought asylum 

and we established our office in Salisbury. And we started 

galvanizing people at home. We started reaching out. We started 

a small radio station. We also started a newsletter again, started 

reaching out to people at home. 

President Gayoom opened up another push to amend the constitution. 

This constitution amendment had been going on for a very 

long time, but then when he opened for elections for the new 

round of amendments, lots of fresh young people, reform-minded, 

got elected and these constitutional amendment debates 

became very loud. By 2004, there was a huge gathering in Malé. 

President Gayoom went into state of emergency, arrested MPs, 

prorogued parliament, and stopped the reforms. But we were 

outside, so we kept on publishing. We kept on pushing with our 

political work. And then in 2005 I decided to relinquish my asylum. 

I gave up my political asylum to the British government and 

then I left and returned home to start the party at home. Again, 

President Gayoom arrested me, but people started joining the 

party. 

By this time, there was too much support and they had to 

finally allow the registration of the party in the Maldives, which 

Former President Mohamed Nasheed, Barbara Dietrich CEO Diplomatic World and Alberto Turkstra Project Manager Diplomatic World 

happened on June 26th. Soon after that, the constitution was 

topple a dictator. But it is not so easy to uproot a dictatorship. I 

finally amended, which allowed for multi-party politics. Our party did not want to go on a witch-hunt against the previous regime. 

fielded me as a candidate in 2008, which I was fortunate to have I did not want to arrest president Gayoom. 

won. So that is how I became the president in 2008. 

We lacked transitional justice when we came into government. 

I was president for three years and eight, nine months. There 

And, I would now say that we were short-sighted to believe that 

were many reforms that were required, especially economic reforms, 

tax reforms. When I came to government, we didn’t have us to move forward. I think the wounds were too deep. 

the social protection programmes would bring stability and allow 

a tax system. There was no income tax. There was no goods and 

services tax. There was no profit tax. 

And in the absence of a transitional justice mechanism, we were 

not able to move forward. The previous regime came back, they 

There was an import duty and government revenue was very 

instigated sections of the police and the military, and they staged 

small. We introduced a whole series of taxes like any normal 

the coup d’état and toppled our government in 2012. Again, we 

country would have. We also brought in a social protection 

went into protest, but by this time the whole country had joined us. 

programme, where there was free medical service, a health 

insurance scheme, old age pension, single mothers’ protection, I wanted to go into 2013 elections again, because I strongly 

protection for the disabled, etc. 

believe that the only way to transfer power must be through the 

ballot. Nothing else. The first round of elections was cancelled, 

And we also wanted to invest in housing, in higher education. We which I won. Again, we had another round of elections. I won and 

started with the first university. I always say that it is possible to it was cancelled. As many rounds of elections were held until I 

34 35

lost. I lost and I conceded power and I congratulated the new 

president Yameen, but in 2014 he decided to arrest me. I was 

imprisoned, but later with a lot of international support, especially 

the British government and the European Union, I was allowed to 

go for medication again to the United Kingdom, where I sought 

political asylum. I remained there, and they would not let me 

contest the 2018 elections. Our party decided, and I backed the 

party, to field my friend Ibrahim Solih as the new candidate. And 

we won. So we are back in government, and we were doing fine 

ALL REMEMBER THE IMAGES OF THE UNDERWA- 

TER CABINET MEETING THAT YOU HELD IN 2009 

TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THIS ISSUE. THIS YEAR 

IS VERY CRUCIAL. WE HAVE COP26 COMING UP 

IN GLASGOW, WHICH MAY BE THE LAST CHANCE 

FOR MANY COUNTRIES TO TAKE ROBUST AC- 

TION. WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR GLOBAL 

ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE? 

until this assassination attempt on my life happened. 

Now I work for Prime Minister Hasina (of Bangladesh) as Ambassador 

on climate change. We have a Climate Vulnerable Forum 

I must thank Germany for all the assistance that they had given 

(CVF) of 48 countries, which she is now chairing. The CVF is 

to us while I was in government as well. While I was president, 

working very hard to see that COP26 becomes a success. But 

came to Germany on a state visit. And since then, I’ve met 

unfortunately, the Paris agreement is almost dead. More than 

Chancellor Angela Merkel a number of times. The German 

half the countries have not submitted their ambition, required by 

government was very quick in sending people to pick me up 

the Paris agreement, and going towards COP26 I don’t see this 

from the hospital and to bring me to a military hospital in Berlin 

happening either. 

where I was treated. Doctors in the Maldives and Germany saved 

my life. 

Unfortunately, when the G7 countries met in Cornwell recently, 

they were not able to articulate the finance that is required, that 

TO WHAT EXTEND YOU THINK THIS ATTACK ON 

YOUR LIFE WILL IMPACT UPON THE DEMOCRATIC 

MOMENTUM IN THE MALDIVES? 

they have pledged. There was no certainty. There were too vague 

words. Uh, there is USD 100 billion dollars that the developed 

countries have pledged, but we are still short of that. We have 

lost five years with the United States being all over the place. But 

with the new presidency in the United States we are hopeful they 

I like to think that this is going to give a new life to democracy 

will come back to the fold - they have, but we are also hopeful 

activists. People would understand how precarious democracy 

that they will bring in fresh contributions, monetary contributions 

is. It is not deep rooted. And now we have extremists. Unfortu- 

as well. 

nately, a lot of our young people went to fight for the ISIS in Syria 

and the Levant. And they had joined many extremist groups, 

Unless countries come around and try to make COP 26 a suc- 

Former President Mohamed Nasheed and Barbara Dietrich CEO Diplomatic World 

and this misguided ideology had come to the Maldives, and they 

cess, I am afraid it will not be. Right now, it does not look like it is 

have a view to take over the state through violence. What we are 

going to be. 

are many other countries who are interested in the plan. Now, I 

to them is whether the Maldives is on track for the 2030 Sustain- 

now seeing is the very sad outcome of these misguided youth 

cannot ask countries not to have a comfortable life. They want 

able Development Goals. And we had no consensus during the 

and we must have a better grip on the situation, how to treat and 

rehabilitate the young people. 

And to make sure that young people have employment. There’s 

WHAT ROLE COULD SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING 

STATES LIKE THE MALDIVES PLAY? 

to have a better life. They want education for their children. They 

want clean water. They want education. They want electricity. 

They want roads. They want housing. But you can have them in 

a low carbon development strategy where there is less extrac- 

discussion. We would like to pose this same question to you. 

If you want to arithmetically measure this, there are always ways 

of coming up with figures and numbers. Depending on which 

rampant youth unemployment, congestion in Malé, housing is- 

With the CVF, we want to map a pathway that will take us to 

tion of resources from the planet, less carbon emission and the 

way you want to do your maths, you can probably come out with 

sues, family breakups. So, with all these social issues, the ideolo- 

a more successful COP26 in Glasgow. This will simply involve 

prosperity plans that CVF is suggesting would give countries a 

any number, but I know my country and I know my people. They 

gy of the youth and what is happening elsewhere in the Middle 

finance, but the CVF is now propagating a prosperity plan. The 

pathway that would allow you to do that. 

are not happy. They have a hard life. They need a better life. They 

East combined, this is making Malé streets very dangerous. What 

CVF is suggesting, in a sense, that you can have the cake and 

need housing. They need the young people need jobs. And we 

we have now seen is a warning signal. I hope that other security 

eat it, that you can develop your societies without rubbishing 

What the small islands developing states and the climate 

need transport, we need communication. 

services with the help of the international community would be 

the planet. There is a low carbon development strategy. You can 

vulnerable countries are suggesting is, we can reduce carbon 

able to have a better grip on the situation and root it out. It’s not 

have the same economic outcomes, but through less extrac- 

emissions, but at the same time, you can also be growing your 

We need many things for our country to reach these develop- 

going to be easy, but we must put our heads together and try to 

tion and more recycling. Renewable energy now is cheap. It is 

economies. You can have a high GDP growth. You can have low 

ment goals. Yes, we have become a middle-income country. 

resolve this as quickly as possible. 

financially viable, it is economically feasible. There is an eco- 

inflation. You can have high employment with less carbon. And 

Again, if you want to do the maths, you can come out with that. 

nomic development strategy that you can implement in your own 

we want to introduce, come up with the new technologies availa- 

Our per capita is very high now, the highest in South Asia. But I 

YOUR PRESIDENCY WAS CHARACTERIZED BY 

BUILDING A STRONG SAFETY NET, WHICH WAS 

NON-EXISTENT BEFOREHAND. THE OTHER ISSUE 

THAT CHARACTERIZED YOUR PRESIDENCY IS 

THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE AND WE 

countries that would make protecting the planet a by-product of 

development. 

Prime Minister Hasina has launched a “climate prosperity plan” 

in Bangladesh under the Mujib prosperity plan. And I think 

countries will take the plan up. Ethiopia is taking it up and there 

ble. There is a lot of new technology available, both in adaptation 

and in mitigation. So going to COP26, we think that countries 

must realize the prosperity plans. If we broaden the discussion to 

sustainability, a few weeks ago we organized a conference with 

some of your ministers (environment, education and tourism) and 

young civil society representatives, and the question we posed 

do not see this being translated to the people: there’s delinquency, 

there’s gang warfare, there’s drug abuse. 

So I do not think that we have reached the visions of the SDGs. 

If you want to do the numbers, we probably have caught up with 

the numbers. 

36 37

The international community must understand how little countries 

and societies can become. You know, I joined discussions 

on climate migration: will the Maldives disappear, what would 

happen to low-lying countries if sea level rises? Winds are becoming 

stronger. The weather patterns have already changed. 

Our islands can become uninhabitable, but we must find ways 

and means of adapting so that we can remain without leaving our 

islands. And again, in adaptation we must find biological adaptation 

methods, not concrete. 

We have been landfilling an incinerating rubbish. We have still not 

been able to recycle the waste. The waste is no longer waste, it 

is energy and it is recyclable. And we must act quickly to stop 

incinerating our waste and to stop landfilling with our waste. We 

have been saying this for so long, but we have not been able to 

actually do it. This slowness is a problem. The CVF prosperity 

plan suggests that rubbish is an asset. It’s not rubbish. It’s energy. 

We’ve extracted enough in the last 500-700 years. And all 

that extraction is around us. We can go on for another thousand 

years by recycling that, this is not so difficult to understand. 

DIPLOMATIC WORLD 

PROCLAIMS THE NEED FOR 

A GLOBAL UNDERWATER 

AMBASSADOR FOR A HEALTHY PLANET ! 

You would have seen water breakers in Malé, and embankments. 

It costs USD 8,000 a meter. We have 2,000 islands. No one has 

that money. But you can grow a reef. You can implant a mangrove 

and you can protect your shores. And we need to find a 

biological adaptation methods. Concrete walls are not going to 

save us. 

We need to find a way of growing reefs and mangroves faster, 

and we need to spend a little bit more money on research to see 

how these things can grow much faster. 

Embankments and water breakers are 1920s and 1930s technologies, 

and we keep on funding it, the World Bank and the IMF 

are. Don’t do that! Let us grow a reef, implant a mangrove, 

and save our beaches. In 2009, I started working with Dutch 

Docklands on ways to build a floating city. This will become a 

reality this September when construction will begin. I am hopeful 

that this city is going to be the new adaptation. 

YOU MENTIONED THAT 70% OF THE POPULATION 

IN THE MALDIVES IS UNDER 35. WHAT IS YOUR 

MESSAGE FOR THEM? 

Never, never, never give up. Never underestimate the power of 

yourself, your individual self. I know it’s gloomy today. I know it’s 

hopeless. But never, never give up. The human being is such a 

resilient thing. And especially a young being, far more resilient. 

I am already very old. I am 54 years. My oldest daughter is 23, 

and my youngest is 19, and they need to survive. They need a 

safer place. And to do that, they must understand how strong 

they themselves are. You cannot be hopeless and then survive. 

You cannot give up. So my message always is never give up. 


38 39

SABRA IBRAHIM NOORDEEN 

SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE 


WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHALLENGES MALDIVES 

FACES DERIVED FROM CLIMATE CHANGE? 

HOW ARE THESE BEING ADDRESSED THROUGH 

MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION POLICIES? 

We are an island in the middle of the Indian ocean and a new 

generation of technology has huge implications for our own 

energy, independence, and economic prosperity. It is a very 

ambitious target and we do require a lot of support, but we are 

determined to get there. Legislatively, the President has ratified 

For the Maldives, the climate crisis is an existential issue. We are 

the Maldives Climate Emergency Act in May of this year, which 

made up of 1,120 low-lying, beautiful coral islands spread out 

is how my role was created. Previously we have never had a 

over a very vast expansive ocean. The foundations of our homes, 

special Envoy for climate change. 

our livelihoods and societies depend on the health of these coral 

reefs and the ocean surrounding us. For decades, the Maldives 

This legislation outlines regulations that need to be formulated 

has been very vocal about the need for a progressive global 

climate action. Under President Mohamed Nasheed’s administra- 

and implemented in order for us to reduce our emissions and 

advocate our position internationally. We are also working with 


tion, the Maldives held an underwater cabinet meeting in 2009 to 

highlight the Maldives’ vulnerability, and what may have seemed 

gimmicky at the time, doesn’t feel that way in relation to the recent 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) findings. 

When you ask about challenges from a heating world, every 

the Blue Prosperity Coalition to develop a plan to protect at least 

20% of our marine resources so that we can better protect our 

biggest carbon sink, which is the ocean, and incorporate more 

sustainable values in how we use these resources. On the adaptation 

side, through the green climate fund, we have two projects 

at the moment. One focuses on supporting vulnerable communities 

to manage climate change induced water shortages, and this 

WHAT WILL BE THE MALDIVES’ MAIN AGENDA 

ITEMS AND CLIMATE PRIORITIES AT THE COP26 

SUMMIT TAKING PLACE IN GLASGOW THIS 

NOVEMBER? 

sector of the Maldives would be impacted, and some already 

provides safe and secure fresh water to approximately 105,000 

We are part of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), 

are. We have seen an increase in the frequency and severity 

people. 

therefore we work very closely with other small island states. 

of storms, floods, exacerbation of coral bleaching events, and 

We are also part of the CVF, which is the Climate Vulnerable 

all this has an effect on our fisheries, which is one of the most 

The other project focuses on building resilience through coastal 

Forum made up of 48 nations vulnerable to climate change. 

sustainable in the world. It impacts how much bait is available 

management, early warning systems and knowledge sharing. 

and how much protection a reef can offer in an island in the face 

We are also working on strengthening our regulatory framework 

In COP, the beauty and the challenge are achieving consensus 

of tidal surges and flooding. 

and our implementation processes to ensure that we maintain 

on the way forward. There’s no denying that the climate crisis is 

our natural protective systems and increased green spaces. 

here, and we are certain this COP is the most crucial one of our 

In terms of mitigation, President Solih pledged at the Climate 

The goal is to mainstream climate action across all sectors so 

times to ensure that we do not further delay action. 

Ambition Summit last year for the Maldives to achieve net zero 

that it is not just confined to the Ministry of Environment or the 

by 2030. However, this is dependent on significant financial and 

Ministry of Fisheries, but that it is incorporated into every sector 

For our survival, we need to contain global temperature rise 

technical assistance. In a wider global context, the emissions 

because it affects all of them. 

to 1.5 degrees. From the Nationally Determined Contributions 

produced by the Maldives are tiny but achieving net zero for us 

(NDCs) that have been submitted so far, we are way off that 

makes moral and financial sense. Transitioning to renewables 

I truly believe that long-term investment in many of these pro- 

target, which is very concerning. So, we will continue to push for 

and cleaner transport systems goes a long way in saving us 

gressive policies, especially focused on regenerative sustainabili- 

greater global ambition on reduction of carbon emissions, faster 

money and protecting our own ecosystems, and it makes us 

ty, pays off. I am very hopeful that we can do that. 

transitions to renewables, quicker phase out of coal and other 

resilient. 

Sabra Ibrahim Noordeen 

fossil fuels. 

40 41

Another priority, as you mentioned, is ensuring access to climate 

finance as committed to in Paris. We want to urge developed 

countries and the private sector to keep good on their pledges 

challenging for the last two and a half years. Our recovery plan 

focuses on building resilience through diversifying this economic 

base, and trying to ensure greater food security in the Maldives. 

of an island, and guide people on where to set up homes and 

businesses. More assessments are also needed on what should 

count as loss. The difficulty here is how to assess the loss – 

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS 

THOSE ISSUES YOU HAVE SHARED WITH US? 

for financial support. We need easier and more consistent access 

In terms of blue economy, we are trying to increase our cold 

infrastructure can be valued, but how do we value crops, for 

Easier and low-cost access to innovative technologies; financing 

to finance. Most of all, we want concrete action, finalization of 

storage capacities, ensuring ease of access to ice for fishers, 

instance? 

of vulnerable countries to build technical expertise and capacity 

the Paris rule book with simple, universal rules that hold us all to 

mariculture development, and human resource capacity building 

in-country through the sharing of knowledge, opportunities for 

account and ensure that we are able to regularly track globally 

where we are and what we need to do to keep on the path 

of 1.5 degrees. 

WE UNDERSTAND THAT A UNIQUE PROBLEM 

THAT THE MALDIVES IS FACING IS CORAL REEF 

PROTECTION TO BREAK THE DESTRUCTIVE 

POWER FROM THE WAVES. CAN YOU TELL US 

WHAT YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS DONE IN 

CORAL REEF CONSERVATION AND THE WIDER 

BLUE ECONOMY INITIATIVES? 

in the fishing industry. 

And we are also trying to diversify tourism so that it is not just 

luxury resorts, but also cultural tourism and guest house tourism 

as well, surf tourism and water sports. The Maldives has had 

many tourists last year wanting to surf but this is not an area that 

has been invested enough in. 

In terms of blue economy, we need to see how we can sustainably 

use these resources to increase people’s livelihoods. 

In terms of achieving net zero and ensuring energy security, 

we are focusing on rolling out more renewable energy projects 

by maximizing our solar power energy generation and trying to 

AS YOUR PRESIDENT HAS TALKED ABOUT YOUR 

COUNTRY’S NEEDS TO SWITCH TO RENEWABLE 

ENERGY SOURCES, COULD YOU SHARE WITH 

US FURTHER THE MAJOR TECHNICAL AND 

ECONOMIC BARRIERS FACING YOUR GOVERN- 

MENT AS YOU ARE DEVELOPING MORE SOLAR 

ENERGY PROJECTS? DOES YOUR GOVERNMENT 

HAVE ANY PLAN TO COPE WITH THE INTERMIT- 

TENCE OF SUPPLY FROM MULTIPLE RENEWABLE 

ENERGY SOURCES? 

Minister Shauna has said that we have a lot of sunshine, but not 

training and education. 

We want to be able to manage and maintain our systems with 

the resources we have available in our country without having 

to depend on external sources all the time. Through COP, we 

do need guarantees on adaptation finance and climate finance 

in general. 

The pipeline projects that we have for the Green Climate Fund 

(GCF), amount to half a billion dollars. The process in trying to 

get these projects approved can be quite cumbersome. Having 

better data and the ability to collect data more to use that in 

designing our systems would definitely help. 

Coral reefs are the frontline defence for most of our islands. It is 

strengthen our energy efficiency policies and strategies. 

a lot of land. Which is true. We are currently at about 11 to 12% 

a priority of the government to establish well-managed protected 

areas in partnership with local communities to preserve these 

ecosystems, but we also need to drive socioeconomic opportunities 

in these areas. This administration has established 

25 protected areas to date and has successfully listed Addu 

and Fuvahmulah parks as UNESCO biosphere reserves, so 

that we currently have three UNESCO biosphere reserves in 

the Maldives. 

As I mentioned before, we are working with the Blue Prosperity 

Coalition to map our ocean resources and to draft a marine 

spatial plan to designate the 20% of our Exclusive Economic 

The current installation of the solar PV systems which are hybrid 

are present in 13 islands with 38 additional islands in the pipeline 

through donor funding – separate to the private sector. We are 

also working with island councils to roll out more efficient waste 

management systems in the atolls. 

In June, we started implementing our single use plastic phaseout 

plan, which is quite an ambitious plan that focuses on banning 

imports and also the use of plastic single use plastic bottles, 

bags, and other items. This will be executed in a phased timeline. 

in our solar energy use nationally. Some of the major technical 

barriers are that the islands are small and widely dispersed. It 

makes it difficult to obtain the space that we require to generate 

the power that we need. 

The roofs are not designed to install the capacity that we want. 

Some of the power systems and power distribution networks 

of the islands are developed on a very ad hoc basis. This has 

limited the amount of energy that can be fed into the power 

systems from an intermittent source. Certain commercially tested 

or proven renewable energy sources in the Maldives so far have 

been intermittent in nature, but access to more current tech, 

AT LEAST SOME OF THESE TECHNICAL AND 

ECONOMIC CHALLENGES YOU HAVE DISCUSSED 

COULD ACTUALLY BE ADDRESSED WITH EMERG- 

ING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS BLOCK- 

CHAIN, AI, INTERNET OF THINGS, SATELLITE 

IMAGERY, ETC. IS YOUR GOVERNMENT OPEN TO 

NEW INNOVATIONS IN THIS AREA? IF YES, WHAT 

RESOURCES WOULD YOU NEED FROM THE 

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT 

HAPPEN IN THE MALDIVES? 

Zone (EEZ) as marine protected areas. Under this partnership, 

scientists from the Maldives Marine Research Institute and the 

Blue Prosperity Coalition, with consultation from several relevant 

environmental stakeholders have worked together to develop 

a series of expeditions that will identify and assess the nation’s 

offshore and near-shore marine habitats and resources. 

Two expeditions have successfully been completed, some of it 

has been delayed due to the pandemic. The first coral assessment 

report will soon be published which will outline the current 

health and condition of our coral reef resources and I really hope 

CLIMATE ADAPTATION TOPS THE MALDIVES 

GOVERNMENT AGENDA. THE MALDIVES IS 

SOMETIMES ATTACKED BY CYCLONES AND 

OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS. HAS YOUR 

GOVERNMENT ANY INITIATIVES TO PROTECT 

VICTIMS FROM FINANCIAL HARDSHIP? HAVE 

YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY BARRIERS WHEN 

YOU WERE UNROLLING THOSE DISASTER 

RISK MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES? 

which incorporates more battery storage capacity, would help in 

this regard. 

We are also looking into systems like floating solar to see how we 

can use that. We do have lagoons increase such kind of power 

generation. In terms of economic barriers, the main issue is the 

access of low-cost financing. 

We are working with the support of Okinawa University of Japan 

to conduct a pilot test project to explore the potential use of 

wave energy for energy generation in the Maldives. We have al- 

We are very open to new innovation and technology that will help 

us transform the islands. This would include greater connectivity, 

smarter systems, new generation communication to enhance our 

transportation systems, and our transition to renewable energy. 

We actually have a lot of talent within the Maldives, especially in 

the digital sector, and anything to help foster that sector would 

be invaluable. We are a very technologically literate community. 

To get over our geographical challenges, we can use technology 

even more. This would definitely work in our favour. 

In terms of data, I do not think we use it enough to guide our 

that these reports help to guide our policies further so we can 

Currently the process for a damage assessment is to be made 

ready installed a 500-kilowatt waste-to-energy power generation 

planning. And this is because sometimes there is a lack of data 

best protect the reefs. We understand that hard, concrete solu- 

by the council if it is on a local island, or for the national disaster 

system in Vandhoo Island, and now we are conducting installa- 

available or the lack of tools to gather all the information. For 

tions are not always best, and we would like to see more 

management agency to evaluate the damage to the physical 

tion works of two additional waste-to-energy generation facilities 

instance, if we are able to really map every island, we will know 

nature-based solutions. We understand that this will take a 

infrastructure and household items. Then, based on this assess- 

in Addu City and Tilafushi (in the Greater Malé region). We con- 

which areas of the island are the most vulnerable and then we 

longer period of time to accomplish, but I think that it is more 

ment, as outlined in our emergency assistance and recovery 

tinue to work with our development partners to secure finance to 

will know what type of intervention is needed or whether we 

beneficial in the long-term. 

guideline, a cost estimate of the assistance needed is calculated. 

conduct feasibility studies on other potential energy sources. 

should or should not build on that side. 

Then, temporary shelters are provided, food, clothing, and other 

The pandemic has really emphasized the importance of us 

needing to diversify our economic base. As a country dependent 

on international tourism and imports, it has been extremely 

necessities are also provided to these families. These policies 

do need to be strengthened. Better use of data and good land 

use planning will allow us to identify the more vulnerable areas 

WHAT WOULD BE THE SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE 

YOUR GOVERNMENT WISHES TO OBTAIN FROM 

In conclusion, we are very open to the idea of innovation and 

technology. 

42 43

FESTIVE LAUNCH 

OF THE CONSULATE OF THE MALDIVES 

IN FLANDERS 

FOR THE TIME BEING, THERE ARE NO WHITE 

BEACHES WITH PALM TREES IN THE KEMPEN, 

BUT WHEN THE CONSULATE OF THE MALDIVES 

WAS INAUGURATED IN MID-SEPTEMBER, THIS 

IDEAL CAME A BIT CLOSER TO REALITY. THE 

EMBASSY OF THE ARCHIPELAGO IS LOCATED IN 

BRUSSELS, BUT THE CONSULATE LED BY HON- 

ORARY CONSUL GERARD HUITING WAS RECENT- 

LY OPENED AT HIS HOME IN BALEN. MR HUITING 

HAS MADE IT HIS MISSION TO REPRESENT THE 

INTERESTS OF THE MALDIVES EVEN MORE IN 

EUROPE. DURING THE OPENING, AN IMPORTANT 

DELEGATION FROM THE MALDIVES ATTENDED 

THE CEREMONY, LED BY MALDIVIAN FOREIGN 

SECRETARY, H.E. ABDUL GHAFOOR MOHAMED. 

The association between Balen and the Maldives, a group of 

1,190 coral islands located in the Indian Ocean below India, 

is not particularly evident or apparent. If you squint your eyes 

enough, you might be able to imagine the lilting plains of the 

Keiheuvel as a recreation of a beach in the Maldives. But we 

cannot think of more far-fetched comparisons. 

The key figure linking the two places is Gerard Huiting, a Dutchman 

who has lived in Balen for 35 years. “I work as a consultant in 

Brussels and the European Union. In that capacity, I have been 

committed to the Maldives for quite some time. I have had 

bilateral discussions about tourism, culture, climate change and 

the fishing tax, among other things,” says Huiting, who moved to 

Belgium for his work in Brussels at the time. 

“The latter, for example, is a hot topic. Imports of fish from the 

Maldives are now being taxed very rigidly by Europe, at 24%. 

That is not truly fair, because there is no tax for other surrounding 

countries, even though the Maldives has very environmentally 

friendly fishing practices in the Maldives. The Maldivians do not 

use trawls and do not stand for heavy fishing. With a fishing rod 

they bring in the fish one by one, and the smaller ones are thrown 

back into the sea. The seabed and corals remain intact during 

this form of fishing and do not give unnecessary bycatch to other 

marine animals. However, because of the EU tax, exports to the 

EU are unaffordable, whereas a very significant percentage of the 

population depends on fishing for their livelihood. That is why we 

are calling for free trade.” 

CONSULATE AT HOME 

These are the kinds of issues Gerard Huiting fights for in Europe, 

in order to get the subject high on the agenda. This also applies 

to climate problems; the islands of the Maldives are gradually 

becoming smaller due to sea level rise and tourism. “When I talk 

to people here about the Maldives, the dialogue usually is about 

expensive resorts and small islands. That’s it. People say they 

cannot go to the Maldives because it costs EUR 1,500 a night to 

stay in a hotel, but they do not know that on the islands where 

the locals live there are guest houses and affordable hotels at 

EUR 30-50 per night. So, it is possible for anyone to go there. 

I want to promote this so that the local population can also 

benefit from tourism revenues.” 

Thanks to his efforts, Gerard Huiting was offered the honorary 

consulship by the Maldives government in July. The consulate 

is simply set up in his home in Balen. “The office I have at home 

will become the office of the consulate. Eventually you can open 

that anywhere, you do not have to have an imposing building at 

your disposal. There will be a nameplate on my house and during 

holidays the flag of the Maldives will hang there, but apart from 

that it will not stand out very much.” 

Only two Maldivians live in Belgium. The consular assistance that 

Gerard Huiting will have to provide will therefore be virtually nil. 

44 45

“If tourists get into trouble with the justice system, I can give 

them assistance. But matters such as passports go through the 

embassy in Brussels,” Gerard Huiting continues. His honorary 

title will, however, be beneficial to his activities as a consultant. 

“It opens doors that are closed to a consultant. 

You end up on another level where you get much more access 

to the decisive power. The reason that I am standing up for the 

Maldives is because it is a minority group after all, and financially 

they are not in a solid position. 

The Maldives is a small republic that cannot establish embassies 

and consulates everywhere. Every extra point on the map is 

therefore an added value for them”, Mr Huiting explains. 

CEREMONY 

During the official opening of the Consulate on September 11, a 

high-level delegation from the Maldives led by Foreign Secretary 

H.E. Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed, was in attendance. The delegation 

was in Belgium to participate, among other engagements, 

in the 2nd Senior Officials Meeting between the Maldives and 

the European Union. The Ambassadors in Belgium of Laos, the 

Philippines, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Palestine and Cambodia 

were also present, as were Mr Johan Leysen, Mayor of Balen; 

Colonel Jan Krahmann, Head of Staff Logistics Command of 

NATO; Ms Monique De Decker-Deprez, President of the Belgian 

Consular Union; Mr Stefan Claes, Secretary-General of the 

Consular Corps of Antwerp, and other high-level dignitaries. 

Your Excellencies, 

Distinguished Guests, 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

REMARKS BY FOREIGN SECRETARY 

H.E. ABDUL GHAFOOR MOHAMED 

AT THE OPENING 

OF THE HONORARY CONSULATE 

OF MALDIVES IN FLANDERS 

It is indeed a pleasure for me to be here today on this very 

special occasion – of the opening of the Honorary Consulate 

office of Maldives in Flanders, Belgium. As we celebrate the 

establishment of the Honorary Consulate, I would like to take 

this opportunity to express the great appreciation on behalf of 

the Government and people of the Maldives for the enduring 

close cooperation and assistance that the Belgium Government 

continues to extend towards the development of our country. An 

Honorary Consulate Office – a permanent presence in Belgium – 

will undoubtedly go a long way to further strengthening relations 

between, not only our Governments, but also our peoples. 

Let me also convey heartfelt congratulations to Honorary Consul 

Mr. Gerard Huiting on his appointment. With your background as 

an outstanding businessman and a lobbyist, I am confident that 

we will be able to enhance our engagement in Belgium, especially 

in the areas of tourism, trade and investment. On this note, I 

would like to express our gratitude to you, on your recent contribution 

for the launching of stamps to mark the Golden Jubilee of 

tourism in the Maldives. We greatly value this and the many other 

collaborative work that you continue to do with our mission in 

Belgium, in promoting the interests of the Maldives. 

Formal diplomatic ties between the Maldives and Belgium began 

on 3rd October 1977. Next month we will be marking 44 years of 

close bilateral relations between our two countries. I am confident 

that the opening of the Honorary Consulate will contribute 

most positively to the blossoming relations between our two 

countries. As two peace loving, relatively small countries, the 

Maldives and Belgium share common values and ideals based 

on democratic principles. Moreover, our firm commitment to 

the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental 

freedoms, the protection of the global environment and the fight 

against multinational organized crime and terrorism has given 

our two countries the opportunity to cooperate closely and work 

together in the international fora on these important issues. 

Tourism remains the largest economic industry in the Maldives 

- and the EU has remained a key tourism market. The Maldives 

has renewed its focus on the European Market for our tourism 

sector, and especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, 

we have dedicated considerable effort to the promotion 

of Maldivian tourism in Europe. Currently, the European market 

is the single largest tourist market in the Maldives with over 60 

percent of our tourist arrivals accounting for Europeans tourists 

– this is an increase of over 20 percent when compared to the 

statistics of last year. Belgium is also increasingly becoming a 

tourist destination visited by Maldivians as well. 

Our collaboration is not only limited to tourist arrivals – our quality 

and quantity of economic and trade links between Maldives 

and Belgium has also increased in the recent years. Though our 

imports from Belgium remain high, our export figures remain considerably 

low. I am confident that with Mr. Huiting, we will be able 

to strengthen our trade links, increase investments and boost the 

overall market reach. 

Before concluding, I would like to take this opportunity to thank 

you Mr. Huiting for inviting me and my delegation to this wonderful 

reception at the heart of Flanders. I would also like to 

thank the Belgium Government for its dedicated engagement 

and continued cooperation with the Maldives. I remain confident 

that relations between our two countries will continue to flourish 

in the years to come and wish Maldives-Belgium relations every 

success. 

46 47

REMARKS BY H.E. HASSAN SOBIR 

AMBASSADOR OF THE MALDIVES 

IN BRUSSELS, AT THE INAUGURATION 

OF THE HONORARY CONSULATE 

OF THE MALDIVES IN FLANDERS 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Foreign Secretary Ghafoor and members of the Delegation, 

Mr Gerard Huiting and his able team, 

My dear friends and colleagues, 

Thank you for taking time during the weekend to attend this 

historic event for Maldives. Welcome to Balen! I also like to 

welcome two very important people. Mrs Naazi and her family 

and Mr Shinan and his family. These are the two Maldivians living 

in Belgium and our contribution to the migration of Maldivians to 

Belgium. I will be brief in my remarks as our delegation is scheduled 

to take a flight out of Brussels this afternoon. 

Maldives is a small island nation, and we need friends around the 

world and this was amply demonstrated when our Foreign 

Minister Abdullah Shahid was elected president of the 76th 

UNGA with 143 votes; and this shows we are not alone. Incidentally 

I bring greetings and well wishes from our Minister and 

President UNGA Shahid to all of you here. 

Mr Gerard expressed his profound interest to serve as an 

honorary counsel of Maldives in Flanders somewhere around 

the middle of 2020. His position in the Diplomatic World Team 

provides access to a huge network of contacts in the diplomatic, 

social and cultural world in Belgium. I feel the relations between 

Flanders and Maldives have not reached its full potential. There is 

much to learn and achieve for mutual benefits in areas of tourism 

and trade. Mr Gerard will represent Maldives and promote our 

relations to new heights with the establishment of this Consulate 

office. He commands tremendous respect in the Diplomatic 

Community and can build bridges in the economic, academic 

and cultural worlds. He is creative and possess a very constructive 

attitude in solving problems. The Consulate will be ably 

assisted by his lovely and talented wife Joy and his son Jayden. 

Our delegation from the Maldives has had a gruelling program 

here in Brussels: we launched a EU-Parliamentary Friendship 

Group and concluded a marathon session of senior official 

Meeting at the EEAS. This event today is the icing on the cake. 

48

H.E. MAHBUB HASSAN SALEH 

AMBASSADOR OF BANGLADESH 

TO THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM AND 

THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG 

WELCOME TO BRUSSELS, AMBASSADOR SALEH. 

COULD YOU GIVE US YOUR FIRST IMPRES- 

SIONS ABOUT YOUR STAY IN BRUSSELS AND 

BROADLY OUTLINE THE PRIORITIES YOU WILL 

PURSUE DURING YOUR TENURE HERE? 

Bangladesh and the European Union enjoy historic relations, 

rooted in shared values of democracy, secularism, tolerance, 

pluralism, development cooperation, and mutually beneficial 

trade and investment cooperation. 

 

Considering the existing steady partnership between Bangla- 

First impression - A fascinating city of parks and squares, and 

desh and the EU, I would like to take it to the next level. Apart 

very warm and friendly people! I would say Brussels is a beau- 

from expanding our partnership beyond trade (primarily export 

tiful and welcoming city with an understated appeal. Given 

of readymade garments and frozen food) and development 

As many are aware, Bangladesh, with an area of 144,000 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The government rolled out stim- 

its global position in international politics, housing the headquar- 

cooperation, the opportunity is ripe now to engage in areas such 

square kilometers and 165 million people, is the most densely 

ulus packages in multiple tranches to keep the wheels rolling in 

ters of the European Union, World Customs Organization, NATO 

as climate change, connectivity, infrastructure development, re- 

populated country in the world. So, in many ways, dealing with 

various sectors of the economy, ranging from the RMG industry 

and a vibrant diplomatic / expatriate community, I have been 

newable energy, research and innovation, ICT, engineering, 

the COVID-19 pandemic has been a much bigger challenge for 

to the SME sector. Cash aid was distributed to the vulnerable liv- 

reaching out to people, initially virtually and then in person, and 

pharmaceuticals, migration, security, etc. On climate change in 

Bangladesh than for many other countries. From day one, our 

ing below the poverty line. Money supply was raised, loans pro- 

making new friends in Brussels and beyond. since my arrival 

particular, I am looking forward to establishment of a possible 

government took stringent steps to make people aware of prac- 

vided at low interest rates, social safety net programmes ex- 

by the end of November 2020. It is also a gateway to border- 

institutional forum. In our part of the world, BIMSTEC is emerging 

tising the basic health related safety measures, such as wearing 

panded, and employment opportunities were increased by 

ing France, Germany, Netherlands and Luxembourg, giving 

as a potential regional organisation for economic and technical 

masks, PPEs, hand washing, sanitising etc. New hospitals were 

boosting investment. As a result, Bangladesh not only managed 

access to know so much more about Europe. 

cooperation in the Bay of Bengal Region, and a collaborative 

built for serving COVID patients and dedicated COVID units were 

to hold on to its economic stability, but also achieved an eco- 

platform for conversation/dialogue between EU and the 

set up in existing hospitals. 

nomic growth of 5.24 percent in 2020, which could perhaps be 

The Bangladesh Embassy in Brussels deals with Bangladesh’s bi- 

BIMSTEC could be meaningful. 

seen as a miraculous performance by any standards. 

lateral relations with Belgium and Luxembourg, while also serving 

As soon as the vaccine was made available, Bangladesh 

as Bangladesh’s Mission to the European Union. So, while that 

makes my work here quite challenging, it is also tremendously 

stimulating. Bilaterally, Bangladesh and Belgium have been 

cooperating since 1972. Belgium was one of the first countries 

to recognize Bangladesh in early February 1972. The potential 

of our bilateral relationship is immense and going forward, I 

would really want to activate some of that to consolidate and 

deepen our collaborative relationship more meaningfully for both 

our countries. 

THE ONGOING PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO HAVE 

FAR-REACHING SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND 

HUMAN IMPACTS ACROSS THE WORLD. HOW 

HAS BANGLADESH DEALT WITH THE PANDEMIC, 

AND SPECIFICALLY HOW IS IT KEEPING A 

BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTING LIVES AND 

THE ECONOMY? WHAT STEPS IS BANGLADESH 

TAKING TO ENSURE A SUSTAINABLE, RESILIENT 

AND INCLUSIVE RECOVERY? 

launched a nationwide vaccination (AstraZeneca) campaign. 

More than 15 million people have been fully vaccinated as 

of September 2021. The Government has also purchased 

Sinopharm vaccine and made arrangements for manufacturing 

the same in Bangladesh. It has also been very helpful to receive 

Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine under the COVAX 

initiative. The virus’s blow has sent the global economy reeling 

and Bangladesh has also experienced the shockwaves. We are 

fortunate though that we could cushion the shock significantly, 

given the visionary leadership and directives of our Honourable 

THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE THE 50TH YEAR OF 

INDEPENDENCE OF BANGLADESH AND THE 

ONGOING BIRTH CENTENARY OF THE FATHER 

OF THE NATION BANGABANDHU SHEIKH MU- 

JIBUR RAHMAN. COULD YOU COMMENT ON 

MUJIB’S LEGACY AND HOW HIS VISION HAS 

SHAPED THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

OF PRESENT-DAY BANGLADESH? 

50 51

Father of the Nation of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh 

Mujibur Rahman is the architect of independent Bangladesh 

It was through his long struggle that a sovereign nation-state for 

the Bangalee people was founded in 1971 through the ninemonth 

long historic war of liberation. Fifty years on, in 2020, a 

grateful nation celebrates the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. 

An inspiration for Bangladesh and to the world, to all who 

oppose and fight against deprivation and oppression, 

Bangabandhu personifies self-confidence, unwavering deter- 

BANGLADESH IS CURRENTLY PURSUING AN 

AMBITIOUS NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN ‘VISION 

2041’ WHICH SHOULD GUIDE THE COUNTRY 

TO INDUSTRIALISED, HIGH-INCOME STATUS BY 

THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY. BEYOND THE 

DIVERSIFICATION OF ITS EXPORT BASKET, WHAT 

OTHER STEPS IS BANGLADESH TAKING TO TURN 

THIS VISION INTO A REALITY? 

Engaging in deeper and broader landscapes with the EU, 

Bangladesh looks to achieve the national aspiration to be a 

developed country by 2041. 

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to the 

adverse impacts of climate change. The country is experiencing 

significant and increasing climate change impacts that are affecting 

our economy, development, lives and livelihoods of the people. 

We commend adoption of the European Green Deal which 

mental and security cost that Bangladesh is incurring as a host 

country for sheltering the Rohingyas. The sheer numbers of displaced 

Rohingyas would give you an idea of the kind of pressure 

on resources that we are facing, given that there is a scarcity 

of resources for our own population. Such conditions can foment 

social unrest, just as livelihoods are being challenged. 

With thousands of acres of forest land, trees and hills being flattened 

to accommodate these people from Myanmar, biodiversity 

mination, extraordinary eloquence and courage in the struggle 

 

signals the EU’s commitment and enhanced ambition under the 

is being lost even as we speak. Most importantly, the Rohingyas 

against any kind of oppression. 

The Government of Bangladesh adopted ‘Vision 2041’ along with 

Paris Climate Agreement. The EU has been a pioneer in taking 

pose an imminent threat to the regions’ security and stability. We 

a 20 year long perspective plan for the accomplishment of the 

legal measures in the fight against climate change through adop- 

see the world rushing to prevent regional instability and security 

Bangabandhu is Bangladesh’s window to the world – it is his 

dream of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur 

tion of the European Climate Law and schemes such as “Fit for 

due to the events in Afghanistan. The international community 

charisma, political acumen and his foreign policy approach - 

Rahman. This document is the development vision of the govern- 

55”. Such measures are highly encouraging and show that the 

would do well to take note and act now on the Rohingya situa- 

‘Friendship to all and malice to none’ - that opened doors for 

ment for a prosperous Bangladesh as well as a roadmap for its 

EU is serious about meeting its fair-share contributions to climate 

tion before it is too late. 

the new-born country to global organisations, his commitment 

implementation. As Bangladesh has fulfilled all three UN thresh- 

action. 

to non-alignment gave Bangladesh respectability around the 

old criteria for graduating from the Least Developed Country 

I thank the European Union and its member states for their prin- 

world. He was a statesman of extraordinary stature who uncon- 

(LDC), ‘Vision 2041’ aims for Bangladesh’s graduation into higher 

Bangladesh accords particular emphasis on the issue of connec- 

cipled stand for safe and dignified return of the Rohingyas. 

ditionally stood up for people’s rights, equality, secularism and 

middle-income status by 2031 and a developed nation by 2041. 

tivity cooperation with the EU, preferably under the remit of the 

However, the international community must do whatever is 

inclusivity. 

The institutional basis of this plan is good governance, democ- 

EU-Asia Connectivity Strategy. We have had a series of meetings 

needed to make Myanmar accountable for the barbaric atrocities 

ratization, decentralization and capacity building. Therefore, the 

with the EU on the possibility of cooperation in transportation, 

and heinous crimes committed on the Rohingyas. Pressure must 

I am proud to say that 50 years into our independence, 

Government is working on institutional capacity building and 

maritime sector, energy, digital connectivity, and people-to-peo- 

be stepped up on the Myanmar authorities to provide safe and 

Bangladesh has captured the imagination of the international 

strengthening the existing institutions for attaining the ‘Vision 

ple contacts and we hope for more positive developments soon. 

secure conditions for the Rohingyas to return to their homeland. 

community. Our socio-economic achievements and increasing 

2041’. The dream of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ is now a reality - 

geo-political significance have propelled Bangladesh into the 

global limelight. This has been made possible due to our 

people’s abiding commitment to the legacy of Bangabandhu 

and the transformative leadership of our Honourable Prime 

Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangabandhu’s dream of ‘Sonar Bangla’ 

(‘Golden Bengal’ is being realized fully by her able daughter 

Sheikh Hasina. 

As we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of our Independence and 

birth centenary of our Father of the Nation, we are proud and 

humbled by the trajectory of our upward growth and development. 

A number of ongoing mega infrastructure projects, increasing 

investments in human development and widening of the social 

safety net is expected to accelerate the growth more in the 

coming days. Non-government organizations such as BRAC and 

others have been contributing to complement the government 

initiatives. Additionally, our energetic and hard-working entrepreneurs 

are contributing to a fast emerging and dynamic private 

a phenomenal transformation that took place in a few years. 

To achieve the targets, Bangladesh will also accelerate the pace 

of transformational change in the fields of trade and industry, 

infrastructure building, connectivity/communication, ICT agriculture, 

research, innovation, education, healthcare etc. attaining 

SDGs and ensuring the sustainability of development. There will 

also be coordination of cross-cutting policies and synchronization 

of multi-sectoral programs. 

HOW DO YOU SEE RELATIONS EVOLVING 

BETWEEN BANGLADESH AND THE EUROPEAN 

UNION? WHAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLOSER 

BANGLADESH-EU COOPERATION DO YOU 

FORESEE UNDER THE EU GREEN DEAL AND 

THE EU-ASIA CONNECTIVITY STRATEGY? 

THE ONGOING ROHINGYA HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 

HAS BEEN VERY MUCH IN THE SPOTLIGHT DUR- 

ING THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WITH BANGLA- 

DESH HOSTING OVER 1 MILLION ROHINGYAS. AT 

LAST YEAR’S UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEM- 

BLY, PRIME MINISTER OF BANGLADESH SHEIKH 

HASINA CALLED FOR STRONGER INTERNATIONAL 

ACTION. IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT STEPS NEED TO 

BE TAKEN FOR THE RESOLUTION OF THIS HU- 

MANITARIAN CRISIS IN LINE WITH THE NATIONAL 

INTERESTS OF BANGLADESH? WHAT CONCRETE 

SUPPORT IS EXPECTED FROM THE INTERNATION- 

AL COMMUNITY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION IN 

PARTICULAR? 

It has been more than four years now that Bangladesh is temporarily 

sheltering 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas fleeing 

sector. Bangladesh has a fairly young population which has 

The European Union has been a trusted partner of Bangladesh in 

persecution in Myanmar. The Government of Bangladesh, under 

opened for us the window of opportunity to reap a demographic 

our development journey over the last 50 years. Going forward, 

the humane leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has 

dividend in the coming years. 

I see relations between the two partners becoming more diversi- 

been facilitating humanitarian assistance including food, wa- 

fied and moving towards a more comprehensive form of partner- 

ter, shelter for the forcibly displaced Rohingyas. Our government 

On the 50th year of our Independence, we recognize with deep- 

ship. Economically, this would mean focus on greater investment 

is also providing health and education facilities. We appreciate 

est appreciation the unstinting support and cooperation received 

promotion, knowledge and innovation, technology transfer, 

the assistance from the UN agencies and international part- 

from our international friends that enabled a war-ravaged yet 

export diversification and productivity enhancement. 

ners such as the EU, given that we ourselves are a resource-con- 

resilient nation to emerge as a reliable strategic partner over a 

strained nation. 

short span of five decades. 

Strategically, we are looking at cooperating on tackling common 

global issues ranging from international peace and security to 

climate change, safe movement of people and more. 

While our international partners are providing humanitarian assistance, 

what is often not talked about is the huge social, environ- 

H.E. Mahbub Hassan Saleh, Ambassador of Bangladesh, 

Barbara Dietrich CEO Diplomatic World and Alberto Turkstra 

52 53

CROWN PRINCE HIROHITO’S 

VISIT TO BELGIUM IN JUNE 1921 

A CENTENARY 

Willy Vande Walle 

The 10th of June 1921 turned out to be a particularly busy day 

for Japanese Ambassador to Belgium Adachi Mineichirō. On 

that day, a little before 16:00, he was scheduled to welcome a 

Japanese delegation at the station of Mons near the French- 

Belgian border. The delegation was nominally headed by Crown 

Prince Hirohito, and further included his great-uncle Prince 

Kan’in no Miya Kotohito (1865-1945) and Yamamoto Shinjirō, 

a naval officer, who had been designated Hirohito’s teacher of 

French and his personal aide. 

Japanese Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Belgium 

since 1915, Adachi’s status had only been raised to that of 

Ambassador a few days before, on 31 May, and he yet had to 

present his ambassadorial credentials to King Albert I (1875- 

1934), when he was welcoming the Japanese party in Mons. 

After the customary exchange of greetings, addresses and other 

marks of homage in the station of Mons, the Japanese visitors 

and their welcoming party headed for Brussels, where they once 

more went through the obligatory ceremonies prescribed for 

state visits. Once this hurdle had been cleared Adachi managed 

to squeeze in an audience with King Albert at 19:00, to at last 

present his credentials, which, as it happened, were nothing 

more than a telegram from his home ministry. 1 One hour later, 

at 20:00, he was one of the 180 invitees attending the official 

banquet in the royal palace in honour of the imperial visitor. Thus 

ended the first day of Prince Hirohito’s visit as official guest of 

the Belgian royal family. 

The crown prince’s visit to Belgium was part of a European tour 

by the Japanese heir-apparent (installed in that capacity since 

1916), to a few of Japan’s European allies, with Great Britain and 

France taking pride of place. When the decision of the tour had 

been imperially sanctioned on 16 January 1921, Belgium had 

not been included in the itinerary, and it was only at Belgium’s 

insistence that it eventually was (on 11 May 1921), two days into 

the delegation’s tour of Great Britain. The eventual inclusion of 

Belgium in the schedule was not unrelated to the elevation of 

Adachi’s status to that of ambassador. Although the promotion 

Louvain Catholic University Rector Paulin Ladeuze (left) addressing words of welcome to Crown Prince Hirohito (to the right) in the ruins of the burnt-out university 

library. Standing to the left and slightly behind the crown prince is Cardinal Mercier. Further to the back the two escorting Belgian officers, Raoul Pontus (left) and Aloïs 

Biebuyck (right), both veterans of the Great War. Photograph courtesy of Emilie Vilcot, UCLouvain - Libraries Heritage Collections. 

King Albert and Crown Prince Hirohito in a landau, after the arrival of the prince in the Brussels North Station on 10 June 1921 (Futara Yoshinari and Sawada Setsuzō. 

Prince Kan’in signing the gulden book in the ruin of the Louvain university library, as (left to right) crown prince Hirohito, Cardinal Mercier, and Lieutenant-General 

54 

Kōtaishi denka gogaiyū-ki. Ōsaka: Ōsaka Mainichi Shinbunsha, 1924, opposite p 244). 

Biebuyck are looking on. Photograph courtesy of Emilie Vilcot, UCLouvain - Libraries Heritage Collections. 

55

had been under consideration for quite some time, the Japanese 

government had been procrastinating the matter, but it had 

suddenly been startled into action by the inclusion of Belgium in 

the itinerary. Adachi, who had been instrumental in convincing 

his government to include Belgium, would probably have wished 

a more orderly and neat elevation procedure, but he took the 

inconvenience in a stride. 

First thing in the morning of the next day, Saturday June 11th, 

the crown prince paid a visit to the Royal Crypt in the Church of 

Our Lady of Laeken, where he paid his respects to the tombs of 

the preceding Belgian kings. Next, the party moved to the Royal 

Greenhouses in the palace grounds at Laeken, to be treated to 

a luncheon by the Belgian royal couple. The Japanese records 

of the crown prince’s European tour describe the greenhouses 

as among the biggest in the world. Waxing lyrically, they liken 

the time spent while enjoying luncheon under the lush canopy of 

exotic trees, amidst an abundance of flavours and scents, to an 

earthly version of the Western Paradise of Pure Land Buddhism, 

and to the utopian land of the Peach Blossom Spring of Daoist 

mythology. 

After this intermezzo of relaxation, King Albert guided his guests 

to the Cinquantenaire Park, where they viewed a grand panorama 

painting, entitled Panorama de l’Yser. This was a huge mural, 

chronicling a series of battles and incidents that took place on 

the Western Front along the Yser river during the years 1914 

and 1915. The painter, Alfred Bastien (1873-1955), who had 

been posted behind the Belgian lines on the Yser river, was on 

hand to give explanations to the crown prince about the various 

scenes featured in his painting, which measured an astonishing 

115 meters in length by 14 meters in height. It had only just been 

completed. Bastien, who was close to the royal family, and in his 

days, one of the leading painters of Belgium, had executed the 

panorama at the suggestion of King Albert. 2 

The next stop was a visit to the ‘Congo Museum,’ now known as 

Africa Museum. This was followed in the evening by a banquet at 

the official residence of Prime Minister Henri Carton de Wiart. As 

if this was not busy enough, the visitors were subsequently expected 

at ten o’clock for a reception at the City Hall of Brussels, 

where they were presented to members of the diplomatic corps 

and ministers. The reception was followed by a dress-ball. 

On Sunday 12 June, the crown prince and his retinue were 

taken to the Palace of Justice, and from there to Waterloo. 

Waterloo has been one of Belgium’s prime sightseeing sites 

since the 1830s, but the time of the Crown Prince’s visit to 

Europe coincided with the centenary of the death of Napoleon 

Bonaparte (5 May 1821). Not surprisingly, there was a renewed 

interest in his historical significance as well as in his enduring 

myth, obviously particularly in France, but the Belgian press too 

had run numerous articles and essays on the subject. At the site 

of Waterloo, the party naturally visited the signature memorial hill, 

built by King William I of the Netherlands in commemoration of 

the wounds sustained by his son during the battle. Descending 

the hill, they were taken to the circular panorama, where they 

saw a three-dimensional reproduction of some crucial scenes 

of the battle. It is not clear whether they visited any of the other 

minor monuments that were in place at the time, but given the 

prevailing mood in the wake of the First World War, a stop at the 

memorial for the Prussians at Plancenoit would have been unlikely. 

The prince received detailed explanations about positions 

of the armies, strategy and tactics, from Lieutenant-General Aloïs 

Biebuyck, aide-de-camp to King Albert, and chief of the Belgian 

escort attached to the official guest. He was reputedly a specialist 

in Napoleon’s tactics and strategy. 

In the afternoon, the visitors were once again driven to Cinquantenaire 

Park, where they attended a horse show and the ensuing 

prize awarding ceremony. That evening, ambassador Adachi and 

his spouse invited the crown prince and thirty eminent Belgians 

from various spheres of elite society to a dinner party in the 

salons of the ambassador’s residence. Technically speaking, 

the dinner was offered by Crown Prince Hirohito to his Belgian 

counterpart Crown Prince Leopold. The banquet was followed 

by a grand reception for around 300 invitees. This effectively 

concluded Crown Prince Hirohito’s sojourn in Belgium as a state 

guest. The prince and his closest entourage, who during the official 

three days, had been staying in the royal palace, now moved 

to Hotel Astoria, where the prince spent his first night ever in a 

hotel room. 

The two following days were devoted to excursions. On Monday 

13 June, the party headed to the province of West Flanders, for 

a tour of the battlefields of the First World War. The itinerary went 

via Ostend to the Ypres area, and the neighbouring villages, an 

area that had nearly completely been laid waste in the course of 

a four years’ war of attrition. At Lombardsijde, near the mouth of 

the Yser river, Major-General Raoul Pontus gave detailed explanations 

about the battles that had taken place there. The party 

then continued its tour via Nieuwpoort and Diksmuide. At 

Kaaskerke, the imperial visitor laid a wreath at the tombs of 

Belgian soldiers. Their final and most poignant stop was Ieper, 

a place of particular significance for the British. Clearing of 

the debris was still under way, and only a minor fraction of the 

reconstruction works had been taken on. The crown prince was 

left speechless at the desolate sight of the killing fields, and the 

scenes of devastation, that unfolded before his eyes. The graves 

of the fallen soldiers were still makeshift crosses and headstones, 

and the improvised layout of the cemeteries presented a forlorn 

outlook. He had included this tour of the battlefields of Flanders 

at the suggestion of Britain’s King George V, who had advised 

him to go and see the site of the ‘Ypres salient’ and its environs. 

The crown prince did not fail to send a telegram to George V to 

convey to him the depth of his emotions at the sights of utter 

State photo of Crown Prince Hirohito. Frontpage of ‘Le Patriote Illustré’ of 12 June 1921. 

56 57

destruction. Allegedly, the British monarch was delighted to learn 

that his Japanese guest had followed his suggestion. 

On June 14, the Japanese party went for a goodwill visit to the 

port City of Antwerp. Since 1898 Antwerp was a port of call for 

Nippon Yūsen Kaisha (Japan Transportation Company, N.Y.K.) 

vessels. Miyako shōkai, a so-called ship chandler, had set up 

business in Antwerp in 1919. There was a tiny community of 

Japanese staying or residing in and around the port of Antwerp. 

When Crown Prince Hirohito’s party made a tour of the harbour 

on a small steamer, it was saluted by the crew of two Japanese 

ships anchored in the harbour and dressed for the occasion, 

hailing ‘banzai’ as the sightseers sailed by. 

In the afternoon the party returned to Brussels to attend a reception 

organised by the Société d’Etudes Belgo-Japonaises, whose 

president was Baron Constant Goffinet. This being the last event 

before his departure from Belgium, the crown prince went to say 

goodbye to the Belgian royal family, before attending a farewell 

banquet in his honour at Hotel Astoria. 

The following morning the party left for a state visit to the 

Netherlands, not a war ally, for the country had remained 

neutral, but a country with a longstanding relationship with 

Japan, it being the one European country to have entertained 

relations with Japan during much of the Edo period (1600-1868). 

On June 20, the party left the Netherlands en route for France. 

Taking the train from The Hague, they were greeted at the 

Dutch-Belgian border by a Belgian welcoming committee, which 

included Lieutenant-General Biebuyck, Major-General Raoul 

Pontus and Charles Bastin, Consul General of Belgium in 

Yokohama from 1907 to 1917, as well as Ambassador Adachi. 

They accompanied the Japanese visitors on an official train to 

Louvain, making a brief stop en route at Mechelen, to allow 

Cardinal Désiré Joseph Mercier to board the train and join the 

visitors. The short visit to Louvain was laden with the symbolism 

of a pilgrimage to a site of martyrdom. 

The city was still in the initial phase of reconstruction, the ruins 

were still everywhere, notably the ruins of the burnt-out library of 

the university, where, judging from contemporary photographs, 

they had just finished cleared the rubble. The crown prince was 

guided around by Cardinal Mercier and Rector Ladeuze. The 

destruction of the university library and its contents had raised a 

loud and indignant outcry throughout the world of learning. At the 

time of the visit, an international reconstruction initiative known 

as l’Oeuvre Internationale de Louvain was gathering momentum. 

The crown prince was, as always, accompanied by his personal 

aide Yamamoto Shinjirō. During his former stay at the Vatican 

Yamamoto had become friends with Mgr. Simon Deploige 

(1868-1927), now commissioner-general of ‘Le Comité International 

pour la restauration de l’Université de Louvain.’ Deploige 

now insisted with Yamamoto that he would throw his full weight 

into an effort to set up a national committee in Japan, which 

would be charged with defining and implementing Japan’s contribution 

toward the reconstruction of the Louvain university library 

and the reconstitution of its holdings. 

The visit by the Japanese crown prince to the ruins of the 

Louvain university library no doubt marked an important step 

towards cementing Japan’s commitment to join the Oeuvre 

Internationale de Louvain. Thanks to the efforts of ambassador 

Adachi and Yamamoto, a national committee was indeed set 

up in 1922, which in due time decided to make an impressive 

donation of precious books, manuscripts, reproductions and art 

objects as its share in the reconstruction effort. 

After his return to Japan, and when the plan of the donation was 

taking shape, the by now Prince-Regent Hirohito, joined in the 

effort by donating nineteen titles in 301 volumes, as well as “an 

album,” from the library of the Imperial Household, in addition to 

a porcelain flower vase by Seifū Yohei III (1851-1914), a potter 

from Kyoto and a gift of 10,000 yen from the emperor. The books 

donated included fine editions of the Six National Histories, 

including Nihonshoki, Shoku Nihongi, Nihon Kōki, and other 

important historical and literary works, both printed editions and 

manuscripts, as well as a few Meiji era publications. 3 

Cover of one of the fascicles making up Eiga monogatari, one of the classic 

books donated by Crown Prince Hirohito. 

Shortly before noon, the crown prince and his retinue once again 

boarded the train in the direction of Liège. They got off at Ans for 

a brief visit to the fortification of Loncin. This was one of a ring 

of fortifications around Liège, at 45 km from the former German 

border. At the time of the German invasion, it had been destroyed 

by a direct hit on the powder magazine, killing instantly 

hundreds of Belgian defenders. Dumfound by the sheer scale of 

destruction, the visitors travelled on to the city centre of Liège, 

for a courtesy call to the mayor and a crowd of cheering citizens. 

Here they boarded a French train, which took them to the French 

capital. 

In the contemporary perception, royal families still carried much 

more political weight than they do nowadays. Crown Prince 

Hirohito’s visit to Belgium was both a pilgrimage to some of the 

ruins of the most destructive conflict Europe had ever witnessed, 

and an appeal to put Japanese-Belgian, and by extension Japanese-European 

relations on a new footing. More specifically, it 

marked the beginning of a new era in Belgium’s relationship with 

Japan, in the sense that Japan as a political, economic and cultural 

factor shed much of its former abstract and vague image, 

becoming a much more tangible and concrete existence, a factor 

to reckon with on the international scene. Contacts between the 

two countries grew in intensity and exchanges between their 

citizens grew in frequency, a tendency that was equally visible in 

the academic and scientific fields, as witnessed by the donation 

of the Japanese book collection. 4 

1. Fumihiko Kurosawa. “The Mutual Elevation of Diplomatic Status from ‘Legation’ to ‘Embassy.’ In W.F. Vande Walle ed. 

Japan & Belgium: Four Centuries of Exchange. Brussels: Commissioners-General of the Belgian Government at the 

Universal Exposition of Aichi 2005, Japan, 2005, p. 234-235. 

2. For more details, see: Aleks Deseyne red. Alfred Bastien en het Ijzerpanorama (Tentoonstellingscatalogus: Memoriaal Prins 

Karel, Raversijde). Brugge: Provincie West-Vlaanderen, 2001. 

3. As transpires from files in the Department for Archives and Mausolea (shoryōbu of the present Imperial Household Agency 

(Kunaichō). 

4. This account is largely based on Kunaichō. Shōwa Tennō jitsuroku. Vol. 3. Tokyo: Tōkyō Shoseki, 2015, pp. 289-308, 

and pp. 319-320. For a detailed account in English, see David De Cooman. “Crown Prince Hirohito’s Visit to Belgium.” 

In W.F. Vande Walle ed. David De Cooman ass. ed. Japan & Belgium: An Itinerary of Mutual Inspiration. 

Tielt: Lannoo, 2016, p. 129-145. 

The author is professor emeritus of Japanese Studies at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven). 

Telegramme from the Taishô emperor to King Albert thanking the king for the 

invitation extended to the Crown Prince to visit Belgium, dated 14 June 1921. 

Gaikō shiryō kan, Kōtaishi gotoō Hakkoku go-hōmon no bu. 

58 59

STUDENTS OF WORLD HISTORY 

REMIND US HOW CENTRAL ASIA, 

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO, LED THE WORLD 

HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN 

“Students of world history remind us how Central Asia, a thousand 

years ago, “led the world” in trade and investment, in urban 

development, in cultural and intellectual achievement. This was 

the place that leading thinkers from around the known world 

would look to for leadership. What were the latest breakthroughs 

in astronomy or mathematics, in chemistry or medicine, in philosophy 

or music? This was the place to find out. 

This region is where algebra got its name, where the earth’s 

diameter was precisely calculated, where some of the world’s 

greatest poetry was penned.“ 

The Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed 

Shah Aga Khan, as Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims in 1957 at 

the age of 20. Since then, he has dedicated his efforts to improving 

the quality of life of the most vulnerable populations, emphasising 

the view of Islam as a faith that teaches compassion and 

tolerance and that upholds human dignity. 

His Highness the Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual 

leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. 

In the context of his hereditary responsibilities, His Highness has 

been deeply engaged with the development of countries around 

the world for more than 60 years through the work of the Aga 

Khan Development Network (AKDN). 

THIS YEAR, 

THE FIVE CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS - 

KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, 

TURKMENISTAN, AND UZBEKISTAN - 

MARK THEIR 30 TH 

ANNIVERSARIES OF INDEPENDENCE 

Anniversaries such as these provide opportune moments to 

reflect on the achievements as well as the prospects that the 

Central Asian countries face. Kyrgyzstan is the first to celebrate 

the 30th anniversary of Independence Day on August 31. It is followed 

by Uzbekistan on September 1, Tajikistan on September 9, 

Turkmenistan on September 27, and Kazakhstan on December 16. 

Having overcome the challenges of the initial, post-independence 

years, the nation-building processes of these states and 

their societies have developed rapidly over this period. After the 

consolidation of their recently acquired sovereignty, the states 

have built strong national identities and established self-sufficient 

economic and institutional frameworks. More recently, Central 

Asian Republics have undergone changes and comprehensive 

reforms and modernization of their social, legal, political and 

economic systems. 

Initially fragmented, great efforts have been undertaken in recent 

years to improve regional cooperation and integration, thanks 

to the pursuit of pragmatic policies of constructive engagement. 

The recent annual summits of Central Asian leaders provide an 

opportunity for greater policy alignment on critical issues such 

as climate change; responses to the COVID-19 pandemic; and 

matters of regional security and stability. 

taken place this year in the region: the international connectivity 

summit “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. 

Challenges and Opportunities” which developed solid foundations 

for closer interaction between the Central and South Asian 

regions by identifying specific projects of a strategic nature; and 

the International Cultural Forum “Central Asia at the Crossroads 

of World Civilizations”, held in Khiva under the auspices of 

UNESCO, which highlighted and revisited the rich history and 

heritage of this region using them to draw lessons and contribute 

to sustainable peace and development. 

The 30th anniversary of independence is a milestone in the 

Central Asian Republics’ nation-building. 

On this auspicious occasion, let us dwell on the journey travelled 

so far by the five Central Asian countries and explore the road 

that lies ahead! 

These summits tend to have a strong focus on boosting regional 

connectivity, leading observers to believe that the region can be 

transformed from landlocked to land-linked. 

Thanks in part to the above-mentioned processes, in recent 

years the region has been in the spotlight from the international 

community, and increasingly high on the agenda of the European 

Union, which not so long ago updated its Central Asia strategy. 

His Highness the Aga Khan 

In the pages that follow we are glad to feature statements from 

Ambassadors of the Central Asian countries based in Brussels, 

EU officials and international organisations. We also put the 

focus on the outcomes of two high-level conferences which have Peace Dove by Ulrike Bolenz Photo: Diplomatic World 

60 61

H.E. SHAVKAT MIRZIYOYEV 

PRESIDENT 


Central and South Asia 

Regional Connectivity. 

Challenges and Opportunities 

Located at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road, Central and 

South Asia have for many centuries promoted an active dialogue 

between peoples and civilizations. 

unique folk traditions, has contribute to the aggregation of unique 

ethno-cultural communities, and a diverse and rich culture of the 

East was formed. 

Thanks to the close interaction of the two regions, new knowledge 

and philosophical ideas, achievements in medicine and 

astronomy, geography and mathematics, geodesy and architecture, 

the art of diplomacy and public administration, high cultural 

and spiritual and moral values, have spread. 

For a number of times, the people of our regions used to live 

in the framework of common state formations, as well as a 

common political, economic and humanitarian space. Here appeared 

the Harappan civilization, the Greco-Bactrian and Kushan 

empires, the Turkic Khaganate, Khorasan and Maverannakhr, the 

Gaznevids, Timurid and Baburid states and others, all of which 

left a deep mark in the history of mankind. 

Central and South Asia have always been connected by reliable 

trade arteries and served as a bridge for the countries of the 

Middle East, Europe and China. This is stated in the works of the 

ancient Greek historian Strabo, who wrote that along the Oxus 

River (now the Amu Darya), “goods were delivered through the 

Caspian and Black Seas to Europe.” 

Back in the third and second millennia BC, a network of trade 

routes connecting us passed through the Khyber and Bolan 

passes. In the space of Central and South Asia, the mutual 

influence of religions such as Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism and 

The close ties between our peoples contributed to rapid intellectual 

and spiritual progress. This gave the world such outstanding 

scholars and thinkers such as Charaka and Sushruta, 

Brahmagupta and Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Ferghani and Farabi, Biruni, 

Avicena and many others. They predetermined the development 

of scientific and philosophical thought for many centuries 

to come. 

The work of classics of our national literatures is well known all 

over the world. These include Khusrav Dehlavi, Alisher Navoi, 

Abdurahman Jami, Muhammad Haidar, Magtymguly, Mirzo Golib, 

Abai, Rabindranath Tagore, Sadriddin Ayni and Chingiz Aitmatov. 

They made a huge contribution to the development of the ideas 

of peace, freedom and humanism, friendship and mutual understanding 

between different peoples. 

The works of such great scientists as Abu Raihan Beruni and 

Zahiriddin Muhammad Babut are considered to be the true encyclopaedias 

on the history, science and culture of Central 

and South Asia. 

The characterization given to Babur by the first Prime Minister 

of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, is widely known: “he was a charming 

person, a typical King of the Renaissance”. In particular, Babur in 

his fundamental work “Baburname” wrote that there was a reg- 

H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev President of The Republic of Uzbekistan 

ular caravan route in the 16th century between India and Central The era of cooperation and mutual understanding has been 

Asia through the territory of Afghanistan, along which thousands replaced by a period of confrontation and mistrust. We are 

of camels transported goods every year. As per Babur’s orders, also feeling the negative consequences of this at the present 

alongside the trade routes caravanserais were landscape and 

time – there are no effective cross-border routes, trade and 

wells were constructed. Babur’s grandson, the Great Akbar, 

economic ties are poorly developed, and the potential of cultural 

continuing his work, also left a bright mark on the history of India and humanitarian relations is not fully utilized. 

as a tolerant and visionary ruler. 

Today, the world has entered an era of global geopolitical transformations, 

bringing both challenges and new opportunities. 

It should be noted that trade relations of Central and South 

Asia in those days were also carried out with Iran, Arabia, the 

Under these conditions, the revival of mutual ties between 

Ottoman state, China, Russia and other countries. 

Central and South Asia, where about two billion people live today, 

is becoming an even more popular and objective process. 

According to historical data, the ruler of India Aurangzeb in 1695 I think that the time has come, based on the huge historical, 

issued a permit to the Russian merchant Semyon Malenkoy to scientific, spiritual and cultural heritage of our peoples, the complementarity 

of economies, the presence of intellectual potential, 

trade in the country. It is noteworthy that this permit was written 

in Old Uzbek language. 

to consolidate our joint efforts, which will undoubtedly have a 

powerful synergy effect. 

Unfortunately, in the 19th century, due to historical circumstances, 

the interconnectedness of the two adjacent regions was disrupted. 

Various obstacles emerged between Central and South importantly trust, are the driving forces for ensuring stability and 

We are aware that connectivity, cooperation, dialogue and most 

Asia, borders closed, tensions became more acute, which have sustainable development, improving the standard of living and 

frequently led to conflicts. 

well-being of the peoples of our regions. Such approach is an im 

62 63

perative of our time! All this creates the necessary prerequisites 

trade, economic, cultural and civilizational potential. In this 

for the formation, on the one hand, of a space of interregional 

regard, I would like to make the following suggestions. 

cooperation and partnership, free from conflicts and socio-eco- 

First. Our priority task is to create favourable conditions for 

nomic upheavals, and on the other hand, a vast market for goods 

the development of trade and economic ties and the growth 

and services, investment and innovation. 

of mutual investments. 

TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO ORGANIZE THIS 

CONFERENCE, WE HAVE PURSUED THE 

FOLLOWING IDEAS: 

A practical contribution to the solution of these issues would 

be the development and implementation of effective measures 

for the free movement of investments, goods and services, the 

formation of a developed system of transport communications 

and energy infrastructure. 

• First, the strengthening of peace and friendship, trust and 

good-neighbourliness, the expansion of mutually beneficial 

Just as our common ancestors did by convening the Majlis 

cooperation between our countries, the building of an open 

and Kurultais, Loya Jirga, Wasi Mushavarat and Sabha, we 

and constructive policy to meet the common interests of all 

propose the annual holding of an inter-regional forum to 

Central and South Asian states. 

discuss topical issues of expanding the economic agenda 

of cooperation, deepening cooperation and investment 

Secondly, we stand for the formation of sustainable trade, 

cooperation of our countries. 

economic, transport and communication links, which should 

become the main driver for the further development of our 

The recommendations and proposals developed within the 

countries and the entire vast region in the long term. 

framework of such a dialogue can be transformed into 

specific programmes and projects aimed at creating new jobs, 

The pandemic has shown that the new challenges facing 

developing capacity and ensuring sustainable growth of our 

humanity cannot be overcome without uniting and coordinat- 

economies. 

ing efforts. We have an objective need to strengthen our 

cooperation through the digitalization of economies, the 

In addition, we are initiating a joint expert study to conclude 

development of e-commerce and the introduction of 

a multilateral agreement on economic cooperation among the 

innovations. 

countries of our regions. 

Thirdly, one of the key links in the practical interconnectedness 

• Second. The development of modern, efficient andbsafe 

of Central and South Asia is the Islamic Republic of 

transport and logistics infrastructure in Central and South Asia. 

Transport Corridor, which already connects India with the 

some parts of the world. We propose that under the auspices 

Afghanistan. We are convinced that our interregional 

A key element of the entire architecture of interconnectedness 

countries of Central Asia. 

of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United 

partnership will become an important factor in establishing 

of our regions is the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar 

Nations, a meeting of the ministers of agriculture of our 

peace and stability, reviving the economy in this country. 

railway, which has already gained a broad support, including 

In addition, the project of construction of the Trans-Afghan 

countries be held to develop a programme to overcome these 

from the leading international financial institutions. 

railway corridor in the future can connect our countries with 

challenges. 

Today, Afghanistan is at a turning point in its recent history. 

China and other leading states of the Asia-Pacific region. This 

We are confident that the wise Afghan people will show a 

The construction of this railway will allow to fully realize the 

is fully in line with the goals of the Belt and Road Initiative. 

This document should envisage the joint development and 

willingness to compromise in order to achieve national accord. 

transit potential of the two regions, to form the shortest route, 

research, the introduction of advanced technologies and the 

Of fundamental importance is the international community’s 

to significantly reduce the time and cost of transporting goods 

• Third. The introduction of digital platforms should become the 

implementation of projects of industrial cooperation. 

full support for a political settlement of the conflict for the sake 

between South Asia and Europe through Central Asia and the 

locomotive of economic cooperation between the countries of 

of the long-awaited peace on Afghan soil. 

countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. 

Central and South Asia. 

• Fifth. Consolidation of efforts in the fight against common 

In general, the launch of this cross-border railway will create 

challenges and threats to stability and security. 

This will open up new prospects for Afghanistan’s integration 

a powerful platform for achieving inclusive economic 

It is necessary to develop specific measures to implement 

into region-wide processes. 

development of the countries of Central and South Asia. 

digital connectivity - in the field of trade, transit and border 

Together, we will be able to more effectively counter terrorism, 

crossing, and to adopt a Strategy for Joint Action. It is 

extremism, transnational crime, including in cyberspace. 

Fourthly, the main condition for the sustainable development 

It will become a modern version of the ancient northern 

important to involve leading experts of our countries, as 

As a first step, we propose to develop a Joint Anti-Drug Action 

of our regions and the strengthening of partnership is security 

trade route known as Uttara Patha, connecting the 

well as specialized UN agencies, in this work. 

Plan, with the participation of the UN Office on Drugs and 

and stability. Our security is indivisible, and it can be achieved 

Indo-Gangetic plain with the southern territories of the 

Crime. Another important area in which it is necessary to 

only through constructive dialogue and joint efforts. 

Eurasian continent through the historic cities of Taxila, 

• Fourth. Jointly seeking the ways of ensuring food security in 

coordinate efforts is the fight against the threat of terrorism. 

Gandhara and Termez. 

our vast region. 

I am confident that an active and constructive dialogue 

We are ready to organize a special expert meeting on these 

between the countries of Central and South Asia will open up 

An example of the successful implementation of such a 

Recently, there has been a rapid increase in prices for basic 

issues with the participation of representatives of the two 

new opportunities for a more complete realization of their 

trans-regional infrastructure is the North-South International 

foodstuffs, as well as acute shortages face by populations in 

regions. 

64 65

This meeting could take place on the side-lines of the 

upcoming international conference in Tashkent in November 

this year dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the adoption of 

the Joint Action Plan for the implementation of the UN Global 

Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia. 

• Sixth. Environmental issues and stimulation of “green” 

development require the closest attention. All countries in 

Central and South Asia are experiencing rapid industrial 

and demographic growth against the backdrop of global 

climate change. 

In these conditions, the issues of water shortage, pollution of 

the atmosphere and environment, soil degradation and 

desertification are the common problems. 

A sad consequence of the extremely negative impact of 

environmental challenges is the problem of drying up of the 

Aral Sea, which is increasingly acquiring a planetary character. 

We need to take all possible measures to mitigate its 

consequences, as well as to prevent similar disasters in the 

future, based on the experience of our ancestors, who 

sought to live in harmony with nature. 

• Seventh. We stand for a fuller development of the unique 

tourism potential of Central and South Asia. 

The fate and future of our countries and peoples depend on 

how the younger generation will grow up, what kind of 

ducation and upbringing they get, and what environment and 

“social lifts” we will create for them. 

For effective cooperation on youth issues, I propose to create 

a permanent Youth Council of the countries of Central and 

South Asia. 

• Ninth. An important factor in the accelerated development of 

our countries is the high achievements in the field of science, 

technology and innovation. 

It is necessary to encourage joint research and innovative 

work, the organization of scientific and educational internships 

and exchange programmes. 

In this regard, we propose to introduce a simplified visa regime 

for scientists and researchers, as well as to create an online 

platform for cooperation between universities and research 

centres of Central and South Asian countries. 

• Tenth. Today, it is more important than ever to develop 

thoughtful solutions based on a systematic study and analysis 

of development trends and interconnectedness of our regions. 

On the eve of our forum, the International Institute of Central 

Asia was opened. 

In this context, recognizable tourism brands, new affordable 

products and routes are needed, especially given the 

growing interest in pilgrimage tourism, the widespread 

introduction of the concept of “Tourism in new conditions”, 

with mutual recognition of vaccination certificates. 

We propose to develop within the framework of the World 

Tourism Organization a programme for Central and South Asia, 

which will be aimed at popularizing the historical and cultural 

heritage of our peoples. 

• Eighth. The expansion of scientific, cultural and humanitarian 

exchanges is one of the important conditions for strengthening 

friendship and trust. 

In this regard, we propose to conduct in Termez City an 

international forum entitled “The Historical Heritage of Central 

and South Asia” under the auspices of UNESCO. 

It is of priority significant the implementation of joint pro 

grammes in the field of education and science, culture and 

sports, with the wide involvement of young people, who make 

up the majority of the population of our states. We are all well 

aware that young people are our priceless wealth. 

We propose to create a permanent expert pool of prominent 

scientists and researchers of our countries on the basis of this 

analytical centre to promote regional cooperation. 

In addition, following the results of today’s conference, 

I propose to develop and submit to the UN General 

Assembly a draft special resolution on strengthening the 

interconnectedness between Central and South Asia and in the 

Eurasian space as a whole as an important factor in stable 

and sustainable development. This document should consoli 

date the common approaches, basic principles and directions 

of our dialogue. 

It is also expedient to reflect in the draft resolution our 

eadiness to hold regular high-level forums on the regional 

connectivity of the countries of Central and South Asia. 

Speaking about the role of our country in these processes, 

I would like to emphasize the following. 

Our forum is held in an important historical period of formation 

and development of the new Uzbekistan. We have been 

consistently implementing the systemic democratic reforms in 

all areas of public life. They are compre hensive and irreversible. 

António Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations and H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev President of The Republic of Uzbekistan 

This is the fundamental choice of our people. The main 

The historical and civilizational commonality of Central and 

achievement of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy was cardinal 

South Asia, the overlapping interests of our countries and 

changes in the development of good-neighbourly relations 

peoples is a solid foundation on which we will be able to build 

in Central Asia - with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan 

a common prosperous future. 

and Turkmenistan. 

It is time to realize that without strengthening cooperation, 

Together, we managed to create a completely new atmosphere effective regional connectivity, we will not be able to overcome 

of trust and mutual support in our region. We have created an 

the challenges that our countries face today. We need to 

effective platform for regular dialogue and joint identification 

develop a clear vision of the prospects for joint sustainable 

of “new points” and growth drivers. We plan to hold the next 

development and prosperity. 

Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia 

in early August in Turkmenistan. I would like to emphasize that Together we have to transform Central and South Asia and 

Uzbekistan is a reliable, stable and predictable partner aimed 

our entire Eurasian continent into a stable, economically 

at developing constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation. developed and prosperous space. 

66 67

H.E. KASSYM-JOMART TOKAYEV 

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 

OF KAZAKHSTAN: 

REALISM AND HOPE 

The public address of a head of state to his people is always a 

Now the Republic has pinned great economic hopes in it. 

significant event in the political life of a country. Especially if we 

are talking about a leading state in the Central Asian region. Es- 

Tokayev recalled that by the end of 2020, for the first time in 

pecially now, when the region as a whole is far from stable, bat- 

10 years of industrialization in Kazakhstan, the contribution of 

tered by the coronavirus pandemic and sensitive to any changes 

in the political and economic situation. 

the manufacturing industry to the development of the economy 

exceeded the share of the mining industry. “The medium-term 

H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev President of the Republic of Kazakhstan 

goal is to increase the export of manufacturing industry by 

On Wednesday 1 September, President of Kazakhstan Kassym- 

1.5 times to USD 24 billion by 2025, and labor productivity by 

information and telecommunications potential of the country 

prepare proposals for hydrogen energy. The situation here is, 

Jomart Tokayev delivered a Message to the Kazakh people. 

30%”, the president stressed. 

is huge, and in the new digital era it will have geopolitical signifi- 

however, ambiguous. On the one hand, the Kazakh society has 

Tokayev noted that this year is an anniversary for Kazakhstan – in 

cance. “Kazakhstan should become a central digital hub in a 

a very negative attitude to the prospects of building a nuclear 

December the republic celebrates the 30th anniversary of Inde- 

However, the ambitious Kazakhstan does not end here. The 

significant part of the Eurasian region,” the head of state 

power plant in the Republic; but on the other hand, Kazakhstan 

pendence, spoke with respect about his predecessor, the first 

President of the country sees the future in Information Technolo- 

summed up. 

has signed and ratified the Paris Agreement aimed at reducing 

president Nursultan Nazarbayev and noted the achievements of 

gies. He called on the government to nurture and strengthen the 

greenhouse gas emissions and improving the energy sector until 

the country, including in the international arena. 

domestic IT sector. That is, the country needs young, educated 

Significant, if not cardinal, reforms are also awaiting for the 

it is completely “green”. 

specialists, in the number of at least 100,000 people. 

country’s energy sector. “These are not just words, but concrete 

“We must be ready for any challenges and threats, continu- 

decisions in the form of taxes, duties and technical regulation 

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also spoke about the international situ- 

ously improve and always move forward”, the Kazakh leader 

“The export of services and goods of the digital industry should 

measures”, he said. “All this affects us directly through exports, 

ation with a high degree of rationality. Recalling the unstable sit- 

noted with cautious optimism. There is no need to go far to find 

reach at least USD 500 million by 2025”, the Kazakh president 

investments and technology transfer. This is, without any exag- 

uation in Afghanistan and the general increase in global tensions, 

challenges in the contemporary world. The global COVID-19 

hinted. These and other tasks will require a complete “digital 

geration, the issue of sustainable development of Kazakhstan.” 

the Kazakh leader announced a reboot of the military-industrial 

pandemic has posed a global challenge not only to global health, 

reboot” of the public sector. 

complex and the country’s Military Doctrine. 

but also to the global economy. The economy of Kazakhstan, 

The President cautiously reminded that by 2060 Kazakhstan 

like elsewhere, has received a serious blow and is now rightfully 

The country will have to build a fundamentally new architecture 

should achieve carbon neutrality, that the population and 

“Strengthening the defense capability, increasing the respon- 

experiencing its consequences, trying to keep a good face with 

of “digital government”, so that “100% of public services are 

economy are growing, and alongside that Kazakhstan’s energy 

siveness to threats should also become priorities of national 

poor health. 

accessible to citizens from smartphones”. Tokayev recalled the 

needs, and that the nation may soon face an energy deficit. 

importance,” he said. “We must prepare for external shocks and 

launch of the Digital Transformation Center and clarified that it 

“World experience suggests the most optimal way out is a 

the worst-case scenario”. This brings to mind the lyrics of the 

“Our strategic goal is to strengthen our leading role in Central 

will be necessary to create a platform for interaction between 

peaceful atom”, Tokayev said. “The question is not easy, so you 

song “We are peaceful people, but our armored train stands at 

Asia and strengthen our position in the global economy”, 

national companies and the IT community. “It is necessary to 

need to approach its solution as rationally as possible, without 

the ready!” 

Tokayev said. This will require investments, including FDI, and an 

gradually expand and update data transmission lines, connecting 

speculation and emotions.” 

enabling environment. Last year, the President of the Republic of 

them with international corridors”, he explained. “It is necessary 

Common sense is what has always distinguished the leaders of 

Kazakhstan instructed the government to develop a new instru- 

to create modern data processing centers that can serve neigh- 

The government and the sovereign wealth fund and joint stock 

Kazakhstan. This helped Kazakhstan to survive the collapse of 

ment – a Strategic Investment Agreement – through which inves- 

boring countries”. 

company “Samruk-Kazyna” were given the task to study the 

the USSR, the early years of independence in the 1990s, and 

tors can conclude an investment agreement with the government 

possibility of developing safe and environmentally friendly 

successive world economic crises. The pandemic crisis and its 

without parliamentary ratification. 

According to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the 

nuclear energy in Kazakhstan, as well as, at the same time, to 

consequences too shall be overcome. 

68 69

This year Uzbekistan is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of its 

Independence. The years of independence saw an extensive 

work aimed at building a new state and society. The Constitution 

of the country was developed in a short time. The foundations of 

modern statehood, legislative, executive and judicial branches of 

power have been formed. The Armed Forces have been created, 

capable of reliably protecting the sovereignty of the country, 

inviolability of its borders, as well as peace and tranquillity. The 

national currency, the soum, has been introduced, gold and foreign 

exchange reserves have been formed. Our ancient history, 

national identity, rich cultural heritage and spiritual values have 

been revived. 

Today, under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev we 

are building on those accomplishments and continuing largescale 

democratic reforms at a dynamic pace, which are aimed 

at strengthening the political and legal foundations of our state 

and society, modernizing the country, strengthening the role of 

parliament and political parties, and public control. 

The large-scale reforms which are underway in the country today 

have marked the beginning of a new stage in our development 

- the era of New Uzbekistan, the New Renaissance. And today 

we have every reason to say that over a historically short period, 

a completely new atmosphere has been created in the country 

in the political, legal, socio-economic, scientific, spiritual and 

cultural terms. 

H.E. DILYOR KHAKIMOV 


OF UZBEKISTAN TO BENELUX COUNTRIES 

EU AND NATO ON OCCASION 

OF THE 30 TH ANNIVERSARY 

OF INDEPENDENCE OF UZBEKISTAN 

In this regard, I am also pleased to say that our ties with European 

partners, namely the EU and Benelux countries are developing at 

a rapid pace. 

With the EU, we’ve had a number of high-level visits and contacts 

for the last couple of years alone. Among them are the visits 

of the former President of the European Council Donald Tusk 

to Uzbekistan in May 2019, telephone conversations between the 

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of 

the European Council Charles Michel in April 2020 and August 

2021, as well as the visit of the EU High Representative Jeorge 

Borrel to Uzbekistan in July 2021 to attend the Tashkent conference 

on connectivity between Central and South Asia. 

In April 2021, Uzbekistan was granted the EU’s GSP+ status, 

which opened great prospects in terms of exports of Uzbek 

goods to the EU markets. In addition, we are negotiating an 

Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the 

EU and hope to conclude this process soon. 

Europe for Uzbekistan has traditionally been a source of advanced 

technologies, knowledge, investment, and innovation in 

the economy, as well as an important partner in the formation 

and strengthening of democratic institutions, development of 

parliamentarism and civil society, the principles of a market 

economy, key sectors of public life, health, education, and many 

other areas. 

In this regard, I’d like to express the Uzbek side’s gratitude to the 

European Union for its support extended to Uzbekistan to fight 

the COVID-19. 

Now we can say with full confidence that Uzbekistan’s relations 

with Benelux countries have been developing steadily over the 

past four years. The European partners look at the new, changing 

Uzbekistan, perceive the country with a completely different view, 

and we can say that they are rediscovering it for themselves. 

And we should also note the significant growth in trade relations. 

In 2020, Uzbekistan’s trade with Benelux countries totalled 

USD 271.2 million, of which USD 43.7 million were Uzbekistan’s 

exports to the Benelux, and USD 227.5 million were imports from 

the Benelux. 

We are pleased with the fact that we have been able to drastically 

improve relations of friendship and good neighbourliness with 

Central Asian countries. Borders have been opened with people 

restoring ties with their relatives and friends, freely moving from 

one country to another. 

Summits of the heads Central Asian countries are turning into 

a good tradition with each meeting opening new and promising 

avenues of cooperation. 

Uzbekistan remains committed to the principles of maintaining 

friendly and good-neighbourly relations with Afghanistan and 

non-interference in the internal affairs of this country. 

Uzbekistan has been maintaining a dynamic cooperation with 

international organizations such as the UN, the Islamic Cooperation 

Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 

which Uzbekistan will be presiding in 2020, and the Commonwealth 

of Independent States. In 2019, Uzbekistan became a 

full member of the Cooperation Council of the Turkic-speaking 

States. 

Before sharing some economic figures with you, I’d like to point 

out Uzbekistan has not been spared the consequences of the 

recent COVID crisis and the economic recession which created 

serious problems for Uzbekistan as an integral part of the global 

world. 

However, a number of large investment projects are currently 

being implemented in Uzbekistan and I am pleased to inform that 

this year one of the largest investments came to Uzbekistan from 

the EU, namely the Dutch company Stone City Energy is implementing 

a EUR 1 billion project to build a thermal power plant in 

Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan. 

This and a number of other large projects give us the confidence 

that that Uzbekistan is emerging from the most difficult period of 

the global crisis. 

Let me also say a few words about the upcoming presidential 

elections on October 24. Over the past five years, major changes 

have taken place in the electoral legislation of our country which 

raised our electoral system to a new level of quality. 

For the first time in the history of Uzbekistan, the next presidential 

elections will be held on the basis of the Electoral 

Code, adopted in June, 2019. These elections are an extremely 

important political event that will be monitored by observers from 

nearly 50 countries of the world, as well as dozens of international 

organizations, including the full mission of OSCE ODIHR. 

Uzbekistan will do its best to ensure that upcoming elections 

are held on the basis of high democratic standards, growing 

political consciousness, and awareness of the citizens of the 

new Uzbekistan. 

70 71

H.E. DR. ERKINKNON RAHMATULLOZODA, 


OF TAJIKISTAN TO THE BENELUX COUNTRIES, 

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE 

OF THE REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN 

TO THE EUROPEAN UNION 

AND NATO 

Tajikistan’s 30 th anniversary 

of Independence 

State independence is the greatest and most sacred blessing, 

and a reduction in state budget revenues, a sharp decline in the 

the highest symbol of national identity, pride and honour of 

economy, and unprecedented inflation, high unemployment, and 

patriotism, the symbol of the revival of the ancient nation and the 

as result poverty. 

sovereign Tajik state, and the basis of happiness of the people 

of Tajikistan. Over the past 30 years, to attain today’s achievements, 

we have all faced many threats and challenges, as well as 

While conflicts were in place in some regions of the country, we 

managed to create living and working conditions, making every 

H.E. Dr. Erkinknon Rahmatullozoda, Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan 

extremely severe hardships in all walks of life. 

effort to restore the paralyzed economy of the country and halt 

the economic downturn, and only at the beginning of 2000, we 

The path to gaining independence for Tajikistan was full of losses 

have entered the phase of development of the national economy. 

annual economic growth of the country by 7.5%, and enlarge 

interests, ensuring a balance of its own and common interests in 

and victims in contrast to other Central Asian states. The im- 

state budget revenues from 252 million Somoni in 2000 to 27.6 

foreign policy. 

posed civil war, which lasted more than five years, set the devel- 

To this end, comprehensive economic reforms aimed at restor- 

billion Somoni in 2021. 

opment of the newly independent Tajikistan back many decades 

ing and improving the public administration system, structural 

Tajikistan’s global initiatives have been accepted and support- 

and caused enormous damage to our economy. In those days, it 

reforms, creating favourable conditions for business and invest- 

It is worth mentioning that Tajikistan has adopted a sovereign 

ed by the international community. Tajikistan became an active 

was an urgent task for the Government of Tajikistan to restore the 

ment, forming the state budget and tax system were launched; 

approach to foreign relations based on an open-door policy. The 

initiator of solutions to water issues at the international level. 

activities of government agencies, return refugees back home, 

effective measures were also taken to develop the social sphere. 

essence and objective of the open-door policy are to strengthen 

The UN General Assembly, at the initiative of Tajikistan, adopted 

eliminate hunger, restore destroyed homes and burned buildings. 

cooperation between Tajikistan and the countries worldwide on 

by consensus eight resolutions on water issues, which testifies 

Notwithstanding the challenges, Tajikistan managed to get back 

In this process, ensuring energy independence and food security, 

reciprocal respect, equality, and mutually beneficial cooperation. 

the importance and timeliness of this agenda. The initiatives of 

on its feet. 

as well as breaking the communication deadlock, were identified 

Tajikistan strengthened its position in the international arena, 

the leadership of the Republic of Tajikistan in the water area, sup- 

as strategic national goals that determine the future of Tajikistan. 

contributed to the solution of global problems, established 

ported by the UN, have moved from the level of study to practical 

As soon as peace was established after 5 years of bloodshed, 

diplomatic relations with 180 states, became a member of 56 

implementation by the international community. These initiatives 

the government faced the realities of those days, the need to ad- 

The implementation of these goals and the outlined priorities 

organizations, including international and regional, as well as 

together are aimed at creating a new strategy for humanity and 

dress the issues related to the stagnation of industrial enterprises 

over the past 20 years has allowed us to increase the average 

international financial institutions, taking into account national 

ensuring decent life for the inhabitants of the planet. Today, we 

72 73

can confidently claim that Tajikistan’s initiatives on water issues 

have remarkably contributed to strengthening and promoting 

specific actions for achieving Sustainable Development Goals, 

including those related to water resources. 

The country came up with initiatives on other regional and 

global problems, supported by the world community, developing 

regional cooperation and collaboration in the field of energy, 

the international fight against drugs, terrorism and transnational 

crime. Another Tajikistan proposal is to create a special International 

Fund for Glaciers, to declare 2025 as the International Year 

for the Preservation of Glaciers, and to determine the date of 

World Glacier Day. 

In order to ensure the real independence of the country, 

Tajikistan started construction of a series of crucial facilities and 

large-scale projects of national and international significance, 

which gradually turned the country into a stable and prosperous 

state in the XXI century. For instance, the «Roghun» Hydropower 

Plant could serve as an excellent example of such projects. This 

hydropower plant with six hydraulic units and a total capacity of 

3,600 MW is going to be the biggest in Central Asia. 

For the time being, only two turbines have been launched. 

By completing this grand Tajik project, my country will not only 

be able to supply renewable energy to all its cities, and remote 

areas, as well as countries of the region, but also, will greatly 

contribute towards «green economy» transition and development 

of an environmentally sustainable economy. 

My country has always been at the forefront of the international 

community’s fight against terrorism, extremism, transnational 

organized crime, and drug trafficking and we are constantly 

taking the necessary joint steps with our partners, as well as 

international and regional organizations to ensure global peace 

and stability. 

The peace-building experience of the Tajik people is among 

the highly valuable lessons replicated and studied both at the 

national and global levels. The United Nations acknowledged the 

experience of the Tajik peace process as a unique one to reach 

peace and stability, and this episode is being applied in peacebuilding 

operations in hotspots and conflicts all over the world. 

countering terrorism, organized crime and illicit drug trafficking. 

The logical continuation of these initiatives was the launch of the 

Dushanbe process. We hope that this new format will also serve 

as an important platform for advancing initiatives on strengthening 

security cooperation. 

Moreover, in order to contribute to the implementation of the 

goals and objectives of the UN Security Council, to share the 

rich experience of Tajikistan in countering security threats and restoring 

full peace and stability through negotiations, we decided 

to nominate our country for non-permanent membership of this 

Council for 2028-2029. 

Despite fluctuations in the political and economic environment, 

the turbulence of the world economy and the current epidemiological 

situation in the world, our country is set for a bright future 

and is ready to continue to contribute to the development of 

international relations. 

Tajikistan remains open to mutually beneficial, trustful, and partner 

interstate cooperation with all countries of the world. 

H.E. MUKTAR DJUMALIEV 

AMBASSADOR OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC 

TO THE KINDGDOM OF BELGIUM 

AND THE EUROPEAN UNION 

The Anniversary events allow us to summarize the past and the 

results achieved by our country. At the same time, it is a day of 

expressing our gratitude to our EU partners for assistance and 

generous support that were provided to us throughout the entire 

30-year period and sharing the democratic values with us. The 

past 30 years have been rich with various events and milestones, 

both domestically and internationally, tense and exciting, but at 

the same time important for successful political, economic and 

social development. 

Several events dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the Independence 

have been held in Bishkek. These events were held 

with the participation of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and 

representatives of foreign missions. In his speech, the President 

noted the main achievements of the country over the past 

30 years, including the field of foreign policy. As for today, the 

Kyrgyz Republic has established diplomatic relations with 165 

states of the world, became a member of 124 organizations and 

established its diplomatic missions in 30 countries in the world. 

Next year, we will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 

establishment of diplomatic relations with Belgium. I would like to 

underline that one of the first Embassies of the Kyrgyz Republic 

was established in Brussels. 

Special and priority importance is attached to cooperation with 

the European Union. 

I would like to underline the existing high level of relations with 

the European Union in bilateral and regional formats. The dynamics 

of our contacts at the highest and high levels allows us to 

further strengthen and deepen the Kyrgyz-European cooperation. 

We count on the comprehensive expansion of our ties in all 

spheres, including economic, investment, climate change and 

others. 

May there be peace, prosperity and future well-being of our 

countries and strong bonds of friendship that unite us! 

Relying on this, our country is actively contributing to the settlement 

of international conflicts through negotiations and consultations. 

Tajikistan has made tremendous efforts to confront security 

challenges by taking appropriate measures at the national and 

regional levels. 

Over the past years, Tajikistan has been able to provide international 

platforms by holding important high-level events on 

The Kyrgyz Republic is pursuing a pragmatic, multi-vectoral 

and consistent foreign policy and as a full-fledged subject of 

international relations, actively takes part in the life of the international 

community. Our foreign policy is focused on achieving the 

strategic development goals of the state, and the main task is to 

maintain and develop a high level of cooperation of the Kyrgyz 

Republic with our partners, neighbouring and other states. 

H.E. Muktar Djumaliev Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic 

74 75

From the first days of Turkmenistan’s independent and sovereign 

development, the country has been pursuing the principles of 

Neutrality Policy, taking into account national and global interests 

in international politics, developing good neighbourliness, mutual 

respect and mutually beneficial partners in foreign policy. At the 

same time, this important aspect of the chosen foreign policy of 

our country is reflected in the tasks and political-diplomatic work 

aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring global 

peace, security and well-being all over the world. In this regard, 

the multifaceted work of our country is aimed at finding a solution 

to the complex problems arising in the region and the world 

by coordinating the efforts of the international community. 

Under the leadership of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly 

Berdimuhamedov, tremendous work is being done to build a 

modern and fast-growing economically stable state, to establish 

a just civil society, to create favourable living conditions. As a 

result of the successful implementation of large-scale reforms in 

the country, the structure of the state and society has radically 

changed. 

EFFECTIVE STEPS OF COOPERATION 

TAKEN BY TURKMENISTAN 

IN THE FIELD OF 

INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY 

Begench Matliyev, 

Vice-rector Institute of International Relations 

of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan 

These works are now reflected in the important milestones in 

the foreign policy of our country and help to raise the prestige 

of our Independent, Permanently Neutral Motherland. In his historic 

speech delivered by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly 

Berdimuhamedov at the meeting with students and alumni 

on September 1, 2021, he said, “Neutrality is our doctrine 

that celebrates peace, friendship, humanity, cooperation and 

development. The foreign policy of neutral Turkmenistan is a way 

of peace, a way of calling the peoples of the world to friendship 

and brotherhood. The opening of the United Nations Regional 

Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat 

also underscores the importance of our Neutrality in maintaining 

peace.” This strengthens the historical significance of Neutrality 

Policy, which has been tested in international relations, as the 

core of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy, and proves that it fully 

meets the principles of statehood of the Turkmen people on the 

basis of its national characteristics. 

Turkmenistan, in cooperation with the United Nations, pays 

special attention to the tasks arising from its charter and the principles 

of practical application of the Organization’s experience in 

peacekeeping. In this regard, an important milestone in the consolidation 

of Turkmenistan’s comprehensive peace-building and 

global cooperation is the adoption of the Resolution declaring 

2021 the Year of International Peace and Trust on the initiative 

of the President during the 73rd session of the UN General 

Assembly on 12 September 2019. The accumulated experience 

of mankind, the lessons of life have proved in many ways that 

political-diplomatic methods and peace-building tools serve as a 

pillar in the establishment of peace and prosperity in the world. 

2021 is the International Year of Peace and Trust. The Turkmen 

leader took the initiative to declare 2021 the “Year of International 

Peace and Trust” from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly. 

This initiative of our country was unanimously supported by the 

member states of the United Nations and ratified by the relevant 

Resolution of the General Assembly. On September 12, 2019, 

at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, 73 countries 

supported the Resolution “2021 - the Year of International Peace 

and Trust”, initiated by Turkmenistan. This indicates that 73 more 

countries, including Turkmenistan, are participating in the implementation 

of the tasks set out in this document. 

As an active participant in the field of international relations, 

Turkmenistan has a clear view on the important issues of the 

global agenda. In this regard, Turkmenistan submitted its views 

to the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly 

on the full implementation of the United Nations Framework 

Convention on Sustainable Development, cooperation in the 

work of maintaining and strengthening the overall peace, stability 

and security of the United Nations. 

At the same time, the positive experience and achievements of 

Turkmenistan’s cooperation with the United Nations show that 

our country has made a positive contribution to the global efforts 

of the international community. This is due to the successful implementation 

of the Vice-Chairmanship at the 75th Jubilee session 

of the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations 

Commission on Population and Development, the World Food 

Program Executive Council, the Commission on Science and 

Technology, and the Ministry of Health and Social Development. 

This is also proved by membership in the UN Executive Council 

on Gender Equality and Women’s Rights and Empowerment, and 

the election of the Vice-Chair of the UN Economic Commission 

for Europe. 

“Today, we can confidently say that all these initiatives are being 

welcomed by the United Nations,” the President said. 

At present, Turkmenistan is successfully working to coordinate 

the efforts of the world community to find solutions to important 

issues that are of concern to the world. In this regard, our country 

is making important initiatives to the 76th session of the UN 

General Assembly. 

The implementation of international and regional instruments to 

achieve political and socio-economic development in the complex 

world of new coronavirus infections, i.e. the World Health 

Organization’s Special Program for the Study of the Coronavirus 

Genome; a multifaceted tool for combating pneumonia; Methodological 

Centre for the Treatment and Prevention of Acute Infectious 

Diseases; Proposes the establishment of a Regional Centre 

for epidemiology, virology and bacteriology in Central Asia. 

At the same time, the implementation of economic measures to 

reduce the negative impact of the pandemic on the world economy 

is of particular importance. On July 29, 2021 the UN General 

Assembly adopted a Resolution: “Strengthening links among 

all modes of transport to ensure stable and reliable international 

transportation for sustainable development during and after 

COVID-19 pandemic”. 

The Resolution is aimed at strengthening the stability of the international 

transport system in emergencies and fulfilling important 

tasks in the creation of multifaceted transport routes for freight, 

and the intensification of international transport cooperation. 

Turkmenistan considers the implementation of effective work to 

increase the importance of the Institute of Neutrality in international 

relations to be an important aspect of foreign policy. In 

this regard, at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on 

the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Permanent Neutrality 

of Turkmenistan, the Resolution on Peace and Security in 

the implementation of the Declaration on Peace, Security and 

Enforcement of International Peace, Security and Neutrality and 

Sustainable Development. 

The support of the initiative on effective cooperation in overcoming 

existing barriers in the water, energy and transport sectors 

has been an important indicator of Turkmenistan’s significant 

contribution to the sustainable development of the world and the 

work of global well-being. 

The foreign policy of our country in this regard is a systematic 

nature, and in the course of the 76th session of the UN General 

Assembly, Turkmenistan continues to hold regular meetings 

of the Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and 

Sustainable Development to launch an international conference 

on “Building a Basis for Peace, Confidence and Cooperation in 

Central Asia-the Caspian Region”. 

At the same time, under the leadership of our esteemed 

President, Neutral Turkmenistan is increasing its position in 

he world as a country with an exemplary political-diplomatic 

approach to solving important problems of the present time. 

The achievements of our country’s foreign policy during the years 

of independence, as noted by our esteemed President, give us 

a reason to be proud of the fact that Turkmenistan shines as a 

brighter, brighter “star” in the geopolitical space of the world. 

76 77

LUC DEVIGNE 

Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia, 

European External Action Service - EEAS 

ONE OF THE EU’S KEY OBJECTIVES TOWARDS 

ITS CENTRAL ASIAN PARTNERS IS TO HELP THE 

COUNTRIES BECOME MORE RESILIENT, PROS- 

PEROUS AND BETTER INTER-CONNECTED. WHAT 

SPECIFIC MECHANISMS AND FRAMEWORKS OF 

COOPERATION DOES THE EU USE WITH 

TAJIKISTAN TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE DEVEL- 

OPMENT IN THE COUNTRY? 

Tajikistan is a country whose geo-political position is important 

for security and stability of the entire region, and even beyond. 

In June 2019, the EU adopted a new Strategy on Central Asia, 

which outlines our objectives in the region and offers to forge a 

stronger (yet non-exclusive) partnership with the region so that it 

develops as an area of cooperation and connectivity rather than 

competition and rivalry. The priorities set out in the EU Strategy 

on Central Asia, (partnering for resilience and prosperity, and 

supporting regional cooperation) remain as relevant as ever in 

times of post-pandemic recovery. In particular, one of the key pillars 

of the new EU strategy is to promote “Resilience”, which is a 

concept that the EU has established in its Global Strategy and is 

now developing further. It means that we stand ready to strengthen 

the capacity of Central Asian states and societies to embrace 

reforms and to overcome internal and external shocks. 

Resilience is particularly important for Tajikistan which has suffered 

heavy consequences of the Covid pandemic – limited trade 

opportunities, increasing prices, lack of access to foreign labour 

markets, unemployment, pressure on healthcare and social 

protection system increase vulnerability of the population and 

cohesion of the society. Regional security challenges, and developments 

in Afghanistan in the first place, add to the complexity. 

The EU has been a long-standing partner and contributor to 

Tajikistan’s development and socio-economic reforms. The 30 

years of EU-Tajikistan partnership evolved from a primarily humanitarian 

assistance, reconstruction and disaster risk reduction 

efforts in the early years of independence to a full-fledged partnership 

with a strong EU footprint in all key areas of development 

and social services – healthcare, education, rural development 

and modernisation. For these focal sectors of EU assistance, 

there is a number of bilateral and regional cooperation formats. 

In addition, the partnership has increasingly expanded to cover 

political and security cooperation, sustainable management of 

water resources, environmental and climate change. 

The EU is a strong promoter of intra-regional cooperation and 

cross-border trade and connectivity and appreciates efforts 

to promote a positive regional agenda. Bilateral cooperation 

programmes are complemented by regional programmes and 

political dialogues – on security, economic cooperation or civil 

society. The new EU multi-annual programme of cooperation will 

put efforts in support of socio-economic reform agenda, with a 

particular focus on human development, economic prosperity 

and sustainable management of natural resources. 

What is the expectation of the EU towards the opening of negotiations 

with Tajikistan on an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation 

Agreement (EPCA) to replace the current framework, the 

PCA? 

Tajikistan expressed interest to upgrade and strengthen our bilateral 

relations with the European Union through negotiation of a 

new, Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA). 

This reflects the evolution of the partnership and expansion in 

new cooperation areas. The first Partnership and Cooperation 

Agreements concluded with the newly independent countries 

of the former USSR very much reflected the donor-recipient 

approach and the objective of economic modernisation. 

While our commitment for modernisation, sustainable development 

and reform has not changed, we have now reached a much 

more developed stage of partnership, in which we discuss and 

cooperate on many more areas – including global challenges and 

threats, regional security and stability, non-proliferation, climate 

change, management of natural resources, multilateral cooperation, 

but also rights and governance issues, and many more. 

We see a new agreement as a foundation of an even stronger 

and deeper relationship between the EU and Tajikistan, which 

will promote convergence with international norms and standards, 

and promote further development of trade and economic 

relations with Tajikistan, already a WTO member. 

This is why the EU welcomed the interest expressed by Tajikistan 

in an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement along 

the lines of the EPCAs already concluded, or being negotiated, 

with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. We have started 

our internal procedures with a view to taking this forward. 

Some of the key new areas of cooperation that we wish to 

address through the new agreement include socio-economic 

reforms, management of natural resources and adaptation to 

Luc Devigne Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia, European External Action Service - EEAS 

climate change (which we see as an external dimension of the The EU also supports Tajikistan’s ambition to join the EU’s 

European Green Deal), enhancing economic opportunities for the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and 

growing young population and promoting a conducive and rulesbased 

business environment and connectivity conditions. 

(GSP+). Through GSP+ the EU offers unilateral trade preferences, 

good governance, the Generalised Scheme of Preferences+ 

concretely zero tariffs on EU imports for over 6,000 categories of 

Large part of the agreement would be devoted to trade relations, goods, to to support low/middle income countries in effectively 

where Tajikistan could for instance benefit from introducing 

implementing 27 core human rights, labour, environmental and 

specific geographic indications for its specific products – for 

governance conventions. 

instance the famous Tajik lemons come in mind. 

Tajikistan launched the pre-application process. The GSP+ will 

Benefits for Tajikistan would include not only political advantages, 

but also greater opening of the Tajik economy and society, of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as coopera- 

feed into the dialogue that the EU has with Tajikistan on respect 

including more participatory governance with greater engagement 

by civil 

tion in the area of governance. 

society. 

78 79

CONSIDERING THAT TAJIKISTAN IS HIGHLY 

VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE (IE MELTING 

OF GLACIERS), WHAT PARTICULAR PROGRAMMES 

DOES THE EU HAVE IN PLACE TO STRENGTHEN 

CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ADAPTATION IN 

TAJIKISTAN? 

Tajikistan is indeed highly vulnerable to climate change - glaciers 

and vegetation belts moving up, pressure on natural resources 

and especially water is increasing, which in turn affects seriously 

the future agriculture outputs and food security. The country 

is also prone to natural disasters, which increase the risks of 

wide-scale environmental damage due to unsecured areas of 

water and soil contamination including with chemical, biological, 

radiological and nuclear substances. 

electricity for the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous region (and 

neighbouring districts in Afghanistan). In parallel, the rural development 

programme provides support to modernisation in the 

agricultural sector, including smart irrigation and introduction of 

modern technology into agricultural practice. 

With respect to climate change adaption, Tajikistan in its Intended 

Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), sets a target to 

limit its greenhouse gas emissions to 65-75% (of 1990 levels) 

by 2030, conditioned upon receipt of substantial international 

funding and technology transfer. After ratifying the Paris Agreement 

in March 2017, the INDC became Tajikistan’s first NDC 

and its revision will most likely be ready for the 26th session of 

the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework 

Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in November 2021. 

At the same time, natural resources and unique biodiversity constitute 

a main development opportunity for the country. Freshwater 

is among the major resources of Tajikistan. Approximately 60 

per cent of the water resources of the Aral Sea basin originates 

from its territory. In Tajikistan, water and energy are narrowly 

linked: hydropower produces more than 90% of the electricity in 

the country. Natural resource management, particularly water for 

green energy generation and irrigation, and climate change adaptation 

policies can significantly contribute to poverty reduction 

and boost green economy opportunities. 

In cooperation with development partners, the EU builds on more 

than a decade of advocacy for a climate-resilient, risk-informed 

and sustainable approach to development. The development and 

implementation of a sound policy on environmental protection 

and climate change adaptation and mitigation does not only 

offers an anchor for developing green policies and greening other 

sectors. Very importantly, it is also a key factor contributing to 

security and stability of the broader Central Asia region, by preventing 

future conflicts and competition over limited resources. 

There is an urgent need to mainstream the principles of efficiency, 

sound governance, climate resilience and circular economy to 

promote a safer and healthier environment for future generations. 

The EU will therefore prioritise the “water-energy-climate change” 

nexus in the future cooperation programmes, in particular the 

regional ones. 

In the water sector, the EU and the Member States have jointly 

been the largest donor. The EU provides support to water policy 

based on Integrated Water Resource Management principles, 

invests in small and large infrastructures, modernisation of 

information systems and capacity building in the water sector. 

Concrete projects address access to drinking water, management 

of wastewater, rehabilitation of water and irrigation system 

in the water basins (for instance in the Zarafhsan valley), or 

construction of Sebzor hydro-power plant that will provide clean 

EU is supporting Tajikistan in the NDC revision process through 

the NDC Partnership Climate Action Enhancement Package 

(CAEP). CAEP is a targeted, demand-driven and fast-track initiative 

to support more ambitious NDCs, to catalyse transformational 

change and turn climate and environmental challenges into 

opportunities across all policy areas. 

EU is also the biggest donor to the Environmental Remediation 

Fund aiming at securing and rehabilitation of nuclear waste sites 

that risk polluting the major sources of drinking water for the 

Ferghana Valley. 

Finally, I take this opportunity to congratulate the people of 

Tajikistan on the 30th anniversary of independence. In these 30 

years, Tajikistan has achieved significant progress in state- and 

nation-building, working hard for peace, stability and socio-economic 

development. 

A long-standing partner of Tajikistan, the European Union stays 

fully committed for the long term to further support these efforts 

through political dialogue, as well as bilateral and regional development 

cooperation. 

We look forward to supporting Tajikistan on the path of modernisation 

and reform, exploiting the full potential of transition towards 

green energy, digitalisation and regional connectivity. The 

EU feels for the people of Tajikistan in these difficult times, and 

we highly appreciate Tajikistan’s openness to support evacuation 

and relocation efforts of Afghan citizens. 

80 81


CENTRAL ASIA 

AT THE CROSSROADS 

OF WORLD CIVILIZATIONS 

Gabriela Ramos 

UNESCO Assistant Director-General 

for Social and Human Sciences 

On behalf of UNESCO, I would like to extend my sincere thanks 

to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr Shavkat 

Mirziyoyev, and to all the organizers for convening this Forum. 

It is also a privilege to be in Khiva. Nothing can replace the experience 

of being at the centre of the historic Khwarazm, the land 

at the cross-roads of extraordinary cultures, such as the Turkic, 

Persian, Indian and Arab. 

The land of great scholars such as Avicenna, Al-Farabi, Al-Biruni 

and Ulugh Beg. Of artists such as Alisher Nawoi or Kamal-Edin 

Behzod. 

The region situated at the heart of global exchanges between 

the east and west along the silk roads for over two millennia, and 

that has played a key role in the development of many civilizations, 

and to a better understanding among them. The region 

that has been confronted by many challenges. Just today we are 

facing the situation of your neighbour Afghanistan, that pertains 

to human rights and gender equality. 

The shared heritage of Central Asia offers a significant asset for 

building trust and collaboration to respond to the challenges of 

our contemporary world, rightly at a moment when we need it 

the most. 

Your people need this capital deployed to find solutions to the 

challenges of today. 

Challenges that are complex in themselves, but that are compounded 

by the effect of one another. 

First of all, to build common actions to respond to the COVID 

crisis and its uneven impact. We know that women, youth and 

children are being the hardest hit, and while more advanced 

economies are already reaching pre-pandemic levels of growth, 

many countries face despair and the prospect of a steep increase 

in the numbers of people living in poverty. 

While some countries are deploying the third round of vaccines, 

others have not been able to reach the minimum to protect their 

population. The unevenness of the COVID crisis needs to be 

addressed, as it is opening a level of inequalities that is unsustainable. 

We also need to ensure a digital revolution that is human determined 

and not the other way around. This is why UNESCO 

Member States have delivered a major global standard on the 

ethics of Artificial intelligence that we expect to be endorsed 

in November at UNESCO’s General Conference. Uzbekistan is 

where Al-Khawarizmi, the ground-breaking astronomer, mathematician 

and geographer first advanced the basis for algebra and 

for the modern algorithms. 

Third the demographic challenge, and on top of all, the climate 

transition. 

All these challenges are interlinked and affect not only economic 

or social outcomes, but also the prospects of living in a peaceful 

world, which is the core of the mandate of UNESCO. There cannot 

be peace in a world where there is no social justice, or where 

we live in different worlds. The good news is that this region is 

endowed with significant human and political capital to confront 

these and other challenges, together - while we continue celebrating 

our shared histories and cultural ties. 

82 83

Let’s seize this occasion and make this Khiva Forum the beginning 

of a Khiva Process — a platform for policy dialogue and 

cooperation that brings together local and regional stakeholders 

regularly to find solutions to Central Asia’s challenges. 

A great opportunity presents itself today to launch the “Khiva 

Process” as a mechanism to mobilize the region’s strengths and 

look for specific and concrete actions that countries and the 

region can take to support each other. 

A space to help governments think about how to address inequalities, 

including gender inequalities, and youth empowerment. 

A space to understand how to leverage the strengths of this 

incredible part of the world. 

of the digital transformation and hopefully, as leaders in implementing 

the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence recommendation? 

How can we respond to climate change — as a region? 

UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector is ready to 

support you to capitalize on the achievements of the Silk Road 

programme to provide the basis to organize such policy dialogue. 

You count not only on my personal commitment, but on a highly 

talented staff, head by Medhard Shabajang and our fantastic 

new representative in Uzbekistan, Alexander Makarigakis. 

We are here to help. We are sure that the solutions to these challenges 

are not technological. They are human; they depend on 

humans and societies coming together. Like you do today. 

How can we learn from the ground-breaking cultural and scientific 

achievements of the Silk Roads? How can we better mobilize 

tourism? How do we ensure these countries are at the forefront 

And this is what UNESCO is all about. Count on UNESCO to 

make this happen. 

84 85


CENTRAL ASIA AT THE CROSSROADS 

OF WORLD CIVILIZATIONS 

KHIVA, REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN 

SEPTEMBER 2021 

Thoughts on the forum, as a means for dialogue, 

and for the sake of culture 

The International Cultural Forum “Central Asia at the Crossroads 

of World Civilizations”, held under the auspices of UNESCO, was 

organised in order to highlight and revisit the rich history and 

heritage of this region using them to draw lessons and contribute 

to sustainable peace and development. To this end, the forum 

aimed to bring together local and governmental actors from 

across the region in order to discuss the regional issues and 

address them through efficient collaborations. 

Diplomatic World Institute attended the forum, together with experts 

from over fifty countries as well as representatives from The 

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 

(UNESCO), Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, International 

Council On Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), International 

Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of 

Cultural Property (ICCROM), International Organisation of Turkic 

Culture (TURKSOY), Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural 

Organization (ISESCO), Economic Cooperation Organisation 

(ECO) Cultural Institute. 

At the official opening several cultural ministers showed their 

appreciation of the importance of heritage and cooperation. 

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, greeted the 

participants through a message and also expressed his gratitude 

to the UN and to UNESCO for their support. 

The evening before the forum an impressive concert and performance 

“Itchan Kala – the Capital of the Turkic World” was held to 

honour the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan. One unusual component 

was seeing the Minister of Culture Ozodbek Nazarbekov 

sing at the final of the show. 

After the plenary session the forum was structured into four parallel 

sessions giving opportunity to invited international experts to 

shortly present papers focused on Central Asia as a region. 

WILL THIS INITIATED COLLABORATION ALSO ACT 

FOR THE SAKE OF CULTURE? 

A declaration was adopted at the conclusion of the forum that 

aims for a long-term sustainable agenda, for peace and collaboration 

in the central Asian region. There is an increasing political 

will for collaboration around cultural heritage as a means for 

dialogue. 

It will be important to see what happens after the forum. It was 

expressed at the forum that “its intention is to play an important 

role in the development of friendship and cooperation, 

good-neighbourly relations between the states and peoples of 

Central Asia. At the same time, it will allow even deeper study 

and understanding of the enormous contribution of the peoples 

of the region to world civilization”. 

Gabriela Ramos, Deputy Director-General for Social and Human 

Sciences of UNESCO, highlighted that this forum is one step in a 

process. 

Hopefully, contributions of participating experts can be leveraged 

for innovative dialogues and collaboration between the countries 

in Central Asia. Hopefully the leaders of the Central Asian countries 

will be able to connect the ancient tangible heritage to the 

present, and to the future and to wider eco-systems of culture 

and creative sector professionals, and to citizens. 

THE TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL OF CULTURE 

AND CULTURAL HERITAGE IN INTERNATIONAL 

RELATIONS 

Solidarity and collaboration are key values and approaches when 

acting in international relations, may it be in relation to culture 

86 87

Beyond the intrinsic and then social value of culture, there is 

economic, and instrumental value: The creative sector is globally 

recognised for its important economic contribution (over 6% 

of global GDP), the investment & export opportunities it creates; 

it can be the driver of sustainable growth and innovation 

ecosystems that impact across other economic sectors such as 

tourism, education, infrastructure and health. 

Culture is essential in people-to-people relations, in peace, conflict 

prevention, inter-ethnic harmony. 

Cultural heritage gives opportunity for leveraging socio economic 

impact through job creation, through educational programmes to 

connect around. It can give hope and inspiration for the future. 

The majority of persons present at the forum probably did not 

need to be convinced of that culture and cultural heritage is 

a strong and intelligent choice for dialogue and collaboration, 

locally, regionally and internationally. 

However, culture has to take its battles in all countries and in all 

governments. Culture and cultural heritage are in most cases 

not a priority. Good arguments for culture and cultural heritage 

cannot be over emphasized. 

But what about this third track then? What if this kind of practice 

actually plays out right; for all stakeholders (government, culture 

professionals, citizens)? 

What can cultural heritage give in terms of reputation and 

country brand? I think it can have high impact, over time, if one 

engages wisely, as in the Khiva forum, looking at universal solutions 

for universal issues. How can we produce programmes and 

initiatives including the cultural eco-system? 

I think that the collaboration is what dynamizes countries’ 

brands and reputations in the unfortunate dynamics international 

competition; a setting with murky waters that does not facilitate 

seeing relevant actions. 

SOME QUESTIONS AND POINTS THAT ALL 

GOVERNMENTS SHOULD HAVE ON THEIR 

CHECKLIST 

How do culture-related terms appear on policy and strategy 

documents? If they do not clearly appear, or are clearly defined, 

how is it possible to legislate? 

or any other topic. This view does not only stem from research, 

it also comes from twenty years of practice in the culture and 

creative sectors. 

HOW IS CULTURE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE 

SERVING CITIZENS AND ALSO THE CULTURE 

SECTOR PROFESSIONALS? 

In my research, last year I talk about a third track for culture in 

international relations: there is cultural relations – reaching out, 

there is cultural diplomacy – standing out, and I found It necessary 

to define a third track that focuses on how culture can contribute 

to a better world, better environment, better social rights, 

contribute to sustainable development goals…the list goes on. 

In terms of cultural heritage, I think that an important challenge 

is human-centric effort, human capital and the time it takes to 

engage with local communities. 

Inclusion and participation of concerned communities from the 

very start and planning stage of an initiative are many times 

overlooked. 

Contextual art practice (when an artist is working with, for 

example, specific contexts in a community, engaging people in 

creative problem-solving exercises) can add even more value to 

the complexities that we face around cultural heritage such as for 

example climate change and for example management of sites. 

I will make a big jump now by saying that the third kind of 

practice I mention, is directly linked to concepts ideas such as 

country brand, and image. Because I am convinced that this third 

track is the only thing that also positively can impact a country’s 

image and brand over time. I believe that it is the collaborative 

search for universal problems that create trust. The very basic 

first step in all human relations. 

88 89

The term cultural diplomacy has been used widely for various 

kinds of practices. It is complicated to use today as it is can be 

considered old fashioned, linked to state propaganda or to the 

governmental instrumentalization of cultural sectors. 

Does internal understanding and agreement exist on how to 

work around/ for/ through culture internationally? Is agreement 

anchored and coherent within the workforce? 

Without a vast and open debate about culture, and without wide 

perceptions of culture, culture is easily undervalued and underfunded. 

To carry out a basic reflection around culture on ministerial 

and governmental levels can be a very good idea. 

Is the cultural ecosystem of cultural professionals and operators 

included in policymaking? Are we sure we are inventing programmes 

that are beneficial for all? Is there enough long-term 

thinking and thus focus on impact, indicators and measurement? 

All of these things above need more capacity, human manpower 

and resources. And at last, culture cannot be developed in the 

echo chamber of culture – we need to reach other sectors and 

politicians, with whom we can legislate and innovate culture and 

cultural heritage. 

Johanna Kouzmine-Karavaïeff, Ambassador for Culture, External 

Relations & Development, Diplomatic World Institute 

90 91

INTERNATIONAL COMICS COLLABORATION 

IN THE SEARCH FOR UNIVERSAL SOLUTIONS 

CARA O SELLO 

This is the second Diplomatic World article under the theme 

“Can the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable 

Development innovate cultural diplomacy?” Diplomatic World 

explores and highlights what cultural diplomacy can look like 

through the lenses of sustainability, cooperation and the search 

for solutions on global challenges. 

This time the highlight is on a small-scale project presenting 

large-scale and universal questions. 

Cara o Sello / Pile ou Face is a project developed in close collaboration 

between the Embassy of Colombia in Brussels and the 

cultural facilitation and consultancy firm ifa laboratory. The team 

wanted to explore relevant ways to build cultural relations between 

Belgium and Colombia. The rationale was to engage with 

people, create dialogue, and support through social development 

by identifying art disciplines and needs, creating a meaningful 

arena of interaction and exchange. 

Bilateral cultural diplomacy became in the project context multilateral 

in terms of partnerships reflecting different kinds of operators 

and expertise. Funding came from public authorities such 

as Wallonia Brussels International, Wallonia Brussels Federation, 

the French Community Commission, as well as the Ministry of 

Foreign Affairs of Colombia. 

Cara o Sello was supported by the Embassy of Belgium in 

Bogota, The Secretariat of Economic Development, Mayor’s 

Office Bogota, as well as by the EU Delegation in Colombia, and 

obtained the patronage of the UNESCO French and German 

speaking national commission in Belgium. 

Partners further included The Belgian Comic Strip Centre in 

Brussels, the Brussels Comic Strip Festival, Visit Brussels, 

Maison des Cultures et de la Cohésion Sociale Molenbeek & 

Foyer Molenbeek, War Child Colombia, Fundacion Pepaso 

and TransMiCable. 

COMICS AND STIGMATISATION 

The choice of working with comics came rather spontaneously. 

Belgium is famous for its comics, and in Colombia the interest is 

booming. However, a crucial element was also to align with the 

interest of the young project participants. 

Molenbeek Saint-Jean in Belgium and Ciudad Bolivar in 

Colombia are two neighbourhoods with similarities and differences. 

Their inhabitants battle with different stigmas. Ciudad Bolivar 

is a high-risk area for recruitment to armed groups, and drug 

trafficking is a big issue. Molenbeek Saint-Jean has been 

stigmatised for Islamic radicalization since the terror attacks 

in Paris 2015 and in Brussels 2016. 

The project team set out to engage with youth living in both 

neighbourhoods, to find out about their realities and give them 

room for expression and reflection on their respective stigmas. 

How could these two groups of youth relate to one another? 

Were these young persons facing stigmatisation in the same 

way? Could there be a joint narrative created by the groups, 

about universal problems and solutions? 

The project produced a magazine with several comic strips, 

Pile ou Face/ Cara o Sello, created by teenagers from Ciudad 

Bolivar and Molenbeek Saint-Jean, as well as by illustrators 

Sindy Elefante (CO) and Xavier Löwenthal (BE). 

The youth participants were invited to express themselves 

through comics on the topic perception and reality. Workshops 

with exchange of drawings, opinions and other activities took 

place in Bogota and in Brussels between November 2018 and 

June 2019. 

The objective was to create awareness among the participants 

on how impacted they are by media and public discourse when 

creating their self-image, and to use the magazine actively in 

widening perceptions among other citizens. Launch events took 

place in both cities and the youth participants were key actors in 

presenting the magazine and the thoughts behind it. 

DIPLOMATIC WORLD SPOKE WITH H.E. AMBAS- 

SADOR FELIPE GARCIA ECHEVERRI AND ANDREA 

ALFONSO RODRIQUEZ, FIRST SECRETARY 

OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AT THE EMBASSY OF 

COLOMBIA IN BRUSSELS. YOUR EXCELLENCY, 

AMBASSADOR FELIPE GARCIA ECHEVERRI, 

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH 

CARA O SELLO? 

This project evolved over time, it was nice to see the process, 

and how it all progressed. Cara o Sello grew more than we 

expected at the beginning, even the name was suggested during 

the workshops. The tangible result (the magazine) is not the 

result of one event but of two years of collaboration between 

illustrators, participating youth, and the teams. 

At the embassy of Colombia in Brussels the project strengthened 

the team’s belief in the power of culture, in a diplomatic context. 

This project is an example of how culture can be a tool to change 

perceptions and bring people together. 

This project showed that cultural diplomacy from state levels has 

moved through more levels than that, to Ciudad Bolivar and to 

Molenbeek Saint-Jean. Compared to other cultural activities, this 

project was closer to people and impacted lives forever. 

MS ANDREA ALFONSO RODRIQUEZ, COULD YOU 

POSITION THIS PROJECT IN RELATION TO YOUR 

OTHER CULTURAL PROGRAMMING? 

H.E. Ambassador Felipe Garcia Echeverri and Andrea Alfonso Rodriquez, First Secretary of Foreign Affairs 

at the Embassy of Colombia in Brussels 

There are several aspects that have been very different with 

Cara o Sello. It was completely out of the box compared to other 

activities. We tried to introduce a different way of doing. We suggested 

a concept that is more time consuming, where processes 

take time and that is of course a challenge. 

Also, this project is not about branding a country. It is not about 

highlighting only positive aspects or selling a product. We were 

working with cultural diplomacy, but also with social impact, 

social integration. 

The topic in Cara o Sello was difficult, the work did not only 

mean bringing together the children about positive things. The 

topic is hard, and not always comfortable. We took risks; we had 

to rely on the process. It is a very good example of cultural diplomacy, 

bringing two countries together, making a real exchange. 

That is cultural diplomacy. 

YOUR EXCELLENCY, AMBASSADOR FELIPE 

GARCIA ECHEVERRI, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY 

92 93

ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A SHOW- 

CASING CULTURAL DIPLOMACY PROJECT AND 

CARA O SELLO, FOCUSING ON INTERNATIONAL 

COLLABORATION AND THE JOINT SEARCH FOR 

SOLUTIONS? 

In this kind of project, it is all about human relations. The development 

of relations, and trust, both important for Colombia. It is 

difficult to assess the return for work done in this sort of project. 

However, the mere interaction between the participants in 

Bogotá and in Brussels had an amazing effect. They got to know 

each other and put aside their perceptions and stigma created 

by media. 

This kind of cultural diplomacy is a challenge, but we need to believe 

that projects like Cara o Sello are powerful because of the 

human relations created and lasting profits for the lives of many. 

MS ANDREA ALFONSO RODRIQUEZ, ONE BIG 

CHALLENGE IN CULTURAL DIPLOMACY IS THE 

IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ACTIVITIES. EVALUA- 

TION CRITERIA ARE OFTEN BASED ON AUDIENCE 

NUMBERS AND NUMBERS OF EVENTS, WHICH 

DO NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF HUMAN RELATIONS, 

OR TRUST CREATION, OR PARTNER NETWORKS. 

WAS IT CHALLENGING FOR YOU TO GET ACROSS 

TO YOUR MINISTRY WHAT THIS PROJECT WAS 

ABOUT, AND WHAT IT TRIED TO ACHIEVE? 

One challenge was the budget we had assigned for cultural programming. 

It does not correspond to process-based activities. 

Thus, we needed to be very inventive in regard to implementation. 

Since the project did not have all the funding we needed when 

we started, it added complexity in planning and on the implication 

of certain partners. We had a vision of where we wanted to 

go, but we were acting in an uncertain context. That was a great 

challenge in terms of implementation and communication. 

Another challenge was that the project was bilateral, with equal 

implementation in both countries. Given that we had a small 

budget, the team in Brussels had to also coordinate the activities 

and launch it in Colombia. The embassy here, including the 

Ambassador, supported the Bogota launch, which boosted it. 

Thanks to a persistent mindset and motivation we found solutions 

for many things. We also got a partnership with Air Europa 

so we succeeded in sending the director of ifa laboratory to the 

Bogota magazine launch. 

THE ASPIRATIONS ABOUT A SUSTAINABLE 

PROJECT FUTURE 

The project team has continued distributing the produced comic 

strip magazines to schools or associations showing interest of 

using them as a tool for talking about stigma. 

There could of course be a continuation for the long term, follow 

up with youth in both countries, doing impact assessment, 

assessing and recording properly the relation to the Sustainable 

Development Goals (SDGs), building on the expressed wishes 

and the conclusions of Cara o Sello and leverage that experience 

in a new project benefitting a larger scope of youth in similar 

situations. 

The ambition level of Cara o Sello was high. Realistic resources 

and powerful partnerships are then needed. Actions in this direction 

were taken, but then Covid came and many organisations 

were preoccupied with other priorities. 

CARA O SELLO AND SDGS 

In the context of the 2021 International Year of Creative Economy 

for Sustainable Development, how did Cara o Sello relate to 

SDGs? 

The team concludes that the project aimed at strengthening 

individuals and communities’ sense of wellbeing through self-expression, 

self-awareness, and building social and cultural capital, 

which relates very well to SDG3 - Good health & Well-being. The 

self-expression and the self-awareness aspects also relate to 

SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities. 

The project gave an opportunity to show different audience and 

media how life in their communities is in reality. The project team 

saw that resilience was strengthened within the youth groups 

involved, helping them jointly to counter external negative discourse. 

The stigma experienced by youth brings them together 

in comic strip creation, and that in its turn creates resilience to 

avoid the stigma to transforming into negative intangible cultural 

heritage. 

SDG8 - Decent Work & Economic Growth - is addressed through 

the creation of opportunities, creative expression and skill development 

for marginalized youth groups. The project’s partnerships 

enabled contacts and relations connecting communities and 

experiences. 

The multilateral partnership dimension relates to SDG 16 - 

Peace, justice and strong institutions. Social innovation creating 

a better and more peaceful world can only be done through 

transversal and multilateral collaboration. 

94

“UNIVERSITY NETWORKING, 

GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP” 

A WESTERN EUROPEAN OPINION 

OF A FRIEND OF CHINA 

Jan Cornelis 

Former Vice-Rector R&D & international policy 

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) 

THE BASELINE - SCIENCE WITHOUT FRONTIERS, 

RESEARCH WITHOUT TEARS 2 

For me, research is the main differentiating factor of universities 

with respect to other institutes of higher education. Science does 

not know frontiers. Research, being subsidized, is vulnerable to 

nationalisms, and might be hijacked by conflicting agendas. 

“Chinese researchers are caught between Western bias and 

pro-government messaging” says Joy Y. Zhang 3 . Universities 

should continue to fight for autonomy and never surrender to 

any geopolitical agenda or intimidation. Commonly agreed 

targets embedded in a global operational framework are part of 

the synergy between universities and government, but internal 

governance processes are an exclusive matter of concern for 

the university (mitigated by the participation of external societal 

actors in boards and councils). This delicate equilibrium of trust 

and engagement between the university community and the 

governments is often reached in a continuous game for power 4 . 

In European universities the “Board-type” governance including 

external societal actors, is dominant. In China, the University 

Party Committee (UPC) is the highest body. There is a certain 

structural analogy between both. In a one-party socialist republic 

with Chinese characteristics, it is the Communist Party that 

represents society in the highest governance structures, but also 

other external representatives are included in various workgroups 

and governance bodies with impact but less decisional power 5 . 

Research is a domain of worldwide solidarity and surfing on the 

wave of growing China-bashing is counterproductive. Researchers 

must make efforts towards common understanding wherever 

their cradle stands. The lack of such understanding will push the 

Chinese researchers towards accepting the Chinese nationalist 

propaganda, while there is an opportunity for mutual respect 

within the global research community. The politization of research 

is a common concern that can be counteracted by University 

networks, establishing personalized ties and institutional agreements. 

From here on, a series of university governance and 

leadership challenges and opportunities are emerging. 

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES- 

MY SELECTION 

• The quintuple helix model is now underlying all aspects of 

university governance 

The triple helix model was initially presented as a synergistic 

model for university knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) 

involving three main actors: the university, industry and the government. 

Each of them had to expand its interests and activities 

outside its own comfort zone to bridge the gap of the so-called 

“valley of death”. This popular model has been extended with 

two more components, namely the environment and the citizen/ 

civil society, leading to the quintuple helix. Nowadays, more and 

more external stakeholders get integrated in all aspects of the 

university. This is an opportunity, but it is also an extra challenge 

to organize quality assurance and staying in control of all the 

university processes, as required by institutional accreditations. 

University governance does not stop at the boundaries of the campus 

(own autrhor’s scheme assembled from pictures on internet) 

• Making research sustainable - making KTT and value creation 

international 

Fundamental research coupled with education remains the 

unique selling proposition of the university and requires interna- 

tional collaboration going together with competition to attract the 

best talents (the so-called war of talents). Unique infrastructure 

combined with the know-how to operate it is important to attract 

and anchor scientifically talented people. It is a stable attraction 

pole, in contrast to knowledge and talent that can easily be displaced 

by financial and career offers. Public universities cannot 

rely anymore on 100 % public funding. They are expected to 

acquire private sector co-funding even for running their institutional 

governance. This tendency goes along with the growing 

importance of the university’s ecosystem, even in international 

partnerships. In the UCIP project 7 , we investigated a collaboration 

model between several Chinese university ecosystems and 

Brussels ones. University-University collaboration is going on 

for ages, collaboration between private entities is supported by 

international trade agencies, but the cross-links in the ecosystems 

are largely unexplored. Their high productivity potential was 

striking news for both Chinese and Brussels UCIP-participants. 

The university ecosystem in international networks 

The crossed- collaboration links – a complementary task for universities compared 

to internationalized education, research, and the actions of trade agencies? 

• Some of the traditional monopolies of universities are gradually 

fading. 

This is caused by the digital access to information and knowledge 

for all, which has pushed the university towards new 

horizons. The university remains a learning organization, but the 

learning outcomes are shifted towards soft skills and competences, 

entrepreneurial, transdisciplinary and multicultural experience. 

Micro-credentials - a qualification evidencing learning 

outcomes of short course/training modules - address all citizens, 

not only students (they may be completed on-site, online or in a 

blended format). 

• Today’s student expectations are rising and continuously 

changing 

Studying at the university is not a transition anymore but rather 

a life episode on its own. That has implications for rethinking the 

student’s university journey. The modern university is not a black 

box, but gradually becoming an open ecosystem, 

- with student participation in governance and societal 

innovation projects, 

- with student “likes” at the forefront of the curricula. 

- with explicit return on investment for individual students and 

society (private and public goods). 

Internationalization is no longer offer-driven with a strong need 

for incentivizing students to move out of their comfort zone, but 

it has become demand-driven by all university stakeholders and 

often compulsory for getting the diploma. 

In Europe, the Erasmus programs have successively promoted 

the individual international student exchange, the institutional 

partnership exchanges and nowadays student mobility worldwide. 

Besides urban nomads in the professional business world, 

also international student migration has become a fact. China 

has been building a middle-class that is eager to send its offspring 

abroad to gain international experience. This is supported 

by huge grant programs like those of the Chinese Scholarship 

Council (CSC). The EU-China High Level People to People dialogue 

has substantially contributed to the continuity of student 

flows between Europe and China, despite of the increased China 

bashing, geopolitical tension and accusations of human rights 

violations. 

Multilingualism beyond English as a second language is now 

common practice, multicultural skills are incorporated in new educational 

paradigms and learning outcomes, SDGs are incorporated 

in most educational units and solidarity towards developing 

countries became a student demand. 

Students expect a diploma with a maintenance contract and 

hence the university cannot be absent in lifelong learning. 

Despite all these diversifications that allow each university to express 

its own distinctive identity, I am advocating full conformity 

to a global framework (like the Bologna framework in the EU), to 

allow for transparency, in- and outgoing (international) mobility, 

comparability and institutional accreditation ensuring quality. At 

this moment, I do not see anything equivalent to the Bologna 

consensus in Asia. 

• The (international) university network becomes more important 

and takes over (institutional) functions that were hitherto limited 

to the university itself. 

For building a trustworthy international network, universities are 

developing strong international partnerships (joint international 

research groups, shared curricula, double and joint diplomas. 

96 97

International internships, shared quality assurance systems, …). 

The European University initiative is a first timid attempt in this 

direction. The network becomes the natural habitat rather than 

the single university (including staff mobility is crucial to create 

a cosmopolitan culture and effective network governance). I am 

convinced that by doing so, we will prepare for new career paths, 

taking into account the extended life span, longer careers, faster 

job changes and the required flexibility, shorter economic cycles, 

and the much-needed global intercultural skills. 

Technology is also supporting this paradigm shift (e.g. virtual 

presence, virtual twins, augmented reality). The perspectives of 

climate change, sustainable development and equality have accelerated 

this phenomenon. Maybe we should revisit the internationalisation@home 

paradigm in this light, because organizing an 

international classroom has become a small step now, initiated 

by the urgency of the COVID pandemic. 

• Technology and digital innovation cannot be ignored in any 

field of study. 

Machines and robots take over hard manual labour. AUVs, 

drones, autonomous vehicles conquer the world of mobility. 

Deep learning and AI extend the human brain but also compete 

with human brain work. These kinds of breakthroughs are occurring 

more often, and they grow to maturity faster. This forces 

the university to be more pro-active and not only responsive. We 

all agree and often blurt out that education is key to a successful 

future, but this also puts a continuous responsibility on us, 

namely, to reflect in depth on What kind of education and how to 

implement it? 

• Autonomy and dialogue with societal actors. 

Both are essential but need continuous attention because they 

can covertly become antagonistic. More and more stakeholders 

are intimately involved and integrated in the core activities of the 

university and campus life. Most of them recognize the advantages 

of such an embedding, but still keep their own objectives. 

Therefore, I would like to formulate a few guidelines: never surrender 

to intimidation – freedom of speech, free inquiry and moral 

integrity are crucial for the long term credibility of the university; 

work together with institutes everywhere in the world, which 

does not automatically imply working together with their political 

regimes; geopolitics is a discipline and a research domain, but 

not necessarily a guideline for university partnerships; never 

comply with a country list for allowable collaborations; ethics are 

important but might also limit freedom to act, and ethical committees 

should advise academics and not hamper their academic 

freedom. University values are more important than media image. 

No need to explain that in China-EU university partnerships the 

above-mentioned considerations are often subject of discussion. 

I preferred to formulate them as positive guidelines, rather than 

threats. 

98 99

AT G20 MINISTERS’ MEETING, 

UNESCO CALLS 

FOR MORE INVESTMENT 

IN CULTURE 

Ahead of the G20 Summit that will take place in October this 

creators” and underlined the need to address “the unequal distri- 

year under Italy’s presidency, the G20 Ministers of Culture have 

bution of value between creators and digital platforms”. 

issued a Declaration calling for culture to be integrated into 

national economic and social recovery and longer-term develop- 

She also called for strong commitments in the face of the evolu- 

ment strategies. 

tion of threats to cultural heritage. In this regard, she commended 

recent decisions taken by Italy, including the ban of large 

Gathering in Rome on 29 and 30 July, the culture ministers 

cruise ships from Venice, as well as the launch of a special Task 

launched their call from the Colosseum, in the Historic Centre 

Force for the protection of heritage, as concrete proposals to 

of Rome, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Their meeting 

harness the full potential of heritage for societies. 

was opened by Mario Draghi, Prime Minister of Italy, Dario 

Franceschini, the country’s Culture Minister, and Audrey Azoulay, 

The Ministers of Culture of G20 countries, whose combined 

Director-General of UNESCO, who declared: “With this G20 ministerial 

meeting, we are reinforcing a commitment to make culture 

economies represent 80% of global GDP, and 9 representatives 

of intergovernmental organizations, examined ways to build the 

Photo: g20.org 

central to public policies in one of the main forums for interna- 

cultural sector back better. Ministers looked at ways to support 

tional cooperation”. Reiterating that the pandemic was an oppor- 

the ability of culture, one of the sectors most affected by the 

tunity to shape new policies to support artists and culture, she 

COVID-19 pandemic, to contribute to recovery as a driver 

well-being, in line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for 

culture sector in the Final Declaration of the G20 Summit. These 

called for an improvement in “the status and social protection of 

of long-term socio-economic development, resilience and 

Sustainable Development and 2021 International year for 

efforts aim to pave the way for the permanent integration of 

Creative Economy. 

culture in the G20 and in the run up to the UNESCO World 

Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development 

“The G20 Culture Declaration has the capacity to conjugate 

MONDIACULT 2022 to be held in Mexico next year. 

memory and vision,” declared Mario Draghi, Prime Minister of 

Italy. 

Dario Franceschini, Minister of Culture of Italy, for his part said, 

“Protecting culture, as UNESCO does, means contributing to 

international dialogue, to the recognition of and respect for 

diversity.” 

The G20 Ministers of Culture adopted a Declaration urging their 

governments to prioritize investments in the culture sector and 

related activities. The declaration recognizes the contribution of 

cultural industries, cultural heritage and cultural tourism to economic 

growth and long-term social development, expanding jobs 

and a skilled labour force. The cultural and creative industries 

(CCIs) and related activities contribute $ 2,250 billion, i.e. USD 

2.25 trillion, to the global economy, representing up to 3% of 

GDP according to UNESCO’s report Cultural Times. Some 29.5 

million people are employed in the CCIs, and more young people 

aged 15 to 29 work in the sector than any other. 

The G20 Ministers of Culture Declaration aims to incite G20 


Leaders to recognize the need to scale up investments in the 


100 101

LIVING TOMORROW 

TAKES 100 INTERNATIONAL LEADERS 

ON A JOURNEY TO THE FUTURE 

Innovation trip to Dubai with world 

premières and ground-breaking EU innovations 

A police station that is run 24/7 by AI and robots, the biggest 

works. This is exactly the knowledge and inspiration we want to 

waste-to-energy plant and the smartest hospital in the world: 

offer our top guests. With expert guidance by Living Tomorrow 

the programme of Living Tomorrow’s innovation trip to the World 

and former European President Herman Van Rompuy, who can 

Expo in Dubai with 100 prominent international business leaders 

discuss the possibilities of translating these innovations into a 

and government officials is packed with world firsts and leading 

European framework.” 

There is also a focus on European innovations. “For example, we 

European innovations. “From 6 to 11 February 2022, we will 

are planning a visit to a fertility clinic in Abu Dhabi, founded by a 

literally be living in the future for a week. We really want to 

Belgian professor, and we will also be given a tour of the Dubai 

make every second of the trip count with inspiring visits and 

branch of a European specialist in tracking solutions in various 

networking moments,” explains Joachim De Vos, CEO of Living 

domains.” 

Tomorrow. 

Seeing and touching innovations. Genuinely experiencing the 

future. That is what Living Tomorrow wants to offer its promi- 

SURPRISE ELEMENTS 

nent guests in Dubai, just as they have been doing for 25 years 

CEO Joachim De Vos is travelling to Dubai himself this month 

at their own campus in Vilvoorde. The programme is therefore 

to handpick the most interesting and concrete innovations for 

meticulously compiled based on thorough research and critically 

the trip. In doing so, he takes into account the background and 

examined. Only tangible and concrete innovations will be consid- 

interests of his guests and also aims to include enough surprise 

ered for a visit from the select group of international top business 

elements. “We want to provide inspiration across sectors and 

leaders from multinationals such as Miele, BDO and Schüco and 

themes. From smart health and smart mobility to smart cities, 

government officials of the highest level. “We don’t want vague 

infrastructure and architecture: everything is covered. This diver- 

presentations we might as well watch from a distance. 

sity is very deliberate. If you are able to look beyond the boundaries 

of your own area of expertise this can lead to unexpected 

We want to be able to touch robots and 3D-printed items and 

connections and innovations. For example, the air traffic control 

see world firsts such as an unmanned police station and the 

room of the future can be surprisingly interesting for people in the 

operating theatre of the future with our own eyes”, Innovation 

healthcare sector. In the future, a central control room like this 

Designer Karen Sprengers explains. “Making innovation tangible 

could also be an option for hospitals”, Joachim believes. 

is absolutely crucial. Because that is the magic we so often see 

in our Living Tomorrow campus: you can only form an opinion 

That is precisely why Living Tomorrow has attracted guests from 

about things you can actually see and experience. Only then 

various industries. “A top executive from Miele will look different- 

you can fully grasp the possibilities and truly imagine how it 

Karen Sprengers 

ly at an innovation than a director of a government department, 

Joachim De Vos 

102 103

ut the exchange they have about it can lead to brand-new 

insights and may even result in unexpected collaborations or 

ideas. This cross-pollination and networking - for which we 

have chosen special, inspiring locations - is exactly what we 

want to foster. In Dubai, and also in the longer term with Living 

Tomorrow.” 

FROM INSPIRATION TO INNOVATION 

After all, Living Tomorrow wants to continue to inspire after the 

trip as well. “We want to help companies turn their inspiration 

into effective innovations,” Joachim continues. “Our new Living 

Tomorrow campus opens at the end of next year in Vilvoorde. 

Here, we will also translate inspiring innovations into concrete 

demonstrations and we would like to invite our guests there 

again for an exchange on innovation in a European context.” 

Those who still want to take part in this unique trip to Dubai 

should be quick. “Due to high demand, we have created a few 

additional places but we are almost complete.” 

Fortunately, plans for new foreign innovation trips are already in 

place. “In the long term we want to visit several locations in the 

world where we can see concrete innovations. This could be 

the US or China. Our ambitions are very high”, Joachim De Vos 

concludes. 




104 105

DAVID ARKLESS 

FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN 

ARKLIGHT CONSULTING GROUP, 

THE FUTURE WORK CONSORTIUM 

“ALL GOVERNMENTS AND CORPORATIONS ARE 

SERIOUS AVOIDERS OF FACTS!” 

David Arkless, serving long-serving president of Manpower 

Group, wears many hats. He is the founder of his own Arklight 

Consulting Group. Among others he is co-founder and early 

supporter of the World Economic Forum in Davosand he is very 

active in integrating refugees and prevent trafficking. Moreover, 

he is concerned about the future of work, not only as a professor 

at Durham University. 

Currently he is promoting with the UN and his long-time collaborator 

(from his UNHCR days) Secretary General Antonio 

Guterres new anti-human-trafficking missions. He talked with 

the co-founder and director Innovation & TIME of the Diplomatic 

World Institute about his very positive outlook on the future of 

work. With his span of interests, this did not remain the only 

topic of the conversation. 

YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH MANY TOPICS 

THAT ARE KEY ISSUES TODAY, FUTURE OF 

WORK, REFUGEES, TRAFFICKING… 

HOW DOES THIS ALL FIT TOGETHER? 

It came totally by accident. I was global president of Manpower 

Group, the world’s largest employer, for 26 years. People 

believed we are only agents that supplied people. This was not 

what Manpower did: We hired people on our contract and lent 

them to other companies. And consumers told us our brand 

looks old and very conservative. We decided to do a full rebranding 

of the group and there is a lot more to it than just switching 

the logo. We decided we need to find out exactly what people 

thought of us, and what they thought how we should be like and 

behave. In this research we got one overwhelming feedback: The 

shocking result was we do one noble thing – we help people find 

decent work. 

But we didn’t stand for it – globally! In the end we said, if we 

give everybody that needs it a decent job, we must be against 

everything that hinders it like abusing workers, trafficking, 

refugees that are kept from working… That’s why I decided to 

focus on three things: Stopping human trafficking, helping every 

refugee on the planet to find a job, and stopping the abuse of 

migrant workers. I then went to form partnerships with UNHCR, 

the National Office of Migration. In the human trafficking area, we 

couldn’t find a global player to partner with. That’s why we started 

different foundations, not for profit, we could work with. 

WAS THIS ALSO THE REASON TO GET INVOLVED 

ALSO WITH THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM? 

That started much earlier in the 1990s, when I was on board of 

Hewlett Packard where I was responsible for all external relationships 

in Europe. This was my first encounter with Klaus Schwab, 

I told it often in private circles and it always causes good laughs: 

There came this dodgy professor saying “We have the European 

Economic Forum, and we make it the World Economic Forum 

and I want you, Hewlett Packard, to become our first partner” 

And Franco Mariotti, who was HP European president, asked 

me after the pitch what I thought. 

I made two famous sentences that ended in absolute failure. 

I said “This guy is a nutter. He is just an academic, and there are 

already so many events. This venture is destined to fail!” Franco, 

a grizzled old Italian business guy, said he had a pretty good 

feeling about it: “We are going to become this partner and you 

are going to manage the relationship”. That’s how I got involved, 

and later at Manpower, when we developed our mission, we had 

a platform to potentially influence governments, international 

organizations, and corporations. 

LOOKING AT YOUR MISSIONS THIS SEEMS TO 

HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT 

LOOKING AT THE RAPID CHANGE WE SEE IN 

TODAY’S WORKING WORLD BECAUSE OF 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND OTHERS. A LOT 

OF JOBS SEEM TO BE AT RISK. HOW CAN YOU 

ACCOMPLISH THINGS FOR MIGRANTS AND 

REFUGEES WHEN YOU POTENTIALLY CANNOT 

SUPPLY ENOUGH JOBS FOR THE LOCALS? 

DO YOU HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THE FUTURE 

OF WORK? 

I do! I only need to persuade governments, international organizations, 

corporations, and financial markets to believe in what is 

going to happen. All of them are serious avoiders of facts. We did 

more research in 25 years in code work and future work than any 

organization, also since I’m also a professor at the University of 

Durham for business and psychology. It’s not just my opinion. 

It’s deeply researched analysis. Also, some of my companies in 

India are in digital analytics, in digital predictive psychometrics, 

predictive organization management… I actually think we know 

where this train is heading. Therefore, don’t believe a thing you 

are told today about the future of work. It is wrong! The world of 

work revolves around one primary issue: that’s demographics. 

Right now, we see protectionism in job markets, we see internal 

inabilities to get the right people at the right place at the right 

time. It’s because the current world of work does not react quickly 

enough, not to current challenges or opportunities, nor the 

future ones. Let’s look at the EU alone, within the next 20 years it 

will lose net 40 million workers because of demographics. 

At the same time as we allow our potential work force to fall off, 

we are restricting worker immigration from non-EU countries. 

The US is very much the same. China is starting to try to tackle 

the talent problem, a bit better and faster than the west. Of 

course, this is a lot easier in a centralized system than it is in 

a federal democracy like Europe. 

BUT EXPERTS ARE SAYING JOBS ARE 

DISAPPEARING… 

That is absolute nonsense. Every job that exists today will still 

exist in 50 years. That’s not the issue. The issue is the change in 

the volumes of people that we need in different jobs. Everybody 

is saying computer programming is dead, AI is taking over. Yes, 

maybe! Everybody in programming should change what he’s doing, 

well still in programming, but becoming a program architect 

and creator. Once you created the architecture you feed into this 

marvellous AI to have the full product programmed. 

There will be more jobs in IT in 20 years than today. We only 

need to forecast what they are and train the people to fill these 

jobs. Because of the declining workforce everybody that wants a 

job will be highly requested again within the next five years. You 

see it in the UK after Brexit because so many people left the UK 

to their home countries that already retired people had to come 

back to the market. 

That’s what happens when you get a vacuum in the job markets 

in any country and any region. We will get these vacuums 

increased in any field. And people that lost their jobs will be 

reskilled and brought back to the market. 

Corporations have built themselves into a pattern that historically 

has been successful which sadly will not be successful in the 

106 107

VINAY GUPTA 

A RENAISSANCE MAN 

AND FUTURIST 

“IF WE WANT TO SURVIVE ENVIRONMENTALLY, WE 

NEED TO OPEN UP THESE DATABASES BY LAW!” 

ecosystem. We found solutions to make bitcoin transactions 

faster. Ethereum would have been integrated into Bitcoin if 

history would have taken a different turn. There was a time when 

Vinay Gupta is an exceptional person and a seasoned consult- 

this was very, very possible, and Bitcoin now would have smart 

ant on government level for many states about today’s burning 

contracts integrated. This did not happen. 

issues – like climate change for instance. He also was in the 

development team for Ethereum, a next generation crypto plat- 

This failure to innovate pushed everybody else forward. That also 

form and promoting next generation blockchain solutions via his 

means we’re having continuous churn by those trying to take 

companies of which Mattereum is the current. 

Bitcoin’s crown. Now Ethereum has become large. It’s a little bit 

behind Bitcoin, but not much. Then we have the central bank 

It is “billed as a court that understands the nature of crypto- 

digital currencies. 

currencies, making physical property and intellectual property 

transactable on a blockchain. In a case where you buy a physical 

Once the currencies are there the impact will be gigantic because 

table using a fraction of a Bitcoin and the seller does not follow 

they give central banks the opportunity to impose negative inter- 

through, it is difficult to explain this to a judge in a small claims 

est rates, which is something that they probably need to do. This 

court. 

includes automated taxation via smart contracts. That means 

future. The future is all about talent. Trust me, talent will become 

our borders. The answer is much more basic: I’m working closely 

when you need to alter your taxation model you simply need to 

rare and scarce as crystally clear Kimberley diamond within 

with a foundation called Education for Employment. 

This is where Mattereum comes in, enabling technically compe- 

rewrite the smart contract and it automatically will execute any 

20 years. 

tent arbitrators to make rulings in these cases instead of a judge” 

transactions, including tax payments. 

It was founded just after 9/11 a guy, filthy rich, saw his daughter 

Forbes magazine says in a feature about Gupta. He talked to 

WELL, THIS ALSO WILL MAKE TRAFFICKING AND 

THE REFUGEE ISSUE EVEN BIGGER THAN TODAY, 

LOOKING AT GEOPOLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS 

AND THE SIDE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. THIS HAS 

THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A REALLY HUGE 

PROBLEM. WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? 

Absolutely correct! People move from one place to another for a 

reason. And these reasons usually are economics: you can’t find 

work, can’t do anything, you need to move away. This creates a 

demand and supply circle. And this gets criminal organizations 

involved. They promise you, the young Nigerian soccer player, a 

die in the collapse of one of the towers. He seriously investigated 

the problems that cause these problems and started his own 

foundation. It has a simple premise: People become less radicalized 

and are not at the mercy of labour or sex traffickers if they 

have a job, especially the young people. After building chapters 

in all the Middle East and North Africa, now they do something I 

told them, to find the jobs for them that are out there, locally so 

they can move legally. We moved to every big employer in these 

countries and invited them to join our local boards and to provide 

a job to everyone that comes out of our training programs. This 

was a huge success. 

The original mission was to reduce social tension in the Middle 

Dieter Brockmeyer, co-founder Diplomatic World Institute and 

director Innovation & TIME, about the solutions for the multiple 

problems our world is faced with, the role a super-computer may 

play in it. 

YOU WERE AN EARLY CRYPTO PIONEER BACK IN 

THE TIMES OF E-GOLD IN THE LATE 1990S AND 

WERE INVOLVED AT THE GROUND LEVEL OF THE 

ETHEREUM LAUNCH. WHERE ARE WE IN THIS 

YOUNG INDUSTRY – AND WHAT IS BITCOIN’S 

IMPACT IN A SEA OF ALTERNATIVES? 

WILL THESE CENTRAL BANK CURRENCIES BE 

BASED ON ETHEREUM SINCE THE PLATFORM 

ALREADY INCLUDES THE SMART CONTRACT 

OPTION? 

Smart contracts are part of many platforms, not only in Ethereum. 

There is another platform called Avalanche, we do some work 

on, which is carbon neutral. We will continue to see new third, 

fourth, or fifth generation platforms for at least the next 10 years. 

Because there is nothing that stops somebody from setting up a 

platform. 

chance at the soccer academy in Milan in Italy, you have to pay 

for it and eventually you get trafficked. They charge the parents 

3000 USD to take the young guy to some academy. 

The clubs do not even look at the source of the individual, they 

get a three-week trial. After that they get an offer or they are out 

on the street in Rome, Milan or wherever. Nobody cares about 

East and reducing radicalization by giving young people jobs. 

We are now placing over 30,000 young Arabs in jobs across 

the entire Middle East every year. And we have plans to hugely 

accelerate it. This is my answer how to solve this issue: You 

develop local economies and local job possibilities. And get the 

legislation right, like the Modern Slavery Act in the UK and I am 

currently working with António Guterres, the Secretary General 

We must differentiate between Bitcoin as a currency, blockchain 

as a technology and Ethereum as a third-generation platform. 

Bitcoin at this point is 10 years old. It does not make more transactions 

than it did 10 years ago but it is enormously more popular. 

Bitcoin has gone from a weird little thing to something JP 

Morgan buys for its customers. When I first discovered Bitcoin, 

maybe 6 years ago, I saw – well, if you have an existing operating 

WELL, IT SEEMS POSSIBLE THAT BLOCKCHAIN 

TECHNOLOGY WILL BE THE BASE OF ALL ON- 

LINE TRANSACTIONS WHICH WILL HAVE A HUGE 

IMPACT ON EVERYTHING WE’RE DOING. WHERE 

ARE WE IN THIS PROCESS? 

them. To get back to the problem: All job markets create supply 

to get every member of the Security Council on an act that every 

technology, it’s hard to innovate it. 

The base of everything will be central bank digital currencies. 

and demand, and all populations have the demand to find a job. 

member country must implement with regards to the trafficking 

I think everybody in the blockchain space will hate them. 

And in some regions, there is absolutely no chance to get one 

issue. The UN never did it! Why? It’s a basic human right not to 

It’s like painting on a plane while it is flying in the air. Since 

Central banks implementing digital currencies with built-in 

and they move away. This can’t be stopped by machine guns at 

be trafficked. 

Bitcoin was not innovating it forced innovation on to the entire 

smart contracts and automated taxation will bring them towards 

108 109

21st century engagement with their citizens. And all corporations 

understand that this is the platform governments provide for 

trade. At this point you will see a rapid adoption by corporations, 

and this will also be the moment that carbon emissions will drop 

integrally with the payments. The key to mass adoption- and I 

know people in the space--is governments making it official by 

AND YOU THINK A SUPERCOMPUTER CAN 

PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. 

I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE DIFFERENT 

COMPUTERS BY DIFFERENT INTEREST GROUPS. 

HOW DO YOU AVOID THAT? 

doing it themselves. 

Any set of computer systems that are sufficiently connected with 

each other function as one single computer. Think of high fre- 

THIS WOULD MEAN BITCOIN AND ETHEREUM 

LOSING INFLUENCE? 

quency trading, you have maybe 500 servers that are doing the 

competitive trading strategies for their institution. The system as 

a whole works like a single system. I think this will be true for all 

the blockchain systems that will be increasingly interconnected. 

This is a good question. Governments could say you do your 

When you establish a bridge between all these systems you will 

thing and we do ours, we don’t care. They would accept that 

get something that acts as a single computer. It’s like with the 

international transactions do not like to use national currencies 

internet where thousands of operators are connected, we will see 

and use the international platforms acting like central banks 

one blockchain. 

without being one. The other option is they try to bomb Bitcoin 

and others. I don’t think this will be very likely and I think in the 

US this also would be unconstitutional. 

What I think regulators will do is to make it illegal for investors 

HOW WILL THIS WORK TO SOLVE, LET’S SAY, 

THE CLIMATE CHANGE PROBLEM? 

to store their own Bitcoin. An exchange can be a government 

What we have today is something like a blind cold capitalism. We 

regulated entity. It can do KYC, AML, CTF checking, and then 

are offered something where you don’t know how much energy 

they get accountable for the consequences of the transactions. 

was consumed, if there was slave labour involved, or how much 

Bitcoin can be forced inside the regulated space, and they can 

water was consumed… The consequences of your actions are 

force exchanges also to accept payments from other exchang- 

hidden by the ones selling it to you in every step of the supply 

es. That would mean privately held bitcoins can’t get onto the 

chain. In a blockchain network you know everything, everything 

regular markets. 

is transparent. For reasons of privacy and commercial secrets 

none of this is publicly available and often not even to govern- 

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 

CREATES A MAJOR PROBLEM? 

ments. If we want to survive environmentally, we need to open up 

these data bases by law. 

Opening up those databases can be done by market forces if 

Many people are very paranoid about AI because they think that 

the technology will become conscious and follow its own inter- 

the incentives are right. My company is a global pioneer in product 

information markets, markets in which third parties get paid 

Vinay Gupta 

ests against the human race. I’m typically very concerned about 

to provide accurate information on things like the carbon foot- 

threats to humanity. I’m not concerned about AI waking up. This 

print of physical goods. These markets also allow us to banish 

will not be a problem. I see another one. The markets are very 

goods produced by slave labour. Anti-counterfeiting is also a key 

every environmental damage is caused by corporations. Where 

many don’t like him, but something like $50 billion went into 

capable of out-competing human beings. All the actors in the 

part of this endeavour. We produce electronic “Asset Passports” 

privacy is needed, it can be created by cryptography. 

Malaria in Africa. Warren Buffet with another $70 billion. That’s a 

market do their own thing and collectively act like a computer. 

that prove goods are genuine, carbon neutral, do not come from 

lot of money! You can get a lot done with it. 

If AI makes markets 10 times more efficient it also becomes 10 

times better competing with individual beings trying to run their 

lives. Everything becomes dramatically more expensive when 

you want to buy it and it’s cheap when you don’t want it. 

AI can very well predict what people are going to do and then 

slave labour, and so on. Goods traded this way appear on blockchain 

exchanges and can be traded freely. 

WHEN OPEN THESE DATABASES ARE WE NOT 

ALL LIVING IN CHINA? 

LET’S TALK ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT IS YOUR 

PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE? 

I have completely given up on governments intervening in the 

world. I spend a lot of time around the Pentagon, I spend a lot of 

time around the UK defence establishment, I talked to 50 people 

WHAT ABOUT BRANSON AND BEZOS? 

I’m 100 percent pro space. Why I think it is important is this: We 

are a very territorial species. We express this by either expanding 

to new territories or by killing our neighbours. 

deploy measures to make their lives as complicated as possi- 

Privacy for individuals and full transparency for corporations. 

from 50 different government departments in 15 years, and at 

ble by raising rents, lowering wages, by controlling supply and 

Corporations already give away lots to governments. They 

the end of the day when everything is said and done – nothing 

And space gives us a feeling we are expanding our territory for- 

demand… We all have seen what damage can be done in social 

accept corporation tax, they accept a wide variety of restrictions 

gets done! There was some activity around the space race in 

ever. I think it doesn’t matter. If we only have one million people 

media splitting up societies and keeping people fighting with 

to their behavior, they accept boards controlling them, and much 

the 1960s but then they seem to have gone back to sleep. Well, 

out there in space it will hugely reduce the aggressiveness of the 

each other rather than watching TV. 

more. That’s the price for being a corporation. You only need 

where is all the progress that has been made? Certainly, in indus- 

entire human race. 

to add radical transparency all along their supply chain. Almost 

try! Elon Musk has enormous impact, so has Bill Gates. I know, 

110 111

THAT IS A POWERFUL MISSION 

I AM BEHIND 100 PERCENT! 

GORDON EINSTEIN 

“That is a Powerful Mission I am Behind 100 Percent!” 

Gordon Einstein is the International General Council of the 

Emerging Technology Association, ETA (https://www.emergingte. 

ch/), and fully convinced of the good that blockchain technology 

and crypto will do for our world and for our societies. He claims 

to be one of the few international lawyers that also have a deep 

understanding of blockchain technology and also coding and 

software development. He talked to the co-founder and director 

Innovation & TIME of the Diplomatic World Institute, Dieter 

Brockmeyer, about his mission, the blockchain opportunity, and 

challenges on the road ahead. 

THIS IS A MUST-QUESTION TO ASK: 

ARE YOU RELATED TO ALBERT EINSTEIN? 

THE ENTIRE JOB DESCRIPTION WILL PROPER- 

LY CHANGE DRAMATICALLY WITH AUTOMATED 

SMART CONTRACTS VIA AI. 

I agree 100 percent! There is always a tendency towards automation 

in law, like in simple formal agreements. You don’t redraft 

them every time. Document automation, where you only type 

in certain things and the rest is completed automatically – or 

document management system, this has been going on for quite 

some time already. There is a lot on the way to transfer all this 

into blockchain, not only to automate but to form a new kind of 

law that executes automatically. That’s very hard since people’s 

positions are so extremely diverse. But we’re getting there. And 

that’s actually what I’m pushing forward. 

Yes, remotely, and I only recently found out. My father left 

Germany in the 1930s I think for obvious reasons since our 

family name is Einstein. I recently applied for (and received!) 

restoration of my Germany citizenship. In the process of getting 

my paperwork ready I also checked on ancestry.com since I 

needed proof for the documentation to apply - and WOW. I’m 

not a direct descendant, but we are remotely connected via my 

grandfather. But I don’t claim to have Albert’s full brain power. 

WHEN I LOOKED AT YOUR PROFILE WHAT 

STRUCK ME THAT IN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA 

PROFILE YOU LABEL YOURSELF AS “HYBRID 

CRYPTO-ATTORNEY”. WHAT IS HYBRID 

ABOUT YOU? 

Well, I do have a pretty decent background in technology. There 

is a massive ten-year block in my career where I became a 

Microsoft certified after I taught myself how to code. I never work 

on projects solely being a lawyer. A significant part of it always is 

strategy, and looking over projects, mostly crypto and blockchain, 

from a knowledgeable developer’s perspective. I don’t 

personally know any other lawyer having a similar background. 

There might be some truth in it that lawyers of the future must 

also be coders. Instead of writing contracts out on paper, there 

will be digitally signed smart contracts written in software code. 

We already have them today but without reliable legal consequences. 

But in the future lawyers practicing law may write out 

contracts instead of on paper in code. 

DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT MORE YOUR ROLE IN THE 

INDUSTRY. WHAT ARE YOUR PROJECTS? 

My introduction to crypto and blockchain was in 2014, by 

mere coincidence. I met the founder of the biggest blockchain 

development house in the Ukraine, which is Distributed Lab. I 

met Pavel Kravchenko when I was not practicing law. He and 

his wife invited me to the Ukraine and, of course, this was in the 

middle of the war. Also of course, I went, because I was single 

and American naive. There I got exposed to all the technology 

and realized that this could change the world. I switched back to 

law – to specifically work in crypto and blockchain. 

I want the world to become a better place by applying these 

technologies and to make the law better. I started supervising 

different projects, whether they are doing initial coin offers or 

if they need to work with the regulator or want to set up an 

exchange. Crypto was really an interesting issue because it 

combines finance, securities law, jurisdiction selection, taxation, 

all these aspects. It is all new and you need to keep in mind 

the technology and what it can do. Where I ended up now and 

where I spend most of my time is with Emerging Technology 

Association, ETA, where I am the International General Council. 

That’s a very well-funded non-profit organization in Zug, 

Switzerland, with the mission to support Open Source and 

Decentralization. 

I think it’s the first time it has ever happened, that you have a 

recognized non-profit organization with such mission, laid down 

Gordon Einstein 

in its charter, to issue grants in support of these objectives. 

Open Source development to this point has been mostly a developer 

having a daytime “real job” and at night turning to their 

passion, solving problems for their own, then releasing it to the 

world with other people starting to contribute over time. That’s 

too how bitcoin (probably) started. We must start to give credit 

to these people, because they serve humanity, and it is for the 

good! That’s a very powerful mission I’m behind 100 percent. 

That’s what I do with 70 percent of time. Another 20 percent is 

that I advise very selectively on other projects when they have 

both a strategic and a legal angle. The remaining 10 percent is 

pumping social media in order to get the crypto and blockchain 

message out to make the world better! 

HOWEVER, THERE IS A LOT OF RESISTANCE 

AGAINST ESPECIALLY CRYPTO AND BITCOIN. 

ON THE ONE HAND, IT’S GETTING MORE ACCEPT- 

ED, ON THE OTHER GOVERNMENTS TRY TO ACT 

AGAINST IT. IS THERE A MESSAGE YOU HAVE 

FOR THE HEADS OF STATE OUT THERE? 

We indeed have an interesting situation out there right now where 

the regulators are evaluating how to deal with crypto. And there 

is the fear that, because they cannot control it, they will try to 

stop it. Thank God, we’re living in a world with different countries 

and different systems. Even with this or that nation trying to stop 

it, crypto is just moving its resources to another place. But I’m 

concerned we will see a concerted effort to stop crypto and this 

would be a real loss. 

I think, people that are real thinkers in the space – those involved 

in diplomacy and who are devoted to the state – should take 

some time to be intentionally naïve and to learn as much as they 

can so as to slowly form their own independent judgements. We 

are talking about people that really can have an impact on this 

world. There is a lot of regulation out there, some of it is not the 

best. On a global level we need to act quickly to address many 

challenges facing humanity. We have environmental issues; we 

have health issues… we need to move fast and well! The flip 

side is that decision makers need to take the time to understand 

these complex issues. And I am willing to help! 

112 113

I REMEMBER THE HOPES WHEN THE INTERNET 

WAS COMING UP THAT IT WOULD MAKE THE 

WORLD A BETTER PLACE. LOOK AT WHAT IT IS 

TODAY. DON’T YOU THINK THAT WITH BLOCK- 

CHAIN THE SAME THING MAY HAPPEN? 

follow how it develops over time. I’m not dreamy eyed about this 

technology. We are all both in love with and afraid of Artificial 

Intelligence. It should be the same with blockchain. There is no 

avoiding these technologies. Believe me, if we don’t use them, 

others will. 

Each of these things is a triple-edged sword. The saying is true: 

“The dosage makes the poison.” A glass of water is good for 

you, but if you drink a barrel of water you explode. Blockchain 

too is potentially dangerous. Do you really want all of your actions 

stored, in a manner that can’t be changed and can’t be removed, 

and there for everybody to see forever? You don’t! That’s 

a nightmare and blockchain makes that nightmare possible. You 

see the plans of central banks for crypto or digital currencies. If 

that leads to a world where there is no physical cash anymore 

that would mean that there is but one single database controlling 

all your actions. If “they” don’t like you, they can deny you the 

access to this database and the ability to engage in transactions. 

That is potentially dangerous and freedom destroying. 

If we meet and I give you 10 dollars, there are no records of 

that transaction. But, in crypto, even when our identities are not 

clear, the transaction is on the record forever. You need to have 

your first principles in mind, who you are, what you want, and 

what you’re trying to achieve. Then extract from this complex 

set of ideas, some of which contradict each other, an optimal 

way of proceeding in life. Then transfer this all into action and 

YOU ALREADY MENTIONED THAT YOU DIDN’T 

PRACTICE LAW FOR SOME PERIOD. BUT I UNDER- 

STAND, THE COMPANY YOU WERE THEN RUN- 

NING STILL EXISTS? 

Yes, my company is still up and running. It’s AdaptiveSky - a 

remote desktop platform for law firms - so I stayed a bit in law. 

We have something like 30 law firm clients. When I was discovering 

crypto, I went to my co-workers and said, “Look, I’m going 

to return to the practice of law and focus on crypto and nothing 

is going to stop me. You can either support me or I’m going to 

wrap up this company. If you want to keep operating, I can pay 

you more money and you can run it all by yourselves.” 

They (wisely) said: “We can’t stop you from going into crypto – 

we agree!” They are really good guys and AdaptiveSky thrives 

under their care. I occasionally get involved when I need to. It’s 

running very efficiently now, and I appreciate that they were up 

for my personal life experiment. 

Gordon Einstein and Barbara Dietrich 

114

SERGE CONESA 

WE CAN DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY! 

“WE CAN DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY!” 

Serge Conesa is the founder of immersion4, a globally highly 

recognized sustainable tech provider with the mission of cooling 

down data centres and reduce energy consumption in an 

eco-friendly way. That is the reason for media calling him “Mr. 

Cool”. He talked to Diplomatic World Institute co-founder and 

director innovation & TIME, Dieter Brockmeyer, about his mission 

and vision and the state of our planet: 

ITU. We have been awarded in 2019 by the ITU best use of ICT 

that is also the world’s IT and Global excellence award. We have 

been labelled by Solar Impulse amongst the 1000 companies 

that can save the world. We got it all. But what does technology 

mean when our attitude and behavior does not also change. 

We will be reducing data centre energy consumption that will 

be about 20 percent of world energy consumption in 2025, 10 

percent of the greenhouse effect and 3 trillion litres of water. With 

Immersion4 technology we can reduce it to 4 percent of world 

energy, with NO greenhouse effect and NO water consumption. 

more fish and so on. We are part of this problem, we created that 

problem. When we are talking about electronics, I was cooling 

devices with air all my life. We did not think of anything else. As 

men, we know the technology and we can move forward to use it 

on a larger scale – to adopt it on a larger scale. We can adapt it in 

our daily actions. For me this is the biggest opportunity – not to 

do something for my name but to do something for our children. 

TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR 

TECHNOLOGY. 

Immersion4 has created cooling system for electronics. We 

developed a liquid ICE Coolant that can be used to immerse any 

type of electronics, with electricity, with fibre optics, with data 

– and solve literally any problem we know about in electronics 

today. 

SO, YOU ARE MR. COOL? 

If this technology is not used because people want things to stay 

When we power any electronic component, it develops static 

as they are and they keep thinking in traditional business plans 

electricity which attracts dust, because it is powered is getting 

Well, yes, when we’re talking about cooling electronics. I’m tak- 

nothing will change. Thinking in business plans and using plastic 

hot, this creates humility, corrosion and oxidation. When we sink 

ing care of this, not in a traditional way, but by not using natural 

bags was okay when we had 2 billion people. It is not with 8 

any electronic component into this liquid these problems are 

recourses like air and water. As today’s world is producing data 

billion people. We need to rethink the model, we need to reshare 

gone at once. 

via electronic devices, it is mandatory to go back to a path of 

the value – and we do need to reduce the carbon footprint. We 

conservation and preserving the natural recourses. 

need to create new jobs too. Going from 2 billion to 8 billion peo- 

This applies to any device, for PCBs, servers, for absolutely 

ple is a big thing – and it happened in the last 70 years. 

everything. In addition, we have a full line of products that allows 

I’M LIVING RIGHT NEXT TO HUGE DATA CAMPUS. 

ALREADY TEN YEARS AGO THEY CONSUMED 

ENERGY THE EQUIVALENT OF A MIDSIZE TOWN 

OF ABOUT 80,000 PEOPLE. TODAY, THEY EXPAND- 

ED TO AT LEAST FIVE TIMES THE SIZE BACK THEN 

AND STILL ARE GROWING RAPIDLY. I THINK THIS 

ILLUSTRATES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROB- 

LEM. 

This really is quite sad because we can do things differently and 

PREDICTIONS ARE THAT WORLD POPULATION 

WILL GO UP TO AROUND 10 BILLION BEFORE 

THERE IS A SLOW TURN AROUND. AND WE DON’T 

KNOW FOR SURE IF THERE WILL BE THIS TURN 

AROUND… 

And it would be too late! I’m sorry, it’s not acceptable. You will 

not want to tell your son he can’t have children because you 

f**ed up when you were still able to do something. And as I 

us to place any brand of any server of any size and weight into 

this liquid. Imagine you’re having a bottle of champagne in your 

hand, and you want to cool it. What do you do? Of course, you 

cool the champagne and not the entire room. To cool the champagne, 

that’s immerson4, to cool the room, that’s the traditional 

data centre. The good thing is, we can do it. Immersion4 is a 

solution. 

THE IMPORTANT THING NOW IS: ARE PEOPLE 

LISTENING TO YOU? 

Serge Conesa 

was published in March and then in June by the UN and the 

ITU and by September everybody was talking about this. It is 

really sad. I clearly see that with the human activity restarting the 

still provide the same service. Cutting the cost of infrastructure 

mentioned before, we can do things differently! And forecast 

Some do! We have closed the investment round we have clients 

spreading of the virus will continue. That’s normal. 

and cutting the cost of cooling. If we do apply what we call 

10 billion? We don’t have to look that far. 2025, there will be 

that really like the mission of immersion4. End of the day it’s all 

eco-conservation and environmental conservation to everything 

we do in life we really can change the way this world runs. 

THERE ARE TWO WAYS DOING IT: DEVELOPING 

MORE CONSERVING TECHNICAL SERVER PLAT- 

FORMS, I KNOW THERE IS SOME PROGRESS ON 

THIS END, AND BY CHANGING OUR BEHAVIOR. 

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE? 

1.8 billion people without access to clean water. Water is fundamental 

for humanity! The defeat of all diseases we had in this 

world was based on two things: Water and sanitation was one, 

but the other was that people started to wash their hands. 

These were the main two things that brought us here, where we 

are today. The access to clean water changed our lives and our 

life span. We must think about this. We have a life span of about 

80 years – and that is it. We need to accept this, and we need to 

walk with it. We need to understand that there is only a limited 

about giving back. That’s it. And regarding our business plan, we 

are 100% circular economy based. We are expanding our production 

sites and our labs all around the world. That’s the second 

part of the mission, reducing the carbon footprint locally. 

YOUR COMPANY IS ALREADY ACTING CARBON 

NEUTRAL? 

Absolutely, no Greenhouse, no carbon emission! And we have 

THAT MEANS YOUR TECHNOLOGY MAY SLOW 

DOWN THE SPREAD OF VIRUS WHEN WIDELY 

USED. TO CLOSE THIS INTERVIEW, HOW DO YOU 

SUMMARIZE THE OVERALL BENEFITS? 

The technology we have is very simple. We preserve the natural 

resources and water. And if we give ICE Coolant to the electronics, 

everything will be fine. That reduces costs of cooling and will 

bring system sustainability, because other benefits of using our 

You made a point. Working on technologies without behavio- 

time span to do things properly. 

absolutely no micro particle emission. We now know that 

technology are that on the chemical layers on top of a PCB are 

ral change means nothing. We at immersion4 have the most 

Covid-19 is spread via micro particles which is pollution due to 

not needed any more allowing electronic to be recyclable. That’s 

sustainable technology for the time being. For the past two years 

If I look at it properly, I will see that there is lots of opportunity! 

human activity. I wrote about this in February last year, it then 

what immersion4 brings to the market. 

we have been the lead sustainability company for the UN and the 

By 2025 no more clean water for 1.8 billion people, by 2030 no 

116 117

YOUR CYBER SECURITY, 

THEIR PRIORITY 

Cyber security is the practice of protecting systems, networks, 

and programs from digital attacks, and in 2021 we cannot deny 

the growing importance of cyber technologies impacting our 

everyday life. Diplomatic World magazine met with Mr Davy 

Wauters, Chief Administrator of CYBER, a Belgian company providing 

cyber security -defence -intelligence solutions worldwide. 

His interview below. 

The internet should never be a safe haven for cyber criminals 

and digital networks should not be the catalyst for destabilizing 

the security of a country or a business. We cannot tolerate cyber 

kidnapping in our society. 

HOW IMPORTANT ARE CYBER TECHNOLOGIES IN 

COUNTERING THIS THREAT? 

WHY SHOULD GOVERNMENTS/PRIVATE COMPA- 

NIES INVEST IN THEIR CYBER SECURITY? 

The evolution of cyber technologies is fantastic, but the arrival of 

those new technologies comes with the arrival of new threats as 

well. One of the biggest errors we see businesses make are the 

restrictions on budgets allocated to cyber defence systems. But 

if you think a cyber security solution is expensive, wait and see 

what it costs to get hacked. 

National security information, financial institutions, airports, 

hospitals, maritime traffic, social networks … Cyber technologies 

are everywhere and cyber attacks can happen at any time, some 

might even happen without you realizing it. 

The consequences of a cyber attack can be catastrophic both 

for governments & military as well as for private companies. You 

might remember in May this year when the US Colonial Pipeline 

Company ended up paying USD 4.4 million in ransom to cyber 

criminals, without even speaking of the costs of the disruption to 

their services. 

The COVID pandemic has exacerbated this even further and 

completely exposed our vulnerabilities. As the world transitioned 

to virtual everything – security briefings, education, meetings and 

family gatherings - attackers did too. They have greatly benefitted 

from the hurried switch to remote working and increased 

cyberthreats across the board. In fact, an investigation by The 

Washington Post found that hackers made almost USD 1 trillion 

during 2020 alone. 

In moments like these it is hard to see the value in saving 

resources on cyber solutions. 

Hacking has become an increasingly attractive activity due to the 

high monetary rewards, so it is only a matter of time when cyber 

criminals will turn to you. But once you have been hacked, it’s 

already too late. By exploiting your old and new vulnerabilities, 

they will be able to freeze your activities, steal data and money, 

and ask for ransom in exchange for freeing your assets and systems. 

Data, confidential information, financial activities, etc. all 

this must be protected with the highest level of security. 

Davy Wauters 

The time where we could buy a cheap firewall to protect our systems 

is over. The systems have become more and more sophisticated 

and almost everything we do is digital. 

In its 2020 report, the European Union Agency for Cyber Security 

said “the threats landscape is becoming extremely difficult to 

map. Not only attackers are developing new techniques to evade 

security systems, but threats are growing in complexity and 

precision in targeted attacks.”. 

To name a few cyber threat examples: attacks against human 

rights and democratic systems (elections), data theft, malware, 

web based attacks, disinformation campaigns and cyber espionage. 

Whether we like it or not, we are constantly under cyber 

threats and therefore now more than ever cyber security must be 

considered a top priority. 

Luckily, with the amount of expertise available, it is also easier 

these days than ever to cyber secure your systems, to prevent 

or at least prepare your organization for the increased hacking 

activity. 

One of CYBER’s objectives is to keep raising awareness on the 

importance of cyber security, so we are already planning to organize 

several webinars and events on a range of these specific 

topics. 

WHAT SERVICES CAN CYBER PROVIDE? 

We understand that the needs of each government and company 

are unique, therefore we aim to provide individual attention to 

cater to their specific requirements. 

In the world of cyber technologies, we can distinguish two 

teams: the red team (offensive security services that test your 

systems) 

and the blue team (defensive security systems). At CYBER our 

team of engineers is able to offer both solutions, which is extremely 

rare in this industry. 

118 119

Amongst our most popular services, we usually propose the 

Penetration Test (also called PenTest). Penetration testing is 

focused on finding the maximum number of security vulnerabilities 

in the target environment, which can allow attackers to 

enter the network, computer systems or cause violations in the 

business processes of the customer’s company. 

Such intervention requires methods and tools similar to those 

used by intruders, but causes no damage as it’s carried out by 

our own engineers with no malicious agenda and the test is done 

upon request of the client. Once the test is done, we provide a 

final report indicating the shortcomings in their security system 

and how to secure those vulnerabilities. 



Another part of our team provides a wide range of cryptographic 

solutions. 

Last but not least our cyber engineers are also able to deliver 

needed certifications to companies and governments. 

Of course, cyber technologies also come with a lot of new opportunities 

and CYBER is proud to help the world be a better and 

safer place. For example, in our portfolio for law enforcement 

agencies and intelligence organizations, we provide solutions to 

track and monitor individuals/criminals in order to stop them before 

they commit the crime or to find the perpetrators of a crime. 

We have a full panel of new and modern tools to help investigators 

protect our world. 

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WHO IS DAVY WAUTERS 

AND HIS COMPANY? 

After many years working at NATO Headquarters both as a communications 

officer as well as an Information, Communication 

and Technologies analyst, I decided to bring my expertise into 

the business world, and obtained my trader licence in defence 

equipment from the Belgian government. 

In 2019, I also developed a virtual reality app for diplomats and 

international organizations. 

Having worked for NATO and as international consultant for over 

14 years, I have a rich experience both in the corporate world 

and at the government as well as international organization level. 

During those last years, while considerably developing my network 

in the defence industry, I started to focus more and more on 

cyber technologies which, I believe, are the future. 

innovative security and cyber intelligence solutions to identify 

threats and meet mission-critical operational needs. 

Our customers include enterprise organizations, financial institutions 

and government agencies. We are aware of regional and 

global challenges nations and businesses are facing. 

At CYBER, our system engineers have gained proven in-the-field 

knowledge of security-driven technologies and work processes 

based on the successful implementation of dozens of projects 

for major intelligence and security establishments worldwide. 

Our professional services cover the complete project life cycle 

from initial planning and design, to development, quality assurance, 

installation, customer handover, maintenance, training 

and support. Our project implementation methodology ensures 

a smooth, rapid and predictable deployment effort on time and 

within budget. 

Due to the sensitive nature of our services this is a general presentation 

of our solutions. You can find additional information on 

our website www.cyber-security.brussels and we highly encourage 

you to contact us (dw@cyber-security.brussels) so that we 

can work in total confidentiality, and tailor our solutions to your 

needs. 

You have cyber-problems, we have cyber-solutions. Contact us! 

www.cyber-security.brussels 

So, it was a natural next step to team up with some of the top 

cyber engineers and expand my portfolio to cyber solutions. 

Established in the capital of Europe, Brussels, CYBER develops 


120

HEADLINES 

OF DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY 

FOR DIPLOMATIC AGENTS 

By Margriet Jans and Lauranne Piotrowski 1 

even lead to the definitive departure of the diplomat from the 

host state 21 . In the event of recidivism, the sending state can be 

offered to waive the immunity of the diplomat concerned so that 

he/she can appear in judicial proceedings in Belgium. (This rarely 

happens in reality. 22 ) 

In what follows, we will discuss two specific situations in which 

the immunity of the diplomat can be questioned. 

PERSONA NON GRATA 

The host state can invoke Article 9 of the VCDR to declare a 

diplomat ‘unacceptable’ (= persona non grata). No motivation is 

required 30 . If a diplomat is declared persona non grata, the sending 

state is obliged to recall the person concerned and terminate 

his/her mission in the receiving state. This is possible e.g. when a 

diplomat commits a crime and the request for waiver of immunity 

is not complied with 31 . 

DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY IN RENTAL CONTEXTS 

If the receiving state fails to respond to the request for a decla- 

WHAT IS DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY? 

a derived right of protection for the resident family members of 

diplomats and their staff of foreign nationality. In this way, the 

The question whether or not a diplomat can invoke his/her 

immunity in civil rent disputes is the subject of judicial debate. 

ration of persona non grata, proceedings against the diplomat 

concerned can be initiated in his or her sending state. This is 

because immunity only applies to offences committed in the 

With around 320 embassies, consulates, missions and 

possibility of diplomats and/or their family members being put 

This mainly concerns disputes about failure to pay rent on time, 

receiving State and does not apply to the sending State. Article 

various establishments of diplomats and Eurocrats, Belgium, 

under pressure is reduced 16 . 

disputes about the settlement of rental charges or damages to 

31(4) of the Vienna Convention indeed states that the diplomat 

and Brussels in particular, is an important political hub for 

property 23 . In a 1984 cassation court decision, following a default 

remains subject to the jurisdiction of the sending state and may, 

international diplomatic relations 2 . 

A diplomat is a person who is a member of the permanent staff 

representing a sending state to a receiving state or an international 

organization 3 . He/she enjoys, in addition to numerous privi- 

EXCEPTIONS TO THE PRINCIPLE OF DIPLOMATIC 

IMMUNITY 

A diplomat enjoys immunity from the jurisdiction of the receiving 

judgment against a diplomat for payment of rental charges and 

rental damage, it was found that the said judgment violated Article 

31 (1) of the VCDR 24 . 

Immunity is a general principle in which no distinction is to be 

when necessary, be tried by the courts of that state 32 . 

CONCLUSIONS 

leges, also diplomatic immunity 4 . Diplomatic immunity is defined 

State, except in three specific cases: 

made between the official’s acts relating to the performance of 

Diplomats enjoy immunity so that they can perform their duties 

by the International Court of Justice as: “a protection against 

1. actions in respect of buildings situated in the sending State 

his public duties, and those which are merely incidental to his/her 

without hindrance, independently and as efficiently as possible. 

the regular application of the laws and against the jurisdiction of 

(with the exception of property held on behalf of the State and 

private life. The diplomatic official has indeed immunity from the 

It is a non-absolute right introduced for functional reasons. Dip- 

legally constituted tribunals 5 .” 

destined for the mission); 

civil power of the host State, given that tenancy disputes are civil 

lomatic immunity has its limits. The concept of immunity should 

2. claims relating to succession in which a diplomat is involved 

disputes and do not form part of business actions 25 . 

not be equated with the term impunity. 

The rules governing diplomatic immunities constitute customary 

as a private person; 

international law, codified by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic 

3. claims relating to trade or professional activities outside the 

Nevertheless, in 2015, the judge of the Leuven Court of First 

A waiver of immunity (which can be consensually accorded by 

Relations of 18 April 1961 (“VCDR”) 6 . 

scope of official duties 17 . 

Instance ruled differently. The case also concerned a rental dis- 

the diplomat him/herself) enables to proceed with the trial of a 

pute. The landlord wanted to obtain payment of the rent arrears 

diplomat. 

The diplomatic agent can be removed from the jurisdiction of 

In addition, diplomatic immunity cannot be equated with diplo- 

and compensation for incurred rental damage and sued the 

the receiving state 7 to ensure that diplomatic missions would 

mats being above the law, as is explicitly stated in Article 41(1) of 

diplomat for this. The court relied on Article 6.1 of the European 

Diplomatic immunity does not exclude the possibility of going 

“function effectively as representatives of their countries” 8 . It is 

the VCDR. 18 This is frequently reminded of in road traffic matters. 

Convention on Human Rights to guarantee the landlord the right 

to the courts of the sending state, since the immunity does not 

intended to prevent interference with the exercise of the mis- 

Indeed, all diplomats must respect the host country’s traffic laws. 

of access to the courts and ruled that the diplomat could not 

apply to the courts of the latter. Diplomatic immunity is therefore 

sion of diplomatic representation in accordance with the rule of 

For instance, a diplomat who is subjected to an alcohol test 

invoke diplomatic immunity 26 . 

not erga omnes in nature. 

customary international law that a diplomatic mission should 

because he/she is suspected of driving while intoxicated will be 

not be obstructed 9 . In addition, it ensures that the understand- 

able to refuse to blow as there is a prohibition on enforcement in 

Many practitioners in Belgium take the view that, on an ad hoc 

Finally, there is the instrument of the persona non grata declara- 

ing between states is not compromised 10 . The diplomat enjoys 

the host state. However, this does not imply that the police of- 

basis, it must be verified whether the aggrieved party has other 

tion. This method is actually used to expel a diplomat from the 

immunity from the criminal, civil and administrative jurisdiction of 

ficer cannot take action. For instance, he/she will be able to fine 

reasonable means of redress (in light of article 6.1 of the Europe- 

territory. In practice, this rarely happens for fear of a possible 

the receiving State 11 . They can in principle not be the subject of 

and immobilize the vehicle to put an end to the situation which is 

an Convention on Human Rights). 27 However, in 2016, the Court 

countermeasure by the sending state. 

any investigation or prosecution by the host country 12 . 

clearly a danger to other road users 19 . 

of Cassation confirmed the 1984 cassation judgment and has 

ruled that rental disputes do not fall under any of the three afore- 

By Margriet Jans and Lauranne Piotrowski 

Diplomatic immunity was not created to benefit diplomats, but 

Committing an offense as a diplomat is therefore not without 

mentioned exceptions, as a result of which diplomatic immunity 

Both law students at the Catholic University of Leuven, hereby 

to ensure that they can carry out their work as representatives 

consequences. Moreover, the FPS Foreign Affairs can take a 

must be continued to apply. 28 This is in line with the generally 

expressing particular thanks to Billiet & Co, a Brussels-based 

of a country or a government without any difficulty 13 . Individuals 

number of measures in the event of serious offences. The head 

accepted views within Europe, under which (without the consent 

law firm specialized in legal services for diplomatic missions, 

who enjoy this special protection status do not get a free pass 

of the diplomat’s post will be informed, and the Direction of Pro- 

of the diplomat at hand) only the sending state can waive diplo- 

where they conducted a summer internship in this niche field. 1 

to ignore the national regulations of the host country and do not 

tocol and Homeland Affairs (DPG) can urge that the appropriate 

matic immunity in whole or in part. 

stand above the law in any way 14 . A diplomat, unlike a citizen, will 

actions are taken to make the diplomat take responsibility for the 

in principle not be able to be taken to court for breaking the law 

consequences of his/her action. For example, the diplomat can 

Landlords therefore often make use of the so-called ‘diplomatic 

of the host country 15 . 

be asked to compensate for the damage suffered 20 . If a diplomat 

clause’ in rental contracts. Such clause regulates the waiver of 

refuses to pay, his/her tax privileges may be suspended and/or 

immunity in case of damage to the property or unpaid rental 

According to international law, there is also, within certain limits, 

his head of mission may be recalled. Finally, refusal to pay may 

debts and is binding on the diplomat at hand 29 . 

122 123

1 

Both law students at the Catholic University of Leuven, expressing 

particular thanks to Billiet & Co, a Brussels -based law 

firm specialized in legal services for diplomatic missions. 

2 

C. DANIELS, “Immuniteit voor diplomaten geldt ook bij 

huurgeschillen”, De Juristenkrant, 2017, 4. 

3 

F. NAERT en J. WOUTERS, “Internationale immuniteiten in de 

Belgische rechtspraktijk”, Themis 2002-2003, nr.13, 12. 

4 

M. COGEN, Handboek Internationaal Recht, Mechelen, Kluwer, 

2003, 395; L.A. VERHEYEN, De diplomatieke onschendbaarheid. 

Een onbegrensd recht voor diplomaten?, Masterproef Rechten 

KU Leuven, 2017, 3. 

5 

IGH 20 november 1950, Colombia/Peru, ICJ Reports 1950, 284. 

6 

Cass. 28 oktober 2016, C.16.0039.N; J. WOUTERS, Internationaal 

recht in kort bestek (derde editie), Mortsel, Intersentia, 

2020, 229. 

7 

Vr. en Antw. Senaat, Vr. nr 5-10455, 26 november 2013, 

(K. VANLOUWE). 

8 

Cass. 28 oktober 2016, C.16.0039.N; S. LAMBRECHT, 

“Diplomatieke immuniteit bij huurgeschil”, NJW 2017, nr. 360, 

276; L.A. VERHEYEN, De diplomatieke onschendbaarheid. Een 

onbegrensd recht voor diplomaten?, Masterproef Rechten KU 

Leuven, 2017, 34. 

9 

Cass. 28 oktober 2016, C.16.0039.N. 

10 

Cass. 28 oktober 2016, C.16.0039.N; F. NAERT en 

J. WOUTERS, “Internationale immuniteiten in de Belgische 

rechtspraktijk”, Themis 2002-2003, nr.13, 12; L.A. VERHEYEN, 

De diplomatieke onschendbaarheid. Een onbegrensd recht voor 

diplomaten?, Masterproef Rechten KU Leuven, 2017, 3. 

11 

Art 31 VWDV. 

12 

L.A. VERHEYEN, De diplomatieke onschendbaarheid. Een 

onbegrensd recht voor diplomaten?, Masterproef Rechten 

KU Leuven, 2017, 40. 

13 

P. MARTIN, De diplomatieke loopbaan in België, Heule, 

INNI publishers, 2010, 53. 

14 

Artikel 41 lid 1 VWDV; L.A. VERHEYEN, De diplomatieke 

onschendbaarheid. Een onbegrensd recht voor diplomaten?, 

Masterproef Rechten KU Leuven, 2017, 12; P. MARTIN, 

De diplomatieke loopbaan in België, Heule, INNI publishers, 

2010, 55. 

15 



KU Leuven, 2017, 12. 

16 



KU Leuven, 2017, 29 en 49. 

17 


19 

F. DOPAGNE, B. THEEUWES, “Rechtbank van Antwerpen: 

Geen immuniteit voor een buitenlandse diplomaat die beschuldigd 

wordt van betrokkenheid bij de voorbereiding van een terroristische 

aanslag”, 2021, Monard Law, https://www.monardlaw. 

be/nl/publications/-/asset_publisher/sfxddM7ZdWTD/content/ 

antwerp-court-no-immunity-for-a-foreign-diplomat-accusedof-involvement-in-the-preparation-of-a-terrorist-attack/maximized?fbclid=IwAR1kdxJeJHDC392lQA--baIZNSTZV-WUM- 

McHgsf1BM4FWZK_2aoMkSDH0mg. 

20 


INNI publishers, 2010, 54-55. 

21 


INNI publishers, 2010, 55-56. 

22 

Art.32 VWDV; P. MARTIN, De diplomatieke loopbaan in België, 

Heule, INNI publishers, 2010, 45-62. 

23 


(K. VANLOUWE). 

24 

Cass. 4 oktober 1984, Arr. Cass. 1984-85, 204; Vr. en Antw. 

Senaat, Vr. nr 5-10455, 26 november 2013, (K. VANLOUWE). 

25 

Cass. 4 oktober 1984, Arr. Cass. 1984-85, 204; “Verhuren aan 

diplomaten? Opgepast!”, 2017, Adlex Advocaten, https://www. 

adlex.be/nl/artikels/10253-verhuren-aan-diplomaten-opgepast? 

fbclid=IwAR1uHCBE-hZHu_WPqkLHQVtMPqTzpKAMYfT6-LcneZLhJ09Gbe-6qcKg5UI 

26 

C. DANIELS, “Immuniteit voor diplomaten geldt ook bij 

huurgeschillen”, De Juristenkrant, 2017, 4. 

27 

Cass. 21 december 2009, AR C.03.0328.F, AC 2009, nr. 768; 

S. LAMBRECHT, “Diplomatieke immuniteit bij huurgeschil”, NJW 

2017, nr. 360, 276. 

28 

DANIELS, C., “Immuniteit voor diplomaten geldt ook bij 

huurgeschillen”, De Juristenkrant, 2017, 4; Vr. en Antw. Senaat, 

Vr. nr 5-10455, 26 november 2013, (K. VANLOUWE); 

S. LAMBRECHT, “Diplomatieke immuniteit bij huurgeschil”, 

NJW 2017, nr. 360, 276. 

29 

J. SALMON, Manuel de droit diplomatique, Brussel, Bruylant, 

1994, 333. 

30 

Art. 9 VWDV. 

31 

F. NAERT en J. WOUTERS, “Internationale immuniteiten in de 

Belgische rechtspraktijk”, Themis 2002-2003, nr.13, 42. 

32 

Art.31, lid 4 VWDV; Cass., 5 mei 1993, Arr. Cass. 1993, 443; 

A. BELLAL, Immunités et violations graves des droits humains, 

Brussel, Bruylant, 2011, 151; L.A. VERHEYEN, De diplomatieke 

onschendbaarheid. Een onbegrensd recht voor diplomaten?, 

Masterproef Rechten KU Leuven, 2017, 83. 

(K. VANLOUWE); C. DANIELS, “Immuniteit voor diplomaten geldt 

ook bij huurgeschillen”, De Juristenkrant, 2017, 4; F. NAERT 

en J. WOUTERS, “Internationale immuniteiten in de Belgische 

rechtspraktijk”, Themis 2002-2003, nr.13, 13; M.N. SHAW, 

International Law, 2017, 579. 

18 

Art. 41 VWDV. 

124 125

INTRODUCTION 

Nowadays, the concept of immunity from execution takes more 

and more importance in the international relationships between 

States. According to the immunity from execution, a State cannot 

take measures of constraint against the property of another 

State 2 . However, when a judgment is delivered against a stateowned 

enterprise (SOE), the question arises how that judgment 

should be executed. This article aims to provide an answer to 

that question. 

In order to answer this question in a clear way, we will first define 

the term state-owned enterprise. Secondly, we will discuss the 

issue of foreign direct investments as well as bilateral investment 

treaties. Thirdly, we will examine the implications of the immunity 

from execution applied to SOEs. Lastly, we will go through some 

case law about this topic. 

STATUS OF STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES 

ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL/DIPLOMATIC 

LAW 

A SOE is a commercial enterprise, with a separate legal personality, 

that is controlled by the government 3 . The state can control 

a SOE through different ways, among others management and/ 

or majority ownership 4 . The relationship between a SOE and 

the state depends on the measure in which the state is involved 

in that SOE. The implication of the state in a SOE has to be 

examined on a case-by-case basis. Some SOEs’ shares are 

fully owned by the state. Typically, this type of SOEs has less 

discretionary margin in their activities as the state controls these 

activities 5 . 

For instance, China created a supervision institution SASAC 

especially in order to control the decisions of some SOEs, which 

are fully owned by the Chinese state. On the contrary, other 

SOEs’ shares are only held partially or even in a minor way by 

the state. These SOEs tend to act more independently from the 

state 6 . 


AND IMMUNITY OF EXECUTION 

The OECD has established guidelines on Corporate Governance 

By Julie Geerts and Caroline Bontinck 1 

of SOEs in 2015. In those guidelines, they defined a SOE as being 

“any corporate entity recognised by national law as an enterprise 

and in which the state exercises ownership.” 7 This definition 

includes limited liability companies, joint stock companies and 

partnerships limited by shares. Statutory corporations are also 

SOEs if their purpose and activities are largely of an economic 

nature. The guidelines also give different meanings to ownership 

and control. The guidelines are applicable to enterprises that are 

under control of the state. 

Control can be found through two different ways. On the one 

hand, if the state is the ultimate beneficiary owner of the majority 

of voting shares. On the other hand, if the state exercises an 

‘equivalent degree of control’. The guidelines also list examples 

of what can be understood under ‘an equivalent degree of 

control’. An example is an enterprise “where legal stipulations or 

corporate articles of association ensure continued state control 

over an enterprise or its board of directors in which it holds a 

minority stake.” 8 

Throughout the twentieth century, SOEs have grown in size 

and importance 9 . According to a study from the International 

Monetary Fund (2020), “the share of SOE assets among the 

world’s 2000 largest firms has doubled to 20 percent” over the 

last decade 10 . The study also estimated that those shares are 

equivalent to half of global GDP, at USD 45 million in 2018 11 . 

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS AND BILATERAL 

INVESTMENT TREATIES 

The issue of SOEs is that they can undermine the market efficiency 

for several reasons 12 . First of all, unlike private enterprises, 

SOEs have unlimited financial resources as they are financed 

by the state 13 . As a consequence, competitors often encounter 

difficulties to compete with SOEs. 

Furthermore, in some cases SOEs have access to confidential 

information about the market demand 14 . Hence, these SOEs benefit 

from an advantage as they use this information in order 

to guide their production decisions. In this way, there is a discrimination 

between SOEs and private companies. 

For these reasons, the EU argues that foreign direct investments 

(FDI) coming from SOEs need to be restricted in order to guarantee 

an equal treatment in the market access 15 . However, FDIs 

remain important for the development of the EU. Accordingly, the 

EU is negotiating bilateral investment treaties (BIT) with different 

countries. These treaties aim to soften the restrictions on FDI and 

to put foreign and EU investors on an equal footing 16 . However, 

these treaties are not concluded easily. 

THE IMMUNITY OF EXECUTION APPLIED TO 


As stated in the introduction, the immunity of execution implies 

that states are immune to measures of constraint imposed by 

other states 17 . In other words, it restricts the powers of national 

courts and other organs to enforce certain binding decisions 18 . 

In the Botas case, there was an issue about whether the shares 

of the Turkish construction company Tepe were the property of 

the Turkish state or whether they were the property of Botas, 

which is a SOE 19 . The answer to this question is important because 

it defines whether or not the shares of Tepe are immune 

from execution. According to the Privy Council, there must exist 

a legal interest in the ownership of assets. Hence, the mere possession 

or control by the Turkish state over Tepe is not sufficient 

in order to grant immunity from execution to Tepe. 

CONCLUSION 

Through this article, we wanted to demonstrate the growing 

importance of SOEs nowadays. In any case, the immunity of 

execution and SOEs will never lead to the same conclusions, as 

there are many different kinds of SOEs, which will all influence 

the outcome of a case. Future case law must clarify the many 

grey areas that exist around this topic at the moment. 

1 

Both law students at the Catholic University of Leuven, 

expressing particular thanks to Billiet & Co, a Brussels -based 

law firm specialized in legal services for diplomatic missions. 

2 

M. FEIT, “Responsibility of the State under International Law 

for the Breach of Contract Committed by a State-Owned 

Entity”, Berkeley Journal of International Law 2010, 142; 

N. KONDRASHOV, “Sovereign Immunity from Execution 

(in Enforcement)”, Jus Mundi 2021, https://jusmundi.com/en/ 

document/wiki/en-sovereign-inmunity-from-execution-in-enforcement. 

3 

Y. WU, Reforming WTO Rules on State-Owned Enterprises, 

Singapore, Springer, 2019, 2. 

4 

Ibid. 

5 

I. WILLEMYNS, “Disciplines on State-Owned Enterprises in 

International Economic Law: Are We Moving in the Right 

Direction?”, Journal of International Economic Law 2016, https:// 

academic.oup.com/jiel/article/19/3/657/1751149?login=true. 

6 

Ibid. 

7 

Ibid. 

8 

Ibid. 

9 

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, “Fiscal Monitor, April 

2020: Policies to Support People During the COVID-19 Pandemic” 

https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/FM/Issues/2020/04/17/ 

Fiscal-Monitor-April-2020-Policies-to-Support-People-Duringthe-COVID-19-Pandemic-49278 

(consultatie op 30 juli 2021), 

47-49. 

10 

Ibid. 

11 

Ibid. 

12 

A. GARCIA-HERRERO and J. XU, “How to handle state-owned 

enterprises in EU-China investment talks”, Bruegel: Policy 

Contribution 2017, 2. 

13 

Y. HUANG, E. XIE, Y. LI and K.S. REDDY, “Does state ownership 

facilitate outward FDI of Chinese SOEs? Institutional development, 

market competition, and the logic of interdependence 

between governments and SOEs”, International Business Review 

2017, https://www-sciencedirect-com.kuleuven.e-bronnen.be/ 

science/article/pii/S0969593116300907. 

14 

F. BOVA and L. YANG, “State-Owned Enterprises, Competition, 

and Disclosure”, Contemporary Accounting Research 2018, 596. 

15 

Ibid. 

16 

Ibid. 

LEGAL SERVICES FOR DIP 

Billiet & Co lawyers advices and represents States, International Org 

diplomatic missions in Brussels — as well as members of their staff, i 

government officials, leading multinational corporations and non-go 

We understand that you require unique and sensitive services, and w 

to provide them, in a range of languages such as English, Dutch, Fre 

Spanish, Greek, Ukrainian, and Romanian. 

The firm has wide experience in legal issues surrounding Seat Agree 

Obligations of the guest mission and its hosting State, Investor-State 

disputes and all kinds of legal questions involving International Orga 

clients before national and international courts and arbitral tribunal 

17 

N. KONDRASHOV, “Sovereign Immunity from Execution 

(in Enforcement)”, Jus Mundi 2021, https://jusmundi.com/en/ 

document/wiki/en-sovereign-inmunity-from-execution-in-enforcement. 

18 

A. REINISCH, “European Court Practice Concerning State 

OUR LEGAL SERVICES FOR DIPLOMACY 

Immunity from Enforcement Measures”, The European Journal of 

International Law, Vol.17 nr. 4, 2006, (803) 803. 

Legal compliance with Belgian, European, International laws and regulations 

19 

Botas Diplomatic Petroleum immunity Pipeline / Consular Corporation support v Tepe Insaat Sanayii 

AS [2018] Public UKPC International 31 . Law / EU Law 

Trade and WTO law, treaty interpretation and trade negotiations 

International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution 

Enforcing International Arbitral Awards in Belgian Courts 

Enforcement proceedings against State entities 

Sanctions law and Export controls 

Global fraud and Asset Recovery 

Foreign Direct Investment in Belgium, EU, Russia and CIS countries 

International Employment and Labour law 

Immigration and International Mobility 

Avenue Louise 146 | Brussels | +(32) 2 643 33 01 | info@billiet-co.be 

KEY CO 

Johan Billi 

johan.billie 

Dr. Konsta 

konstantin 

Philippe Bi 

philippe.bi 

Vladimir L 

vladimir.lin 

126 127 

AD-BillietCo.indd 2

Diplomatic World Magazine supports and highlights the incredible 

efforts made by the many global organizations and businesses 

that help the world fight climate change. In this edition, 

we have spoken to eJet Aerospace founders Raymond François 

Aubourg and Saul Tarazona, innovators helping transform the air 

transport industry. 

WHAT IS EJET AEROSPACE AND YOUR NEW WAY 

TO FLY? 

François Aubourg: eJet Aerospace is an organization that after 

20 years of research and development (R&D) is now bringing 

to the transport industry a very innovative electric propulsion 

system with a performance never seen before in the history of 

aviation using electric power only. Our advanced propulsion 

technologies and high-performance aircraft designs make air 

transport safer, more affordable, more efficient and incomparably 

more climate-friendly. 

Saul Tarazona: Operational costs of our aircraft are four times 

smaller than those of a helicopter. Our vision is to make aviation 

less complicated, easier to fly and easier to maintain, adding 

up to higher safety and considerably lowering the air transport 

costs. 

IS THIS TECHNOLOGY PROVED AND PATENTED? 

François Aubourg: Yes, we have patented the Cold Jet 

Propulsion System as (SMAPAD ® ), and proved it works 

through various scale models and advanced computerized 

simulation software used by NASA. We also received support 

from the two top aerospace universities, UCLA in Los Angeles 

USA, and Cranfield University in the UK, that lead and attest the 

scientific discoveries on fluid dynamics physics. 

WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL OF THIS TECHNOLOGY? 

SMAPAD ® differs from the traditional mechanics used by the 

aeronautical industry during the last century; it is truly the air 

EJET AEROSPACE 

THE NEW WAY TO FLY 

Affordable Air Transport Services using 

a New Cold Jet Propulsion Evtol Aircraft transforming 

the Aviation Industry 

propulsion system of the future. It has the potential to be the 

replacement of traditional engines that pollute a lot in terms 

of carbon footprint and noise, for example, piston engines, jet 

engines, and turboprop engines. In the future with more R&D, 

we will be able to use the SMAPAD ® technology in alternative 

transport solutions for 

water, land, and air. 

WHAT ARE THE APPLICATIONS AND BENEFITS OF 

THIS TECHNOLOGY AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT? 

a. Personal transportation 

b. Commercial air transport 

c. National Security and Defence are very relevant applications 

because SMAPAD ® has four inherent stealth capabilities: 

• No heat is produced, so no heat seeker missile or thermal 

camera can find it; 

• Very low radar signature, since most of the materials are 

plastic or composites; 

• Extremely low noise generation, unlike the helicopter; 

Vertical take-off and landing capabilities, so it does not require 

runways or helipads, but can land anywhere that is safe. 

HOW CAN IT HELP GOVERNMENTS FIGHT 

CLIMATE CHANGE? 

SMAPAD ® Fully Electric Cold Jet Propulsion System 

Saul Tarazona: United Nations incentivizes governments to invest 

in R&D for technologies that can solve real problems with real 

solutions that can radically change the world we live in using 

green and sustainable energy solutions. The support comes in 

many ways, but the key are carbon credits, allowing industries 

and governments to regulate and reach the level of carbon 

neutrality. With eJet Aerospace, we will be able to generate these 

carbon credits enabling trading in the financial markets. 

SUCH AN AMBITIOUS CONCEPT IS NOT EASY 

TO REALIZE, HOW CAN GOVERNMENTS ENABLE 

AND SUPPORT ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND 

INNOVATIONS LIKE EJET AEROSPACE? 

Saul Tarazona: From my 15 years’ experience with innovative 

technologies, I found five main triggers that will enable innovation: 

a. Government Strategy for the Future. Here you have some 

examples of excellence: Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, 

Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 

featuring Saudi Vision 2030. 

b. Regulatory sandboxes. Governments can enhance further their 

innovation ecosystem by creating regulatory sandboxes where 

entrepreneurs can build and test their innovative solutions 

safely. 

c. Adequate funding, investing now in the technologies of the future 

of the nation, as innovation technologies provide multiple 

sources of income providing jobs and taxes income. 

d. Tax incentives for high-risk early Angel Investors. United 

Kingdom applies this model where they offer tax incentives. 

e. Tax incentives for organizations doing R&D, with Canada leading 

the way in providing approximately 75% in tax incentives, 

with the United States at around 10%, incentivizing start-ups 

to hire local talent. 

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EJET 

AEROSPACE, SMAPAD ® COLD JET PROPULSION, 

AND GJET? 

Saul Tarazona: eJet Aerospace is the holding company that owns 

the universal exclusive rights to exploit three patents: 

• Invention Patent: Cold Jet Propulsion system SMAPAD ® 

• Utility Patent: Aircraft Models: GiróJet, in short (GJet). 

• Registration of 2 Industrial Designs: Æón 2 passengers, 

and the Kóan 4 passengers’ limousine. 

HOW HAS THIS TECHNOLOGY BEEN RECEIVED 

GLOBALLY SO FAR? 

François Aubourg: We have received numerous awards for the 

best technological project, best industrial production innovation, 

and other awards that have helped with the funding and 

Æón 2-Seater eVTOL / VSL Ultralight Rotorcraft 

strategical developments worth over two million dollars. We were 

especially proud to receive an international award in 2013 by 

the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as the best 

technology-based industrial project from Latin America. The 

latest award was in 2019 by the Colombian Ministry of Science 

and Technology where Gjet eVTOL aircraft received award as the 

best transport innovation. 

COULD YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR 

BACKGROUND? 

François Aubourg: I am a French scientist and industrial engineer 

with a Master’s in Physics and a Ph.D. in Fluid Dynamics. 

I am very passionate about aviation, and as a pilot I have flown 

airplanes and helicopters all over the world. My research in 

aerodynamics has allowed me to create an advanced ecological 

system based on fluid dynamics, which was awarded in scientific 

and technological innovation competitions. 

Saul Tarazona: I am a Colombian that has travelled the world 

helping organizations with innovative technologies from ideation 

to full project execution and fundraising. I am educated as an 

Aeronautical engineer, with an MBA from Coventry University, 

and this has allowed me to work for three governments over 

13 years: USA, Colombia and the United Arab Emirates Special 

Operations Command and Joint Aviation Command. My focus as 

a consultant and advisor is innovation technologies, I am always 

looking for the latest technologies that give us an edge in the 

field of operations. I have been known in the emerging technologies 

investment industry in the Middle East and in the USA as 

“Blockchain Advisor”, I became an advisor in innovation technologies 

for governments and organizations looking to implement 

those technologies as part of their future strategies. 

For more information: www.gjet.tech & info@gjet.tech 

“The 21st century will be for aviation like the 20th century 

was for the automotive” - Raymond François Aubourg 

128 129

Going deeply into history, it can be seen that according to some 

sources of information, cotton was first mentioned in Uzbekistan 

approximately 4,000 years ago, and the first cotton processing 

occurred in the same period of time. However, an historical overview 

provides that the methods of cotton-production changed 

many times over, sometimes not for the better. 

That is for instance the case during Czarist Russia, which considered 

and used Turkestan region as a useful area for its mercantilist 

objectives in cotton needs. Only raw material was purchased, 

which was, moreover, bought at much lower price. From that 

processed cotton the right goods were manufactured in Russian 

factories. Thus, Uzbekistan served Russia as a raw material supplier 

for a long time until becoming independent. 

The first cotton processing plant was constructed in 1847 in 

Tashkent. A few years later, such plants were constructed in 

Andijan, Kattakurgan, Samarkand, Margilan, Kokand and 

Namangan as well, that led to enormous technological development 

of the textile industry in Uzbekistan. 

In 1910, the Turkestan region provided 43 per cent of the cotton 

consumption in Russia. In the period of 1914-1915, 249,000 tons 

of cotton lint were exported to Russia. To deliver large quantities 

of unprocessed cotton to Russia was not economically 

profitable; for this reason, cotton gin plants were constructed in 

Turkestan. 

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW 

OF THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY 

IN UZBEKISTAN 

The textile industry is one of the main 

strategic directions for Uzbekistan 

It should be highlighted that despite enormous production 

volumes in the period 1925-1991, in Uzbekistan cotton lint was 

still exported to other countries as raw material. Ready-made 

textile products had to be imported from other countries, which 

of course was not economically profitable. The textile industry 

was not developed. Lack of development in terms of technique 

and technology, poor innovation and investment activities, high 

power consumption and labour-intensity led to the poor competitiveness 

of domestic goods produced from cotton. 

Since independence, the decision to develop the textile industry 

was made, which had to be done from virtually zero. Since 

1995, for this purpose, more than USD 2.5 billion worth of foreign 

investments have been attracted to this sector. Over 300 projects 

for the construction or modernization of textile factories with 

complete technological cycle – that is, from yarn production to 

ready-made goods – have been realized. If in 1994 the textile 

export volume of textile and clothing-knitted products comprised 

USD 7 million, by the year of 2006 it had reached USD 300 

million, by 2011 USD 650 million, and by 2015 it exceeded USD 

1 billion. Thus, Uzbekistan has done much work and fundamentally 

changed the policy of the textile industry in the Republic. 

Over the years of independence, factories with great productive 

potential have been created. 

From September 12 to 14, a delegation of prominent figures led 

by Jan Jambon, Flemish Minister-President, travelled to Tallinn, 

the capital of Estonia. They visited the exhibitions ‘From Memling 

to Rubens’ and ‘Crazy about Dymphna’, which were both created 

through the cooperation of The Phoebus Foundation with the 

Estonian art museums. 

At the Kadriorg Palace they enjoyed ‘From Memling to Rubens’: 

a wonderful selection of more than 120 masterpieces by Hans 

Memling, Quinten Metsys, Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony Van 

Dyck from The Phoebus Foundation’s collection of Old Masters. 

THE PHOEBUS 

FOUNDATION 

The exhibition ‘Crazy about Dymphna’ focuses on the altarpiece 

of Saint Dymphna, painted around 1505 by Goossen Van der 

Weyden. After an intensive restoration and research campaign, 

the altarpiece can be admired in its full glory at the Niguliste 

Museum in Tallinn. 

An interactive scenography takes the visitor on an adventure 

through the remarkable history of the artwork and Saint 

Dymphna herself. 

Thus, primary cotton processing industry took place. In 1908, 

there were 204 factories in Turkestan, by the year of 1915 their 

number had reached 235. The Fergana Valley became the largest 

manufacturer of cotton in Central Asia, that for instance, in 1913 

gathered 62 per cent of the entire amount of shipped cotton. 

Two thirds of cotton plants were located in Turkestan. 

In 1913, a giant cotton-oil-pressing partnership Besh-Bosh 

was formed, which purchased more than 30 per cent of cotton 

produced in Turkestan region, exported 80,000 tons of cotton lint 

and cultivated 160,000 seeds. 

Photo: Shutterstock Curator Dr. Katharina Van Cauteren shows Jan Jambon, Minister-President of Flanders, around the exhibition 'From Memling to Rubens' Photo: Luk Monsaert 

130 131

AT HOME WITH JORDAENS 

FRANS HALS MUSEUM 

HAARLEM 

This autumn, The Phoebus Foundation is a guest 

at the Frans Hals Museum for the exhibition 

At Home with Jordaens 

It is the first monographic exhibition of the seventeenth-cen- 

The works of Jordaens in the collection of The Phoebus Founda- 

tury Antwerp master Jacob Jordaens in the Netherlands. The 

tion have recently been thoroughly studied in terms of art history 

Phoebus Foundation has lent a selection of exceptional works of 

and material technology. Many recently discovered insights are 

art by this master especially for this collaboration. After decades 

presented that shed new light on the life, the artistic creation 

of private ownership, numerous paintings will be on display to 

process and the characteristic individuality of the master. 

the general public for the first time. From the 15th of October 

Sven Van Dorst, head of the restoration studio of the Chancel- 

you can admire these exceptional pieces by Jordaens in Haar- 

lery of The Phoebus Foundation, took a closer look at Jordaens’ 

lem. The reconstructed show room with the ceiling pieces that 

creation process and made surprising discoveries: ‘When we 

Jordaens painted with his own hands for his Antwerp home is 

restored the master’s extensive collection of paintings and 

the overwhelming icing on the cake. Here visitors feel as if they 

drawings in the studio of The Phoebus Foundation, we took the 

are ‘at home with Jordaens’, between works as the artist himself 

time to study it up close. We used innovative image analysis 

intended them to be shown. 

techniques and were able to take a closer look at the painter’s 

creative process. And guess what, he just couldn’t resist con- 

This exhibition places the seventeenth-century painter Jacob 

stantly reworking, adapting or simply painting over his own work. 

Jordaens (1593-1678) in the spotlight. Jordaens is often mentioned 

as number three next to Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) 

And that makes him very interesting and human. Beneath all his 

bravado, Jordaens was a restless soul, full of self-doubt.” 

Curator Dr. Katharina Van Cauteren 


and Antoon Van Dyck (1599-1641), the figureheads of Antwerp 

The absolute highlight of this exhibition is the exceptional 

Baroque painting. Jordaens is, certainly internationally, the lesser 

ensemble of Jordaens’ ceiling pieces. For the first time ever, 

known artist of these three masters, but that is certainly not right. 

the nine canvases are brought together after a lengthy period 

Where Rubens and Van Dyck painted for the elite, Jordaens 

of restoration and art historical research. And this according to 

created his works for the bourgeoisie. 

Jordaens’ original design plan, against the ceiling of the Frans 

Hals Museum. 

The townspeople were his clientele. Jordaens’ paintings are 

adapted to them: they are personal, recognizable, moralistic but 

Dr. Leen Kelchtermans, scientific assistant at the Chancellery of 

also satirical and humorous. Dr. Katharina van Cauteren, Chief of 

The Phoebus Foundation, focused for five years on preparatory 

Staff of the Chancellery of The Phoebus Foundation, is curating 

art historical research in archives and libraries about this special 

the exhibition in collaboration with Marrigje Rikken (Frans Hals 

space: ‘Jordaens created these works for his own house. They 

Museum). Van Cauteren: ‘Jacob Jordaens is a shrewd entrepre- 

hung in the main room of his home, the show room. Here he 

neur and knows his audience through and through. He gives his 

received guests and all official affairs took place. Jordaens liter- 

customers what they want: tender naked, because sex sells. And 

ally wanted to overwhelm his visit with his mastery, because the 

humor, often in the form of real butt chatter. His paintings are 

ceiling pieces are a unique example of technical skill.’ 

the seventeenth-century version of FC De Kampioenen! He also 

‘At home with Jordaens’ offers a unique view of this baroque 

succeeds in making himself a brand through his recognizable 

artist from Antwerp. Enter the world of Jordaens, where entre- 

painting style. 

preneurship, ingenuity, humor and daring play the leading roles. 

Welcome to the master! 

A painting by Jordaens was as recognizable to the contemporary 

viewer as a Louis Vuitton handbag today. Of course, that doesn’t 

‘At home with Jordaens’, from 15 October to 31 January, 2021 in 

do him any harm. Jordaens will be one of the richest inhabitants 

the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem. 

of Antwerp.” 

Curator Dr. Katharina Van Cauteren 


Fernand Huts and Barbara Dietrich 


132 133

Jacob Jordaens, Portret van Elisabeth Jordaens, de dochter van de kunstenaar, ca. 1637 – 1645, Olieverf op doek, 79,4 x 63 cm, The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerpen 

Jacob Jordaens, Zo de ouden zongen, zo piepen de jongen, ca. 1640 – 1645, Olieverf op doek, 211 x 189 cm, The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerpen 

134 135

Jacob Jordaens, De wijze en de nar, ca. 1650, Olieverf op doek, 95 x 75 cm, The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerpen 

Jacob Jordaens, Mercurius draagt Psyche naar de Olympus (plafondstuk), ca. 1652, Olieverf op doek, 226 x 123 cm , The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerpen 

136 137



Jacob Jordaens, Heilige Begga, ca. 1635, Olieverf op doek, 127 x 101 cm, The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerpen 


138

FASHION HOUSE NATAN 

DRESSES MADONNA 

IN THE ANTWERP CATHEDRAL 

FOR ‘FASHION 2.021’ 

Admire the statue of the Madonna in Antwerp’s Cathedral of 

Our Lady, dressed in a creation designed by couturier Edouard 

Vermeulen from the fashion house Natan. 

MoMu asked Edouard Vermeulen to create a new and contemporary 

silhouette for the Madonna statue in Antwerp’s Cathedral 

of Our Lady, which dominates the city’s skyline. Vermeulen went 

on to invite the writer Hinda Bluekens (Hinda House) to create 

a poem for this project. Hinda Bluekens: ‘We are embraced by 

women, by mothers. There’s a promise in the word mother that 

you will be cared for. Yet you don’t need to bear children to master 

the art of mothering. This poem is for every woman with 

a mothering instinct.’ 

The creation is inspired by the most recent summer collection by 

Natan Couture. The dress, with a boat neck, is made from a large 

quantity of fabric, which adds volume to the dress and sleeves. 

Edouard Vermeulen chose an emerald green Shantung silk, a 

noble and luxurious fabric, commonly used in haute couture. 

Vermeulen: ‘The choice of colour is no coincidence. Green is the 

symbol of hope, a reminder of the Fashion 2.021 festival, and a 

colour that brings luck and encourages tranquillity and peace.’ 

Photo: Jan Engels 



140 141

For more than one thousand years, churchgoers have entrust- 

which is used to adorn the Madonna statue in most of Antwerp’s 

ed their joys and sorrows to the statue of the Madonna, as the 

patron of Antwerp who even survived the Iconoclasm. 

For centuries, the clothes worn by Madonna statues in churches 

in the Southern Netherlands were founded on fashion in the 

Spanish court from the sixteenth century. This is also why the 

churches. 

In the past, wealthy ladies made donations to the Madonna 

statues. These were mainly valuable garments from which smaller 

outfits were then fashioned for the statue. This tradition died 

out entirely over the course of the nineteenth century, at least 

The choice of colour is no coincidence. 

Green is the symbol of hope, a reminder 

of the Fashion 2.021 festival, and a 

colour that brings luck and encourages 

tranquillity and peace. 

It is wonderful to see how people choose 

Mary, a dear mother, to entrust their concerns 

and despair, and share their joy and 

their gratitude. We are delighted so see her 

so beautifully clad in a new outfit. 

adorned Madonna is sometimes referred to as the “Spanish 

Madonna”. Her outfit consisted of a voluminous skirt beneath a 

long cloak. This has since become the typical style of clothing 

in Antwerp. From September, thanks to the collaboration with 

the house of Natan, it will once again be possible to admire the 

Madonna statue wearing contemporary fashion. 

Edouard Vermeulen, 

Couturier Natan 

Bart Paepen, 

Priest at the Cathedral of Our Lady 

Kristina Engels and Edouard Vermeulen, Couturier Natan Photo: Jan Engels Photo: Jan Engels 

142 143

ARC DE TRIOMPHE 

WRAPPED 

Guy Pieters helps realize 

Christo’s ultimate dream 

L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, a temporary artwork for Paris. 

Realized in close collaboration with the Centre des Monuments 

Nationaux and the Centre Pompidou, the Arc de Triomphe was 

wrapped in 25,000 square meters of recyclable polypropylene 

fabric in silvery blue, and 3,000 meters of red rope from 

September 18 to October 3, 2021. 

In 1961, three years after they met in Paris, Christo and Jeanne- 

Claude began creating works of art in public spaces. One of their 

projects was to wrap a public building. At the time, Christo, who 

was renting a small room near the Arc de Triomphe, made several 

studies of a project there, including, in 1962, a photomontage 

of the Arc de Triomphe wrapped, seen from the Avenue Foch. In 

the 1970s and 1980s, Christo created a few additional studies. 

Almost 60 years later, the project was finally concretized. 

L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped is entirety funded through the sale 

of Christo’s preparatory studies, drawings and collages of the 

project as well as scale models, works from the 1950s and 1960s 

and original lithographs on other subjects. It received no public 

funds. 

The Centre des Monuments Nationaux, the government institution 

that manages the Arc de Triomphe, is pleased about the 

realization of a project that demonstrates its commitment to contemporary 

creation and that honours one of the most emblematic 

monuments in Paris and in France. 

The Eternal Flame, in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 

at the Arc de Triomphe, continued to burn throughout the preparation 

and display of the artwork. 

As always, veterans’ associations and volunteers committed 

to the values of the French Republic ensured the continuity of 

remembrance and the daily ceremony of rekindling the flame that 

pays homage to the Unknown Soldier and those who lost their 

lives fighting for France. 

Christo and Jeanne-Claude have always made clear that their 

artworks in progress be continued after their deaths. 

“This is the achievement of a 60-year-old dream, a crazy dream 

come true,” said French President Emmanuel Macron, who 

spoke at the inauguration of L’Arc de Triomphe on Thursday, 

September 16, joining Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and other 

dignitaries. 

144 145

Kristina Engels, Guy Pieters and Princess Delphine of Belgium 


Photo: Jacques Chuilon 

Cath Engels and President Macron 

Photo: Jan Engels Kristina Engels and Jan Engels 


146 147

Guy Pieters, Kristina Engels, Christo and Jan Engels 


Kristina Engels and Christo 


Kristina Engels and Christo 


148

KOEN VANMECHELEN 

THE STATE HERMITAGE MUSEUM 

IN SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA 

PRESENTS GLASSTRESS: 

WINDOW TO THE FUTURE 

From 11 September to 31 October 2021, The State Hermitage 

Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia presents Glasstress: 

support of the Consulate General of Italy in Saint Petersburg, 

Ermitage Italia, Vilaggio Globale International and Kerema Marazzi. 

Window to the Future. Organised in collaboration with 

Fondazione Berengo and Berengo Studio, the exhibition 

features more than 50 works created in glass by contemporary GLASSTRESS. WINDOW TO THE FUTURE 

artists on the Venetian island of Murano. 

Artworks are two-way mirrors. They reflect on one side and are 

The participants include award-winning figures such as Ilya and 

Emilia Kabakov, the Chapman Brothers, Jaume Plensa, Hans Op 

de Beeck, Ai Weiwei, Renate Bertlmann, Koen Vanmechelen, Michael 

Joo, Petah Coyne, Mat Collishaw, and Laure Prouvost. The 

exhibition is curated by Dimitri Ozerkov, head of the State Hermitage’s 

Department of Contemporary Art. Koen Vanmechelen is 

transparent on the other. They are windows to an era and can 

reveal one’s reflection against the background of the past. At the 

same time, they can unveil how we will once be perceived by 

those watching us from the future since art is thought from the 

future. Glass means exposure. This exhibition offers a range of 

windows to what is being exposed about the actual condition of 

Evolution of a Hybrid © Koen Vanmechelen, Glasstress – Window to the Future, State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg (RU), 2021 

Photo: Valentine Khrebtova 

the art director of the show. The exhibition is being held with the the human-animal. 

Every work in this exhibition, is a glass shard of the broken 

mirror-window hyper object, which is our contemporary reality 

as we perceive it. Every individual work is a wormhole that might 

give future spectators an inclination of what once formed our 

rapidly transforming collective identity. The almost sanctimonious 

context of the State Hermitage, which combines past and 

future, meets Berengo Studio which offers a view of the world 

from the cosmopolitan island of Murano. The Studio gives birth 

to windows by inviting artists who are in themselves a world and 

become a window. All windows are one facet of the giant mirror 

that Berengo Studio has become during the past decades. Without 

this fertility from the outside, the fragile island will disappear. 

As such, Glasstress. Window to the Future is a contemplation 

on our times, a rapidly changing hinge time. An era of upheaval, 

rapid transformation, datafication, and hybridization caused by 

globalization. A period of sweeping changes that rearrange the 

fragments which we once thought makes us human. That will 

result in a new human species. Creation arises from destruction. 

In the future, the unique essence of the new human being, its 

‘inscape,’ will reveal itself. The artworks of Glasstress. 

Window to the Future gives an inkling of what this might be. And 

what our coming position in the arena of nature will be. The exhibition 

catapults us away from our world. That allows us to view 

the strange object we are, on the verge of becoming a conscious 

subject about its position on the Tree of Life. 

Glasstress. Window to the Future positions the visitor as a 

traveller at the gates of wisdom. The works stand in themselves 

as future images. Every one of them carries a vision. At the 

same time, the exhibition offers us a window to our digital age, 

in which the sanctity of our homes and private lives have been 

exposed to others. Is this a symbol of the coming transparency 

of being? Glass is the new medium to express this most stylishly. 

It has timeless qualities yet is situated in the future. 

I am not only philosophically referring to this, but I am also 

referring to the sustainability of the material used. It can be used 

again. Glass is captured light, transfixed in time, permeable. This 

implies the knowledge captured in it can be filled in by everyone 

who sees it. It allows the human-animal to reveal itself as it is 

and as it perceives itself. Energy, of which an abundance of it is 

captured in glass, defines the form. The clash between glass and 

other materials symbolizes the conflict between perceived reality 

and perceived unreality. These ingredients make an image of the 

future. 

It is up to the visitor to construct his mirror based on the various 

ingredients which he encounters. 

Ai Weiwei’s new installation Black Chandelier in Murano Glass for 

example shows the human condition. A skeleton, bones, organs 

are spilling out. There are no secrets anymore about the 

human species. All is exposed, open, ready for investigation 

Installation view, Glasstress – Window to the Future, State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg (RU), 2021 

Photo: Svetlana Ragina 

150 151

and experimentation. Lino Tagliapietra’s work captures the 

essence of technology’s transformative powers. His seductive 

vases, technical feats resemble skyscrapers. Moreover, they 

convey certain sensibilities dominating our age. 

Monica Bonvicini’s work In My Hand shows two hands extending 

from a wall holding a belt. Abuse always lurks in the shadows 

when our internal kitchen is revealed through digital systems, 

our new window on the world, and the data it produces. 

The question of identity pops up in Tony Oursler ‘s Eigenface 

M*orb•. At first glance, the dark mask has a sadomasochistic 

undertone. It conceals the face yet reveals part of the sexual 

make-up of the person it hides. The geometric patterning on the 

front refers to the algorithmic points in facial recognition technology. 

Our faces have become a collection of data, readable by 

artificial intelligence. Combined, these points are supposed to 

open a window to who we are. This is how we see ourselves. 

But large parts of our identity remain in the dark. The eyes are 

the windows to the soul. Ilya & Emilia Kabakov’s The Monument 

to the Eternal Emigrant has no eyes, no face, and no identity. He 

has become part of the wall that needs to keep him out — just 

another slab of meat. 

Karen LaMonte, Glasstress – Window to the Future, State Hermitage Museum, 

St Petersburg (RU), 2021, Photo: Svetlana Ragina 

Mat Collishaw’s A Different Self shows the reflection of yourself, 

however distorted. Put in another frame, another context, another 

age. The woman inside the black Venetian mirror, our reflection, 

looks at herself while being looked at. The human-animal 

never ceases to be fascinated by itself. 

I myself am presenting a new work; Evolution of a hybrid. A 

collision of two installations; the Egg Cord, an excessive cord 

of glass eggs hanging from the ceiling and a ceramic bust of a 

woman with Russian features. This is Temptation. She is being 

embraced by a glass snake and a double-headed Russian eagle 

from glass. On her fractioned skull rests a glass egg in perfect 

balance. The egg cord symbolizes the transparent fertilization 

of the world. Its outcome, while unknown at the time of fecundation, 

is Temptation. 

Where does all this end? We will need a new identity, another 

form to cope with the instability we’ve created. The burning world 

as we knew it, is being anthropomorphized at an incredible speed. 

And we have become an unwelcome spectator at its struggle to 

survive. 

Will a yet invisible danger inhibit the birth of this new identity, or 

will it lead to it. Will the human species be assimilated, or will it 

welcome the hybridity needed to survive? 

Koen Vanmechelen 

Installation view, Glasstress – Window to the Future, State Hermitage Museum, 

St Petersburg (RU), 2021, Photo: Svetlana Ragina 

Why does Koen Vanmechelen have a 

column in Diplomatic World? 

Unlike anyone else, this visionary artist 

bridges the divides between cultures, 

disciplines, communities and generations. 

Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen (1965) 

is an internationally acclaimed 

conceptual artist. 

His exploration of crucial issues as 

diversity, fertility and identity is translated 

into highly idiosyncratic works 

and projects. 

Decoding and recoding nature's language, 

the artist tackles contemporary issues 

regarding human rights, sustainability 

and multiculturalism. 

Mikhail Piotrovsky, General Director of the State Hermitage and art director Koen Vanmechelen, Glasstress – Window to the Future, State Hermitage 

Museum, St Petersburg (RU), 2021, Photo: Svetlana Ragina 

Opening, Glasstress – Window to the Future, State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg (RU), 2021, photo Svetlana Ragina 

152 153

FALLEN ASTRONAUT 

BY PAUL VAN HOEYDONCK 

Astronaut David Scott of Apollo 15 writes world history by placing 

the artwork ‘Fallen Astronaut’ by Paul Van Hoeydonck on the 

moon. This statue symbolizes universal man and so the Antwerp 

artist was the only artist ever to have a sculpture on the moon. 

Exactly 50 years later, on August 2, 2021, the life-sized version, 

entitled ‘Man In Space’ (aluminium, 180 x 38.5 x 34 cm) landed in 

the garden of the Botanic Sanctuary Hotel in Antwerp. 

The artist Paul Van Hoeydonck and Patrick Declerck of WM 

Gallery inaugurated the artwork. 

The ceremony will be continued this autumn with the solo exhibition 

“Looking Back to the Future” by Paul Van Hoeydonck at WM 

Gallery. This exhibition shows new and previously unseen work 

by the artist. This exclusive expo on the occasion of the 50th 

anniversary of Man In Space starts on October 23 in Antwerp. 

WM Gallery by Patrick Declerck Wolstraat 45, 2000 Antwerpen 

info@wmgallery.be - www.wmgallery.be - +32 475 25 14 02 

Man In Space in Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp 

Patrick Declerck and Marleen Meyers 

Photos: Diplomatic World 

Patrick Declerck, Marleen Meyers and Paul Van Hoeydonck 


Patrick Declerck and Paul Van Hoeydonck 


154 155

156 

Barbara Dietrich and Paul Van Hoeydonck 

Photos: Diplomatic World

FALLING IN LOVE WITH 

GEOMETRIC DANCES 

BY ALICE ANDERSON IN BRUSSELS 

Alice Anderson is back again at La Patinoire – Galerie Valerie 

There is a power in every object that goes far beyond the simple 

Bach. This Franco-British artist is in love more than ever with 

primary function of the object. Interacting with technological ob- 

Art and Culture. Enter the dance of Alice’s wanderings and medi- 

jects through painting entails an animist implication. Reconnect- 

tations about the world and the complex computational develop- 

ing to Nature through Dance opens up different relationships with 

ments that affect the environment and humanity. Dance with her 

what surrounds us. As in other cultures around the world, there is 

and feel how she connects with ancestral cultures and contem- 

a living force expressed in human and non-human beings where 

porary transhumanism. Embrace whichever one you like. 

the planet is understood as a living system. 

Ritualizing radical beauty, she presents four impressive 40-metre-long 

walls, with fascinating large paintings in black, blue, red, 

yellow … 

WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THESE WORKS 

RELATED TO SPIRITUAL DANCES FROM 

DIFFERENT CULTURES? 

WHAT WILL YOU SHOW IN THIS EXHIBITION? 

My work connects ancestral cultures and contemporary transhumanism. 

The challenges that technologies represent for Nature 

For this exhibition “Global Positioning System” I am presenting 

and Humanity have oriented my research towards the Kogi 

new paintings from the series “Geometric Dances”. I created the 

culture of Sierra Nevada in Colombia living in cosmic harmony 

first “Geometric Dances” at the Atelier Calder in 2019. In this se- 

with its environment. Their ancestral rituals and ecological battles 

ries I dance and paint directly on the canvas with an object that 

forged my reflection on this change in civilisation. My approach 

I ‘ritualise’ with colour. In the great nave of la Patinoire Royale 

questions the relationships between human beings, environment 

you can see four “Geometric Dances”, each one is 40 m long. 

and machines through the complex computational development, 

I have painted with the different elements composing a GPS in 

which, beyond these ingenuities, affects the environment and 

the course of several ritual dances. 

living things. 

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a surveying method used 

I am not aspiring to a ”step backwards”, in fact I am fascinated 

to locate a three-dimensional position anywhere on the Earth’s 

by fundamental research but we all know that these transforma- 

surface that here becomes a metaphor to question the position 

tional technologies (being either at the service of the augmented 

of humans in relation to the global system that surrounds us. 

human being or otherwise threatening human societies) have an 

There is an “s-band ground station dish” object that I have 

ecological impact. 

performed with a set of three different groups of colours, each 

corresponding to a dance trajectory. There are also “deployable 

multifunction solar arrays for CubeSat” and a “1U CubeSat” that 

you can discover in a small canvas that was my starting point for 

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO BE AN ARTIST? 

this new series. 

Each canvas was placed on the ground to become a “dance 

space”. I applied paint into the GPS objects and performed into 

the canvas for several weeks. 

Experiencing new forms of language without words through the 

revalorisation of Amerindian and Aboriginal cosmovisions for 

example. Bringing the alternative metaphysics, systemic ecology, 

new quantum sciences, Taoist, tantric meditations and poetry to 

the fore. 

to be in love with Art and Culture to go on. I deeply believe in 

Art, in this superior force. We all know that new forms of thinking 

create new forms of Art. I sincerely believe that in the changes in 

society that we are experiencing, Art plays an essential role. We 

have to remember that Art is one of the most precious assets of 

ALICE ANDERSON 

Geometric Dances 

10.09.21 – 30.10.21 

In the canvas each object must find its own movement. As long 

as there is no dancing with the object there is no possible painting. 

To make an object dance is to be in total relationship with it. 

Sounds and traces are the record of our dialogue. 

ARE YOU STILL IN LOVE WITH ART AND 

CULTURE? 

human beings. 

Dr. Pick Keobandith, Founder and Director of Inspiring Culture 

La Patinoire Royale 

Galerie Valérie Bach 

Rue Veydt 15 , 1060 Brussels 

Being an artist is very hard on many levels. Believe me you have 

158 159

DIVERSITY UNITED 

THE ARTISTIC FACE 

OF EUROPE 

90 ARTISTS, 34 COUNTRIES, 1 CONTINENT 

IN DIALOGUE 

the challenge to explore the multi-faceted artistic face of Europe 

and venturing an overview of pan-European art since the Iron 

Curtain lifted. Of course, Diversity United is not the first attempt 

The exhibition Diversity United presents the artistic face of 

to visualise the idea of Europe as seen through the arts. 

Europe and transforms the iconic halls of Tempelhof Airport in 

Berlin into a temporary exhibition space. The works of 90 artists 

The exhibitions Paris – Berlin 1900–1933: Rapports et contrastes 

from 34 countries showcase the phenomenal diversity and vitality 

France-Allemagne, in 1978; and Paris – Moscow 1900–1930, in 

of the contemporary European art scene – from Portugal to 

1979, both held at the Centre Pompidou, and the extensive pres- 

Russia, from Norway to Turkey. 

entation of Central and Eastern European art Europa, in 1994, Art 

and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany, Bonn, 

The focus of the exhibition Diversity United lies on Europe – and 

the exhibition Berlin – Moscow / Moscow – Berlin, in 2003/04, 

yet, public life is currently dominated worldwide by the pandem- 

Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin, and Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, as 

ic. When we started to prepare the show, we could not imagine 

well as Kunst in Europa 1945–1968, in 2016, ZKM Karlsruhe, 

having to contend with an event whose effects are as devastat- 

BOZAR Brussels and Pushkin Museum, Moscow, have all played 

ing as those of the present coronavirus crisis. 

a significant role in taking cultural responsibility for the artistic 

endeavours within Europe. 

Societies throughout the world are affected – limited contacts, 

lockdowns, travel restrictions, hardship through no fault of one’s 

own – and last but not least, also a severely restricted cultural 

life, with closed theatres, concert halls and museums. There have 

never been restrictions on this scale before. There is speculation 

about the effects, both scientifically and emotionally speaking, 

and we do not know what life after Covid-19 will look like – only 

that there will be one. 

Diversity United presents a fresh attempt in a new era. More 

sented by contemporary Europe? What does it mean to us? 

To see the crisis as an opportunity. That is the dictate of the mo- 

than seventy-five years after the end of World War II and thirty 

Under which circumstances could it be understood as a unity? 

ment, and this exhibition also acquires an additional significance: 

years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the political landscape has 

To what extent can one rely on solidarity, respect and mutual 

when were the signals sent out by artists needed more urgently 

undergone a fundamental change. Figuratively, the world is in the 

acceptance? Some ninety artists, artist couples and collectives 

than now, after months of lockdown and the search for answers 

midst of massive political continental shifts. Europeʼs relationship 

from all over Europe have taken a stand in articulating, comment- 

to a situation that has wrought havoc on our world? The ques- 

with America, Africa and Asia demands ongoing redefinition, as 

ing on and answering these and many other questions. 

tions that we asked at the beginning of the preparations over two 

do the relations between the European nations. 

years ago have remained – and their urgency has become even 

The exhibition does not propose to give one universally valid an- 

more acute. 

From a geographical perspective the continent is made up of 

swer, but, rather, highlights historically relevant as well as current 

over forty nations, each guided by its own particular interests 

topics, such as freedom and dignity, democracy and respect, 

In Diversity United we have set out to search for the essence of 

and with mutual though conflicting goals. As Edgar Morin noted, 

political and individual identity, migration, (inner) landscape, 

the complex, fragile and constantly changing project ‘Europe’. 

Europe is a ‘project without borders’, and Bruno Bauer has 

gender discourse and equality, nationality and territoriality, ge- 

This complexity resonates with the arts, through the quest for 

described it as a ‘community shaped by a common destiny’; 

opolitical and social conflict. In its nature, Diversity United is to 

identity, through contradictions, paradoxes and uncertainties, 

it seems as if shared problems rather than shared joys create 

be understood as an essay, more outline and first draft than an 

as well as the risks and chances that both the present and the 

a closer union. This, too, is what we are experiencing at the 

encyclopaedic representation. 

future hold in store. Art is endowed with the ability to catalyse 

present time. 

integration and dialogue, and it is this ability that was key in 

One of the distinct features of this show lies in the intense 

creating the exhibition Diversity United. 

Based on this understanding, the exhibition explores questions 

involvement of the artists, who in many cases have created 

surrounding the Europe of today, a continent with historically 

new works inspired by the complex theme for the exhibition 

As a team of ten curators, we stepped up to the plate, rising to 

Walter Smerling 

evolved ties and cultural traditions in upheaval. What is repre- 

and have asserted their influence by contributing vigorously to 

160 161

the discussions surrounding the conceptual process of the project. 

The structure of the exhibition has been significantly shaped 

by this strong participation of the artists and their input. The 

curatorial concept is formed by contextual flexibility, offering the 

reality as a roller-coaster ride is certainly justified. We face formidable 

challenges – the climate crisis, a pandemic and largescale 

migration – which also need to be addressed and solved in 

Europe. 

artists free space for the unimpeded development of their ideas. 

Europe as a unity is at risk from the force of these challenges. 

With the choices we have made for this exhibition, our aim is 

to contribute to the discourse about the present and future 

of Europe in all its diversity and to present artistsʼ viewpoints, 

whose work underscores this conversation. Europe is more than 

Brussels, more than Strasburg, more than just a partnership of 

convenience with a stake in economic benefits, and more than 

just a team of collaborators in a vaccination campaign. Europe is 

In a number of countries, a renewed surge of nationalistic and 

isolationist politics can be observed, populism is growing from 

strength to strength, simple solutions are touted, usually at the 

expense of minorities. Diversity United sets out to show how 

artists respond to these crises, how they place poetic waymarks 

signalling hope against humdrum everyday life. For our times are 

alarming – yet compelling. 

one of the most substantial cultural landscapes on earth. 

After intense exchanges and numerous lively discussions, the curators 

Already in 1925, this conviction was shared by the German 

art critics and writers Carl Einstein and Paul Westheim, whose 

Europa Almanach gave voice and visual space to artists, writers, 

poets, architects, musicians, actors and representatives from 

extended invitations to some ninety artists from thirty-four 

countries to participate in this project. These women and men 

represent different generations, genders, regions and cultural 

influences. 

other creative areas and coming from European countries 

spanning the expanse from France to Russia, from Sweden to 

Romania. 

Alongside established and renowned personalities such as 

Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Maurizio Cattelan, Tacita Dean, Rineke Dijkstra, 

Olafur Eliasson, Gilbert & George, Mona Hatoum, Ilya & Emilia 

Then, women and minorities were unjustly underrepresented 

– and they still are. In his foreword to the almanac, the poet 

Hermann Kasack had written of the ‘Fairground Europe’, and, 

indeed, the book unfurls a wide-ranging and quite entertaining 

panoramic overview of cultural achievements, essayistic and informally 

organised – without squeezing the pieces into theoretical 

Kabakov, Anselm Kiefer, Annette Messager, Gerhard Richter, 

Nedko Solakov and Luc Tuymans, one will discover younger 

artists like Andreas Angelidakis, Yael Bartana, Olga Chernysheva, 

Aleksandra Domanovic, Constant Dullaart, Pia Fries, Ane Graff, 

Petrit Halilaj, Alicja Kwade, Kris Lemsalu, Katja Novitskova and 

Adam Saks. 

systems or subsuming them under stylistic norms. 

The social and political unrest of Europe between the wars is 

only obliquely reflected in the contributions in the almanac, and 

Kasackʼs metaphor of the fair glosses over the fact that cultural 

life with all its intellectual freedom, positive radiance and exuberance 

faced the abyss and moreover that European culture resembled 

a ‘dance on the volcano’ – a specifically German figure 

of speech that captures the ill-fated nature of the times. 

This book presents Europe as a multifaceted, life-affirming cultural 

space where every voice is accorded equal weight, where 

every individual contribution in the full range of its subjectivity 

and originality was an incremental part of the richness of 

European culture. And though this notion proved to be utopian, 

yet it was perceived as a vision fostering identity and hope. 

In his history of Europe between 1950 and 2017, published in 

2017, the British historian Ian Kershaw, writing on the fall of the 

Berlin Wall in 1989, drew on Kasackʼs old ‘Fairground Europe’ 

metaphor to find the bookʼs image of the roller-coaster to describe 

the continentʼs development after the collapse of the 

East-West divide. Oneʼs own time always seems more incomprehensible 

than the past, and, indeed, to visualise our present 

The participating artists have played an active and enthusiastic 

role in preparing the exhibition, often creating or staging new 

works. They all share an interest in Europe, its history and its 

culture, and its foundational commitment to peace. A group of 

thematic categories has been developed in order to structure the 

exhibition. 

However, this choice did not produce a hierarchic or linear 

narrative, but, rather, opens up a field similar to the network of 

a mycelium extending through a space, which it accentuates 

with different focal points. Paired ideas like ‘Dialogues & Diaries’, 

‘Memory & Conflict’, ‘Futures & Enlightenment’, ‘Borders & 

Boundaries’, ‘Landscapes & Mindscapes’, ‘Action & Abstraction’, 

‘Crisis & Resistance’, ‘Dreams & Democracy’ and ‘Power & 

Equality’ introduce associative fields where dialogues between 

the artistic contributions begin to resonate. 

These dialogues are like a common thread weaving through the 

exhibition, which, in its staging and also in a figurative sense, 

addresses the characteristics and peculiarities of all the different 

European landscapes – geographically, mentally and intellectually. 

The themes around which the artists revolve are democracy 

and censorship, individual and political identity, territorial 

allegiance and the significance of borders, economic dependencies, 

social divide and religious conflicts, environment and ecology, 

migration and violence – and time and time again questions 

concerning the responsibility of Europe, and the responsibility for 

Europe. What the exhibition clarifies is that the project ‘Europe’ 

and the project ‘art’ have one crucial aspect in common: their 

fragility. 

Photos: Stiftung für Kunst und Kultur Bonn / Foundation for Art 

and Culture Bonn 

Nicole Baronin von Vietinghoff-Scheel and Walter Smerling 

162 163

STIFTUNG FÜR KUNST 

UND KULTUR BONN / 

FOUNDATION FOR ART 

AND CULTURE BONN 

WHAT IS THE FOUNDATION AND WHAT DO THEY 

DO? 

The Foundation for Art and Culture Bonn (Stiftung für Kunst 

und Kultur Bonn) is a non-profit organisation and was founded in 

1986 as a private initiative designed to foster the arts and culture 

as an essential part of our civic society. The Foundation aims 

to “help shape society”, as the great Joseph Beuys once said. 

The Foundation is headed by Chairman Walter Smerling, who is 

responsible for numerous art and cultural projects including the 

establishment of MKM Museum Küppersmühle for Modern Art in 

Duisburg. 

The Foundation focuses on the conception and realisation of 

exhibitions, the supervision of the MKM Museum Küppersmühle 

(exhibition programme and presentation of the Ströher Collection, 

the organisation of discussions at the interface of culture, 

politics and economics and the presentation of art in public 

spaces. Since its conception, around 300 exhibitions and other 

cultural projects have been realised at different national and 

international sites, including the “Walk of Modern Art” in Salzburg 

and major exhibitions . 

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION PROGRAMME 

The Foundation has staged a variety of landmark exhibitions, 

among the most ambitious projects are: “60 Years. 60 Works. 

Art from the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 2009” 

(2009), “ARTandPRESS” (2012) in Berlin’s Martin-Gropius-Bau, 

“CHINA 8” (2015), held simultaneously in nine museums along 

the Rhine and Ruhr region, “Deutschland 8 – German Art in 

China” held at eight exhibition venues in Beijing (2017), “Art 

from the Holocaust” at the Deutsches Historisches Museum 

Berlin (2016) and “Luther and the Avant-garde” (2017), presenting 

70 artists from around the world who transformed the Old Prison 

in Wittenberg into a temporary museum on the occasion of the 

jubilee of the Reformation. 

Single exhibitions have been realized with Gerhard Richter, 

Sean Scully, Heinz Mack, Hanne Darboven amongst others. 

MKM MUSEUM KÜPPERSMÜHLE 

In 1999 the Foundation established the MKM Museum 

Küppersmühle for Modern Art in Duisburg, directed by Walter 

Smerling and managed by the Foundation. Situated in Duisburg’s 

lively inner harbour, the space is one of the largest private 

museums in Germany and is part of the RuhrKunstMuseen 

cultural network. 

The leading Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron transformed 

the former warehouse, with its listed brick façade, into a museum 

for contemporary art attracting visitors from all over the world. 

At present, the museum is realizing a 2,500 sqm. extension to its 

exhibition space. Completion is planned for autumn 2021. 

The museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions alongside the 

permanent Ströher Collection, one of the most comprehensive 

collections of German art after 1945. The collection includes 

pieces by internationally renowned German artists: leading 

exponents of the Informel movement including Karl Otto Götz, 

Bernard Schultze, Gerhard Hoehme or Fred Thieler, world-acclaimed 

artists such as Georg Baselitz, Anselm Kiefer and 

Gerhard Richter, together with the photographs of Candida 

Höfer or Hans-Christian Schink, among others. 

The collection is owned by Sylvia and Ulrich Ströher and currently 

comprises of over 2,000 pieces. Distributed across 15 rooms 

spanning over 2,500 sqm., the MKM presents key works from the 

collection. Works are also lent to international institutions such as 

the Centre Pompidou (Paris), Fondation Beyeler (Basel) and the 

Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam). 

ART IN PUBLIC SPACE 

Over a period of 10 years, and in collaboration with the Salzburg 

Foundation, the Foundation created the „Walk of Modern Art“, 

a unique sculptural tour through Salzburg. A total of 12 works 

by highly acclaimed contemporary artists, ranging from Marina 

Abramovic to James Turrell, are now freely accessible to the 

public in the historical Old City of Salzburg. 

164 165

“Luther and the Avant-Garde” (2017) at the Old Prison 

Wittenberg, and currently “Diversity United. Contemporary 

European Art”. As well his role at the Foundation, Smerling 

is also director of the MKM Küppersmühle Museum of Modern 

Art in Duisburg, which he helped establish in 1999, and artistic 

director of the Salzburg Foundation. Since 2010, Smerling has 

been an Honorary Professor for Culture and Economy at the 

University of Witten/Herdecke. He is a member of the Board of 

Trustees of the Friends of Yad Vashem and the Hanne Darboven 

Foundation. In 2020, he received the Order of Merit of the State 

of North Rhine-Westphalia. 

Foundation’s activities and 

forthcoming exhibitions 

www.stiftungkunst.de 

Instagram: @stiftungkunstbonn 

Twitter: @stiftungkunst 

Photos: Stiftung für Kunst und Kultur Bonn / Foundation for Art 

and Culture Bonn 

The Bonn Art Project, established in 2014, promotes art in public 

spaces across the city, commissioning an array of international 

contemporary artists transforming the City of Bonn into an 

“urban museum”. Previous commissioned artists included 

Markus Lüpertz, Tony Cragg, Bernar Venet and Stephan 

Balkenhol. The works in public space are created and financed 

completely through commercial sponsorship, without state 

or municipal funding, demonstrating the Foundation’s commitment 

to supporting publicly accessible art. 

WALTER SMERLING 

Walter Smerling is founder and Chairman of the Foundation 

for Art and Culture in Bonn which is the overall organizer of the 

exhibition „Diversity United“ and he heads up the Curatorial 

Committee. 

For almost 40 years, Walter Smerling has been responsible for 

numerous art and cultural projects as a cultural manager and curator. 

He curated major exhibitions such as „60 Years. 60 Works. 

Art from the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 2009“, 

Martin Gropius Bau, Berlin (2009), „CHINA 8“ held simultaneously 

in nine museums along the Rhine and Ruhr region (2015) and 

„Deutschland 8 – German Art in China“ (2017) held at the 

Forbidden City in Beijing and seven other Beijing museums, 

Walter Smerling 

166 167

CARTIER, 

KERING AND RJC 

LAUNCH THE 

WATCH & JEWELLERY INITIATIVE 2030 

Cartier, delegated by Richemont, and Kering launch the ‘Watch 

business topics, and to developing a vision of excellence for the 

and Jewellery Initiative 2030’ in partnership with the Responsible 

Jewellery Council to bring together global watch and jewellery 

industry, no matter their starting point, market segment or position 

in the value chain. 

Iris Van der Veken, 

Executive Director of Responsible Jewellery Council, 

Cyrille Vigneron, 

President and CEO of Cartier 

Jean-François Palus, 

Group Managing Director of Kering 

players committing to a common core of key sustainability goals. 

“As the watch and jewellery sector relies on the earth’s precious 

Photos: Responsible Jewellery Council 

Driven by a common conviction that the global Sustainable 

Development Goals (SDGs) and aspirations for a sustainable 

industry can only be achieved through collaborative initiatives, 

Cartier, delegated by Richemont, and Kering, in partnership with 

resources and people’s know-how around the world within its 

value chains, the imperative to act together in creating a more 

positive impact has become ever clearer. We are thrilled to join 

efforts towards a more sustainable industry together with Kering, 

RJC will continue to seek innovative partnerships to accelerate 

change and enable action throughout the global jewellery and 

watch supply chain - this is our promise to future generations.” 

GOAL 2: PRESERVING RESOURCES FOR NATURE 

AND COMMUNITIES 

the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), have come together to 

in partnership with the Responsible Jewellery Council, and to in- 

The second goal of the initiative is to ensure that the industry’s 

broaden and strengthen their action, launching the Watch and 

vite other industry actors to join this initiative. More than ever, we 

While focusing on three thematic priorities - building climate 

sourcing has a positive impact on nature, species, and commu- 

Jewellery Initiative 2030. 

remain committed to share our common vision of a future where 

resilience, preserving resources, and fostering inclusiveness, the 

nities. As a minimum commitment by 2022, brands joining the 

all Maisons, their suppliers and business partners are empow- 

initiative strongly commits to transparency with the requirement 

initiative should measure and prioritise their impact on biodiver- 

The initiative welcomes all watch and jewellery brands with a na- 

ered to collaborate on projects that deliver positive impact on the 

to report on progress on a regular basis. It will also support 

sity and water across their sourcing of key raw materials, using a 

tional and international footprint willing to commit to a set of am- 

planet and its people”, said Cyrille Vigneron, President and CEO 

members in meeting growing expectations of stakeholders, 

credible science-based framework. Further commitments include 

bitious and common objectives in three areas: building climate 

of Cartier. 

including consumers, civil society, and regulators, of exemplary 

defining and implementing action plans to reduce water and 

resilience, preserving resources, and fostering inclusiveness. 

environmental, social and ethical practices. 

biodiversity impacts, by 2025, by: 

“At Kering, we believe that luxury is inseparable from the highest 

For the first time in the industry, the Watch and Jewellery Initiative 

2030 aims at bringing together watches and jewellery brands 

across the globe to begin a collective journey towards a low-car- 

environmental and social standards, and that it is our responsibility, 

as leading luxury players, to initiate the changes that are 

needed to protect our planet. We have long been convinced that 

GOAL 1: BUILDING CLIMATE RESILIENCE 

Implementing sourcing standards that both protect natural 

ecosystems and the services they provide to local and indigenous 

peoples. This means ensuring that supply chains are free 

bon future and ensure the industry creates positive outcomes for 

only collective action can make the difference to transform our 

Engage on Science-based Targets for Climate by 2025 with 

of products sourced from ancient and endangered forests and 

the planet and for people. 

industry for the better. For watch and jewellery just like for fash- 

actions that include: 

commit to restore habitats where mining and other extraction 

ion, we believe that committing collectively to a common core 

• Decarbonising across all Scopes 1, 2 and 3. 

activities have occurred, and contributing to the development of 

Standing at the crossroads of environmental considerations and 

of quantified environmental objectives focusing on a few themes 

• Implementing 100% renewable energy across operations by 

local livelihoods for mining and farming communities that respect 

the ambition to strengthen positive impacts for people all along 

is the best way to really have an impact. The changes we are 

2025 and extending to the whole value chain with the engage- 

the balance of natural ecosystems. 

the value chain, the commitments supported by the Watch and 

fighting for are essential for the future not only of the planet but 

ment of suppliers and distribution partners by 2030. 

Jewellery Initiative 2030 lie at the very heart of the United Nations 

of our industry itself”, said Jean-François Palus, Group Managing 

• Implementing best practices for energy efficiency across 

Creating a new industry mindset focused on sustainable inno- 

Sustainable Development Goals, with the initiative itself contrib- 

Director of Kering. 

operations and services, with a special focus on reducing 

vation and circularity in materials, products and practices in the 

uting to Goal 17, “partnerships for the goals.” 

the impact of digital communications, commerce and events, 

industry. 

Iris Van der Veken, Executive Director of Responsible Jewel- 

considering their growing prevalence. 

The initiative builds on strong, existing initiatives and organisa- 

lery Council, shared her vision for the joint initiative, “The 2030 

tions in the industry, such as the Responsible Jewellery Council 

Agenda is about leaving no one behind. Business can be a force 

Work towards achieving net zero GHG emissions by balancing 

(RJC) and Science Based Targets (SBT) and includes newer 

for positive change and impact by supporting a global economy 

residual emissions with high- quality GHG removals, and invest- 

areas of focus such as science-based climate targets, biodiversi- 

that protects people, the planet and the natural systems that 

ing in high-quality climate projects, including in nature-based 

ty protection and materials and business model innovation, with 

sustain us. Business as usual is no longer an option. The RJC is 

solutions, with a focus on the conservation and restoration of 

the intent of encouraging and enabling industry transformation 

determined to help business be a force for that change through 

forest, coastal and marine ecosystems. 

and innovation. 

transformative partnerships. By working together we can greatly 

contribute to the urgent change needed to achieve the 17 Sus- 

Help vulnerable populations in the watch and jewellery industry 

The initiative is open to all watch and jewellery players with a 

tainable Development Goals in the Decade of Action, and create 

value chain and contribute to low-carbon solutions for these 

national or international footprint that commit to dedicating their 

a better fairer world by 2030. As part of the RJC Roadmap 2030 

communities. 

resources and energy to continuous improvement on sustainable 

strategy, designed to deliver immediate and long-term impacts, 

168 169

GOAL 3: FOSTERING INCLUSIVENESS ACROSS 

THE VALUE CHAINS 

As a minimum commitment, brands joining the initiative should 

join the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) and become Code 

of Practices (COP) certified in the following two years. 

Supporting the certification of 100% of Tier 1 suppliers by 2025 

and 60-80% of Tier 2 suppliers by 2030. 

Eliminating the exposure of employee and nature to chemical 

risks, by increasing the part of closed-loop processes, heading 

towards the elimination of leakage of chemicals of concern 

used in the industry and increasing the prevalence of metal-free 

tanning. 

Taking action across the industry to embrace diversity, equity 

and inclusion, to drive positive change. 

Contributing to the preservation and transmission of craftsmanship 

and industry know- how and support the upward mobility 

of our workforce as manufacturing and workplaces become 

increasingly digitized. 

www.wjinitiative2030.org 

CARTIER 

A reference in the world of luxury, Cartier, whose name is synonymous 

with open-mindedness and curiosity, stands out with its 

creations and reveals beauty wherever it may be found. Jewellery, 

fine jewellery, watchmaking and fragrances, leather goods 

and accessories: Cartier’s creations symbolise the convergence 

between exceptional craftsmanship and a timeless signature. 

Today, the Maison has a worldwide presence through its 270 

boutiques. 

www.cartier.com 

KERING 

A global Luxury group, Kering manages the development of a 

series of renowned Houses in Fashion, Leather Goods, Jewelry 

and Watches: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, 

Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo, Qeelin, 

Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux, as well as Kering Eyewear. 

By placing creativity at the heart of its strategy, Kering enables 

its Houses to set new limits in terms of their creative expression 

while crafting tomorrow’s Luxury in a sustainable and responsible 

way. We capture these beliefs in our signature: “Empowering 

Imagination”. In 2020, Kering had over 38,000 employees and 

revenue of EUR 13.1 billion. 

www.kering.com 

RESPONSIBLE JEWELLERY COUNCIL 

Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) is the leading standards 

organisation of the global jewellery and watch industry. It has 

1,500 member companies in 71 countries, that span the jewellery 

supply chain from mine to retail. RJC Members commit to and 

are independently audited against the RJC Code of Practices – 

an international standard on responsible business practices for 

diamonds, coloured gemstones, silver, gold and platinum group 

metals. The Code of Practices (COP) addresses human rights, 

labour rights, environmental impact, mining practices, product 

disclosure and many more important topics in the jewellery 

supply chain. RJC also works with multi-stakeholder initiatives 

on responsible sourcing and supply chain due diligence. The 

RJC’s Chain-of-Custody Certification (CoC) for precious metals 

supports these initiatives and can be used as a tool to deliver 

broader Member and stakeholder benefit. Through the implementation 

of the COP and CoC members contribute towards the 

17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 

agenda. RJC’s Roadmap 2030 is a framework for our industry 

with respect to the most impactful contributions our members 

can make through their supply chains. Impacts deepen consumer 

confidence and are linked to priority SDGs, they are presented 

according to the five pillars of sustainable development – People, 

Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships. In April 2021, RJC 

launched the SDG Taskforce, an industry-wide action platform 

to advance the sustainability agenda and benchmark progress in 

the jewellery and watch supply chain. 

RJC is a Full Member of the ISEAL Alliance – the global association 

for sustainability standards. RJC complies with the ISEAL 

Standard-Setting Code which specifies general requirements for 

transparent and accountable preparation, adoption and revision 

of sustainability standards. 

RJC is also a member of the United Nations Global Compact 

(UNGC) since 2009. RJC and UNGC entered into a first-ofits-kind 

strategic partnership in 2020 and launched the ‘SDG 

Innovation & Impact in the Jewellery Industry” programme. In 

2021 RJC deepened this commitment by supporting the UNGC 

SDG Ambition global impact initiative to accelerate integration 

of the 17 SDGs into core business management. SDG Ambition 

enables companies to move beyond incremental progress and 

step-up transformative change – unlocking business value, building 

business resilience, and enabling long-term growth. 

www.responsiblejewellery.com 

170

Alexander Mordvintsev 

Researcher and Artist in Living Tomorrow 

BACK TO THE FUTURE 

INNOVATION, VISUALIZATION, 

INTERPRETATION AND UNDERSTANDING 

Artist: Koen Vanmechelen, Sarah Fabergé - Gary James 

McQueen, Paul Van Hoeydonck, Frederik De Wilde, Nicole Stott, 

Gary James McQueen, Alexander Mordvintsev, Fred Eerdekens, 

Peter De Cupere, Panamarenko, Nick Ervinck, Sergey Dozhd, 

Ulrike Bolenz, Liudmila Norsoyanand, Louisa Burnett-Hall, 

Patricia de Solages, Felix Roulin and Hergé 

Curator Barbara Dietrich 

The exhibition is devoted to the future of Art and Humanity and 

one of the main ideas is the humanitarian aspects of the Art 

uniting different countries from around the world. 

Innovation, the value of memories, global prosperity and world 

peace. If there is anything certain about our future, it’s that technological 

progress will rapidly be creating change of a dimension 

mankind never before experienced. This will provide tremendous 

opportunities for global prosperity and world peace – but also 

huge risks! Some experts speculate that, in less than 20 years, 

we will have a “singularity”, meaning that computers and the human 

brain may have the same capacity. This fosters many fears, 

exceeding today’s fears, about Artificial Intelligence (AI) that most 

jobs will soon be gone. However, others are saying that AI is only 

based on algorithms without a conscious mind. Machines follow 

mere logic, not knowing what – or why – they are doing something 

and – of course – without questioning the ethics of what 

they are doing. They conclude that man will always be on the 

driver’s seat. Unfortunately, this does not reduce related fears in 

our societies. All innovations can be used either for good or bad. 

That’s nothing new to learn – other than that, in the past, the 

outcome often was random. 

These innovation cycles can’t be stopped or reverted! However, 

if we want our future to be good, we need to tackle the fear. 

This can only happen through information that is available to be 

accessed by and debated within the wider public. Understanding 

takes away fears and leads towards action – in a positive sense! 

I like Emergent Phenomenas, Machine Learning, Computer Graphics and Vision. 

I like to visualize things. DeepDream is my most known creation. I'm working at Google Research on 

Deep Neural Network visualization, interpretation and understanding. 

Alexander Mordvintsev invented Google DeepDream, launching an entirely new subgenre of 

art using neural networks – and transforming how we visualize images in AI. 

172 173

SHEPARD FAIREY 

STREET ARTIST 

Hublot is about craftsmanship and a very refined 

execution and that to me is what my art is about: 

doing whatever it takes to create a visual 

that I think is important to create. 

KEVIN PIETERSEN 

FOUNDER OF SORAI 

Our planet is home to five species of rhinoceros. 

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 

of these five species, the Black, Javan and Sumatran rhino are now 

considered “critically endangered”, White rhino are 

“nearly threatened” and Indian rhino are “vulnerable”. 

I am appalled by the brutality they face. There is an urgent need 

for action, and Hublot’s support for this is crucial. 

By reducing the time it takes to act, we can protect 

as many rhinos as possible. 

Shepard Fairey was born in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. 

He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration at the 

Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island. 

In 1989 he created the “Andre the Giant has a Posse” 

sticker that transformed into the OBEY GIANT art campaign, 

with imagery that has changed the way people see art and 

the urban landscape. His work has evolved into an acclaimed 

body of art, which includes the 2008 “Hope” 

portrait of Barack Obama, found at the 

Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. 

Two-thirds of rhinoceros species may disappear in our lifetime, 

which would be an irreversible loss for our planet; and the main cause is poaching. 

Hublot has committed to a partnership with Kevin Pietersen and 

his platform SORAI – Save Our Rhino Africa India – to preserve rhinoceroses 

threatened with extinction. This commitment takes the form of the 

Big Bang Unico SORAI, from which a large portion of the funds raised from sales 

will be directly paid to Care for Wild for the rescue and rehabilitation of 

orphaned baby rhinoceroses. In buying the timepiece, 100 people will thus become 

involved in this initiative undertaken by Hublot. 

174 175

SLEEP COMFORT | INTERIOR 

BED & BATH LINEN 

OUR STORY STARTS WITH YOUR DREAM 

At Marie-Julliette our customers satisfaction is of paramount 

importance, we are always looking for the best interior pieces 

from the wide range of high-quality brands we operate with. 

By continuously working with these brands, exchanging knowledge 

of materials and customer experiences, we can guide you 

in the best way possible. Finding a quality, durable table, trendy 

chair, accessories or a cosy atmospheric lamp that suits you 

and your home is certainly not unfamiliar to us. 

We like to share our renewed vision in shaping timeless and 

trendy interior. We do not only deliver interior pieces but also 

create your dream, your home. Because what is more enjoyable 

than coming home to an ideal interior after a hard-working day? 

TURN YOUR BEDROOM INTO A LUXURIOUS 

HOTEL SUITE 

A good night's sleep starts with a good quality bed. Our partner 

Nilson – an exclusive brand from the Netherlands, specialised 

in beds – has been working for several years on designing and 

producing the finest beds possible, with an eye for valuable 

ingredients of nature combined with the character of materials, 

and precision of craftmanship. In fact, each Nilson is crafted 

and assembled by hand in the Netherlands! 

The combination of our expertise in sleep- and interior advice 

with the high-quality materials we work with, enables us to create 

the bedroom you deserve. We go to work with your desires 

and preferences to choose the most fitting bed and its accessories. 

In addition, to a comfortable bed to spend the night in, we 

offer an assortment of duvets and covers, pillows, fitted sheets, 

and so much more, for a night of pleasant and healthy sleep. 

At Marie-Julliette we feel that you deserve the best care to start 

the day of right and well-rested. 

ABOUT US 

Our strength lies in our personal approach. As a family business 

(mother and son) we know each other like no other, this 

helps us guide our customers with an identical vision. The 

combination of Karolien's years of expertise in sleeping comfort 

and Mathias's passion and talent for dressing an elegant and 

sophisticated interior form the base of the unique concept of 

Marie-Julliette. Be sure to visit our shop. We would be delighted 

to treat you with a drink while we shape your dream together! 

If you would like to decorate your bathroom and be able to 

select high quality and elegant bath linen made from natural 

products, you have come to right address. In our carefully 

selected range, you will without a doubt find what you are 

looking for based on you personal style preference. On top of 

that, customization and personalization (with name, logo,...) are 

among the options. 

GET INSPIRED 

Marie-Julliette: 

Vilvoordsesteenweg 7D Bus 1 

1850 Grimbergen, Belgium 

Instagram: @mariejulliette_ 

Mobile phone: +32 478 71 08 50 

Email : info@marie-julliette.be 

OUR BRANDS 

Sleeping comfort: Nilson 

Bed linen: Mirabel Slabbinck, Yves Delorme, Christian Fischbacher, 

MissoniHome, Snurk, Marc O’ Polo, Essenza, Sognoblu, Casilin, 

Libeco, Cassenz (duvets and pillows), Formesse 

Interior: Saba Italia, Miniforms, Spectrum, Oluce (lighting), Woud, 

Gelderland, BeClassics, Magis, Menu, Studio Zar (glasware) 

Decorative cushions and plaids: MissoniHome, Iosis, Lanerossi, 

Christian Fischbacher, Marc O’ Polo, Essenza 

Scented candles: Trudon, Lumira 

Beauty: L’Objet (soap, bath salts, hand and body lotion, room 

spray, etc.), Il Profvmo 

Bath linen: Abyss Habidecor, Yves Delorme, MissoniHome, 

Mirabel Slabbinck 

Bathrobes: Lacoste, Hugo Boss, MissoniHome, 

Ralph Lauren, Royal Touch, Mirabel Slabbinck 

Table linen: Libeco, Mirabel Slabbinck, Yves Delorme, Marc O’Polo 

176 177

MARIE’S CORNER 

DESIGNING EMOTIONS 

We are craftsmen and proud of it 

In barely 25 years’ time, Marie’s Corner imposed itself as a referential brand in the sofa universe. 

Both Belgian and international, the company has always outclassed itself by its power of adopting 

the different European influences to create its own style and its unique touch. 

Cosy and contemporary. Chic and elegant. Marie’s Corner offers unique, endlessly customizable armchairs 

based on production according to traditional methods. And with only one obsession in mind: 

comfort, comfort and comfort! 200 exclusive models, more than 1.000 finishings and 

an infinity of possible combinations, turn each piece into a unique creation. 

Simultaneously ageless and ahead of its time, Marie’s Corner has always developed iconic models, 

designed to adapt to the anyone’s desire. Included in the BEL (Brussels Exclusive Labels) since 2015, 

the company has joined the 80 most iconic representatives of the capital city of Europe. 

The main markets are Belgium, Germany, France, Russia, Netherlands, England, Switzerland and Norway. 

Marie’s Corner model ‘Wilmington’ and the new “AXO” tables 

© Laetizia Bazzoni 

THE MANAGING DUO 

INNOVATIVE, UNIQUE AND ENDLESSLY 

CUSTOMIZABLE 

Find your happiness among an abundant choice of models in a 

France, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands. In order 

to activate the free warranty, the customer is asked to register 

online by specifying the order number of the piece of furniture. 

Serge Silber manages the Belgian entity (commercial, marketing 

unique style, cozy an elegant: a family armchair XXL, office chair, 

Upon demand of the customer, Marie’s Corner sends a team of 

and human resources departments), while Philippe Vanhemelen 

stool, armchair, couch, sofa... Marie’s Corner always has 

specialists to the customer’s home where they will give the piece 

manages the financial department and the production factory 

a solution to offer. 

a deep clean. 

in Spain. Together they manage as such the entire entity. 

This explosive and complementary binomial is head of a team 

Amongst the new models in 2020 we find the ‘Baldwin’ armchair, 

www.mc.care 

of 20 persons in Waver (Belgium), of 35 craftsmen in the 

the ‘Axo’ tables, the ‘Napa’ chair, the ‘Hartford’ sofa and the 

production workshop in Zaragoza and of a network of 

‘Tennessee’ longchair. 

15 European distribution agents. 

Even though the development of new models, purer and more 

MC CARE, PROTECT WHAT YOU LOVE 

contemporary, contributes to rejuvenate the brand range, the 

For Marie’s Corner, the customer’s satisfaction is the absolute 

managing duo does not wish to stay on site and are bringing a 

priority. MC Care is a free 5 years anti stain warranty with 

new dynamism to the company: increased visibility through large 

unlimited on-site intervention. It offers the absolute certainty 

real estate projects (decoration of hotels, golfs and prestigious 

of fully enjoying a Marie’s Corner piece of furniture. 

restaurants), creation of corners in new stores (presence in 

mega-stores) and reinforcement of the sales network. 

Each piece made by the Master Upholsterers is treated with a 

highly water-repellent product against stains that protects fabrics 

The ultimate dream of the duo would be to open a hotel signed 

by preventing liquids from penetrating inside the fibre. A quick 

Marie’s Corner in one of the European capital cities in the near 

wipe on the spilled liquid and all is forgotten. 

future. 

On top of the treatment, Marie’s Corner gives the possibility to 

www.mariescorner.com 

the customer to call upon the unlimited on-site intervention ser- 

Serge Silber and Philippe Vanhemelen, the managing duo of Marie’s Corner 

vice. This service is valid for any residential purchase in Belgium, 

MC Care is a free 5-years anti-stain warranty 

© Laetizia Bazzoni 

178 179

BMW Loft 7 in Brussels, decorated by Marie’s Corner 

Thanks to the collaboration with the Belgian Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs, and their valuable trust, Marie’s Corner had the honour 

and pleasure to contribute to the furnishing of many of their 

Embassies in the last 10 years. 

Marie’s Corner fine comfort seating’s have been selected by 

some Ambassador’s themselves to accommodate their private 

residence as well as the embassy itself. It is a great honour for 

the brand to have been selected as Belgian Representative 

for their comfort seating’s. 

Some of the worldwide references of Marie’s Corner are 

residences of the Belgian Ambassador to the Permanent 

Representative to the United Nations or The Hague, residences 

of the Belgian Ambassadors at Tokyo, Havana, Kinshasa, 

Mexico, Nur Sultan, Teheran, Oslo as well as the residence 

of the Belgian General Consul in Cologne. 

Marie’s Corner is also the proud partner of numerous prestigious 

hospitality establishments, co-working spaces and business 

clubs. 

presentations and culinary evenings. So, the perfect spot to 

let your mind prosper. And all this in a historical, monumental 

building with classic halls and a modern atmosphere. 

Surrounded by rich art and culture. Marie’s Corner produced 

Denver-F chairs Custom benches. 

The challenge faced for the restaurant Bon Bon in Brussels 

(in collaboration with the architect Michèle Verhelst 

(MV ARCHITECT), was to offer style and comfort for an 

exceptional moment, commensurate with the gastronomic 

quality of this starred restaurant of Chef Christophe Hardiquest. 

The choices for this project fell on the Dartmouth armchairs for 

the reception area and the Manchester chairs and armchairs for 

the restaurant proper, and Marie’s Corner developed the same 

Manchester model in high stool for the bar-kitchen area. 

The BMW ‘Loft 7’, was for a few months one of the most 

exclusive attractions of Brussels. A place where the pleasure of 

the eyes, an exquisite restoration and many sensory experiences 

have amazed many of us. ‘Loft 7’ was a very unique concept! 

Dedicated to prestige, elegance and refinement… 

New 2020 model ‘Hartford’ sofa, by Marie’s Corner 

Koninklijke Industrieele Groote Club is a lively business & social 

club right in the heart of Amsterdam where as a member you’ll 

keep company with an eclectic mix from the (inter)national 

business community. Where you and your guests are able to 

attend more than 160 lectures per year, often given by the best 

in the industry. Your go-to place for luncheons, dinners and 

meetings. Including other activities such as jazz nights, book 

A sublime and ephemeral place for the presentation of the 

BMW series 7 where guests have experienced the rare, savour 

the exceptional, in an incomparable setting in the heart of 

Brussels, on the 77th floor of the BMW Brand Store Brussels. 

For this reference, Marie’s Corner produced Anniston armchairs, 

Charlotte highchairs, Dakota sectionals, Pebble tables, Sonoma 

chairs and Springfield dining tables. 

180 181

THE FUTURE IS IN THE STARS 

IN THE BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GTC V8, 

TRACKING DOWN URSA MAJOR – 

THE GREAT BEAR 

A SHORT DAY’S LONG JOURNEY 

THROUGH THE NIGHT 

There it is. The very first star of nightfall. A planet actually. Venus. 

Lit up by the sun which is now leisurely slipping below the horizon, 

unhurriedly. Its last remaining rays breaking up a few solitary 

clouds. One by one they disappear until the darkening sky is 

wiped clear. And the last lights of the scattered houses and cottages 

begin to go out, too. We switch on the headlamps of the 

Continental GTC and glide through the Alpine pasture landscape 

at a measured pace. 

It’s grown dark by now. Dark, but not sombre, because the many 

twinkling stars appearing, coming out here, there and everywhere 

to let the stream of the Milky Way emerge, are joined by the 

shining moon. She washes over the white Conti with gentle white 

light as it begins its journey across the nocturnal firmament. And 

here, in the Star Park on the Winkelmoosalm mountain pasture 

near Reit im Winkel in Bavaria, some 1,200 meters above sea 

level, this firmament appears to stretch particularly far. Lined by 

clear-cut silhouettes of the forests and mountains, where the air 

is purer than pure. 

One typically drives a convertible in the light of day, under the 

bright sun in a warm season – at least in central Europe. England 

doesn’t conform to this. The British island, from which our travelling 

companion on this star journey hails, knows no fixed season 

182 183

for driving a convertible. That season is always. And at night as 

well. Thanks to sophisticated heating and ventilation, it’s a highly 

pleasurable experience to be enveloped in heat and perfectly 

shielded from cool or icy winds. 

Seen like that, one drives through a starlit night under the 

sunshine of many thousand suns. As Manuel Philipp, our guide 

through the world of celestial bodies, points out so concisely: 

the sun is a star. And every star is a sun. Six thousand of them 

are present for us to observe at night – 400 billion of them in our 

galaxy alone. 

disc). That, while we follow along in amazement as models of 

the sun and galaxy are used to explain these things, and as we 

follow the laser pointer and appear to be standing in a specific 

place, we are in fact moving. Or rather, being moved. Constantly. 

Through the Earth’s rotation, at a speed of 1,200 km/h, and at 

over 100,000 km/h, too, as the Earth circles the sun. 

Which means: nothing ever stands still. Ever. Everything is in 

motion. Always. We, too, then set off again, on the move, setting 

out at around midnight to track down the Great Bear in its full 

expanse. 

There, our solar system, within which the earth rotates on its own 

axis while orbiting its central star, is hardly bigger than a piece of 

confetti, and our planet, a microscopically small speck of dust in 

comparison. According to current astronomy wisdom, there are 

two trillion galaxies in existence. Astronomical figures which are 

hard to grasp. 

That’s also why our guided tour of the stars focuses on that 

which lies near, or at least nearer. We find out that the moon, 

which is closest to the Earth, is at a distance of 400,000 km from 

us. That our solar system with all its planets – Mercury, Venus, 

Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune – is in fact a disc 

(shedding new light on the outdated concept of the Earth as a 

Because at this moment, a portion of it is still hiding behind a 

hill. It’s one of the few astral constellations that is always visible. 

One point of orientation in the night sky is the North Star, also 

called Polaris, which is at the end of Ursa Minor – the Little Bear. 

It always points north. 

We follow the Great Bear for part of the way. We’ll never catch up 

with it – it will always lie ahead of us. Even though it moves by a 

mere four minutes each day, from our earthly viewpoint. 

Time, however, is relative: a fact that becomes somewhat clearer 

when considering that the light of the Great Bear took 80 years 

to reach us tonight. This stops us in our tracks and we dim the 

headlights of the Continental to parking lights, so as not to disturb 

this light from the stars. 

Our growing humility in the face of this seemingly endless shining 

world above our heads becomes deeper still with Manuel 

Philipp’s final statement, “This Bentley is made of stardust”. 

Add incredulity to amazement and humility. It seems an all too 

far-fetched comparison. And yet, the astronomer and physicist 

argues that everything on planet Earth – all material – comes 

mainly from the “belly” of a giant star. 

everything that we’ve brought forth comes from one and the 

same place. This lends far deeper meaning to the surname of 

David Bowie’s alter ego, Ziggy Stardust. 

So our origins are written in the stars. Just like our present. And 

even more so, the future. At Bentley, our future will take shape 

under an electric star. When we return to the Star Park next year 

for a night-time visit, our companion will be able to glide through 

the alpine pastures in electric mode. And soon thereafter, as an 

all-electric vehicle. 

According to current knowledge, this giant star exploded in the 

context of a supernova at some point in the distant past. The 

stardust it generated was carried into a nearby cloud of gas. It 

was from this stardust-enriched cosmic cloud that, several hundred 

million years later, our solar system developed with the sun 

as its central star and orbited by eight planets. 

Photos: Bentley 

Thus, everything in and around us is pure stardust, matter that 

was created from the nuclear fusion that occurred inside that 

giant star. And without whose existence we would not exist – 

because the ball of rock we now call Earth wouldn’t have 

emerged from thunder and lightning. On the Earth nearly 

184 185

ODE TO 

THE SAXAUL SHRUB 

Observing the rusty skeleton ships in their final resting place 

along the former shore of the Aral Sea in the town of Muynak, 

one is being witness to one of the worst environmental disasters 

in recent history. Less than half a century ago, this was a booming 

fishing town. That prosperity is now gone. 

The drying up of the Aral Sea, which was the fourth largest lake 

in the world until the 1960s, is one of the biggest environmental 

catastrophes caused by human activity, as a result of the diversion 

of the water from the two main rivers flowing into the Aral 

Sea (the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya) to irrigate vast new cotton 

fields. As a result, today the area of the Aral Sea has declined 

to less than 10% of its original size in the 1960s. 

The environmental, climatic, socio-economic and humanitarian 

consequences that are felt to this very day pose a direct threat to 

the sustainable development of Uzbekistan and the countries of 

the Aral Sea region. Some of these consequences include land 

degradation and desertification, pollution and salinization of water 

and land resources, a shortage of drinking water, depletion of 

flora and fauna and deterioration of health and livelihoods of the 

local population, particularly in the Republic of Karakalpakstan. 

Over time, the pesticides and herbicides used to aid cotton 

growth leached into the sandy dryland uncovered by the retreating 

water. Today, toxic salts and sand are picked up by winds 

and carried out over to hundreds and thousands of kilometres 

harming people’s livelihoods, health and well-being. 

Studies show that each year, winds from Aral Sea carry 100 

million tonnes of toxic sand and salts that reach far beyond 

Central Asia, including glaciers in Iceland and forests in Norway. 

However, not all hope is lost. One answer to mitigating some of 

the above-mentioned problems might lie in a shrub-like tree native 

to the deserts of Central Asia by the name of saxaul. Saxaul 

trees thrive in harsh conditions including dry and saline soils, and 

one fully grown saxaul tree can fix up to 10 tonnes of soil around 

its roots therefore helping to stop the wind picking up contaminated 

sand and toxic salts from the dried seabed and spreading 

it through the atmosphere. 

Let us make no mistake, the disappearance of the Aral Sea is 

a tragedy that transcends national and regional borders. If we 

do not act now, tomorrow the consequences will reach all of us. 

The growing involvement and financial support of the international 

community to initiatives such as the Multi-Partner Human 

Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region, is a welcome development. 

Greening the dry seabed of the Aral Sea with saxaul trees is 

a first but critical move and one of the most effective tools to 

combat the desertification of the Aral Sea basin, thereby helping 

protect the environment and giving people hope for a brighter 

future. The unassuming saxaul tree could be a sign of a more 

prosperous future, rather than an unfortunate past. 

186 187

BRINGING MAGIC BACK 

TO THE PLANET 

WITH TREES 

The tree: the link between 

Heaven and Earth 

“You wipe out the forests, yet they embellish the earth, teaching 

mankind to understand what beautiful and inspiring feelings of 

awe are. Forests temper the harshness of the climates.” These 

words come from Anton Chekhov’s play ‘The Wood Demon’ 

spoken in the late 19th century by the main character Michael 

Khrushchev, a doctor and philanthropist. 

‘Planting trees’ is seen as a humanist project contributing to his 

quest for freedom, hope and happiness. Chekhov was interested 

in ecological issues from very early on, especially in the deforestation 

of Russia at that time. For him a single tree could represent 

the forest. Trees are very present in his plays: ‘The Steppe’, 

‘Uncle Vanya’, ‘The Three Sisters’, ‘The Cherry Orchard’ ... 

This can probably be explained by his enthusiasm for Leon 

Tolstoy and the theories of Charles Darwin from 1886. Anton 

Chekhov was almost certainly one of the first ‘ecologists’. In fact, 

the term ‘ecology’ was used for the first time in a scientific paper 

by the German biologist Ernst Haeckel in 1866. The latter was 

also an advocate of Darwin’s theories. 

Today the issue of preserving trees for a greener and more 

beautiful planet is very relevant. This article looks at the historical 

relationship between Man and Tree before moving on to those 

forests in countries where ‘Planting Trees means a Happy Life 

and Peace’. Diverse civilizations have always maintained a special 

relationship with trees. Depending on the culture, a variety of 

beliefs are held: the sacred tree, the tree of life, tree of healing, 

wishing trees, the tree of freedom, the Bodhi tree… 

I am particularly fond of the Bodhi tree - or tree of Enlightenment 

- because it is an enchanting tree. This tree, also known as the 

sacred fig - the ficus religiosa – has heart-shaped leaves that are 

thought to bring good luck. One of its distinctive features is its 

ability to transform carbon dioxide into oxygen during both day 

and night. It also has medicinal properties. It was under this very 

tree, the pippala tree, that Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of 

Buddhism, attained enlightenment. And so, thanks to this tree 

he became Buddha, literally the ‘enlightened one’, and found 

happiness. 

Can we experience wonder without trees? The tree is like an 

observer - a witness to both humankind and the environment. 

Artists have always understood this and have long integrated 

trees and their symbolic meaning into their art, even into very 

contemporary works. For example, in one of the 31 sculptures 

in the exhibition ‘Dialogue with Emperor Qin – China – EU’, the 

Finnish artist Antero Toikka depicts his peace warrior as just a 

red tree trunk, man and tree being one. 

Another example is the 2009 exhibition of Félix Roulin’s urban 

forest: 10 magnificent columns, stately and impressive, stand 

upright like trees. They contain both beauty and clarity in their 

expression. The connection between heaven and earth expresses 

man’s duality, the spiritual and the material. They are like tree 

trunks placed in an urban setting of diverse buildings. Visible in 

glimpses, youthful female bodies inhabit the ten columns showing 

these to be sculptures about desire and fertility: trees — full 

of sap and life. 

For these artists, trees and mankind are symbolically connected 

to life. Going beyond the emotional and spiritual ties that make 

trees so essential to man, the protection of forests is also of economic 

and ecological importance. It is an existential necessity for 

humankind. 

The problem of deforestation is a global one. In terms of the 

sheer volume of wood, throughout the world between 2000 and 

2010, more than 100 million cubic metres of wood were felled 

illegally every year. This is enough to go around the planet ten 

times, that is roughly 400,000 kilometres – the circumference of 

the planet around the equator being about 40,075 km. 

Current deforestation mainly concerns the rainforests as half of 

the planet’s forests were destroyed during the 20th century. 

Today, 13 million hectares of forest vanish every year. This is 

better than during the 1990s (16 million hectares yearly) but is 

still too much. 

This has either happened due to natural causes or else due to 

man converting areas into agricultural land. 

188 189

Protection schemes and reforestation have however been developed 

in some countries. In 1920, according to the US Forest 

Service, the United States had 292 million hectares of forest. By 

2016, this area had grown to over 304 million hectares, so there 

has been a slight increase over the past century, and forests now 

cover about a third of the country. 

Most of the forests are found in the west of the country, to which 

can be added the boreal forests of Alaska and the pine plantations 

in the south. The situation remains fragile and threatened by 

the increase in forest fires. 

In Brazil, deforestation is a trend that has gathered momentum 

since the 1970s, and again with the arrival of a populist government. 

For about twenty years, the debate on climate change 

has focused the attention of the whole world on the situation of 

the Amazon rainforest, which is considered to be a carbon sink 

indispensable to humankind, with the issues at stake extending 

well beyond the Brazilian borders. 

The Congo Basin rainforest in Central Africa is the second largest 

rainforest after the Amazon rainforest. It covers almost three million 

square kilometres, that is 300 million hectares and spreads 

across six countries: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, 

the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 

Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. With an annual loss of 0.3% 

during the 2000s, the region has the lowest deforestation rate of 

all major forest areas. 

In China, despite several woodland preservation programmes 

and nature reserves, implemented to prevent soil erosion and 

the spread of the desert, forests cover less than 20% of China’s 

landmass, in comparison to the global average of 30%. This 

is therefore relatively little. However, since 2018, reforestation 

has started again. In only the last five years, woodlands have 

increased by over 208 million hectares, which nonetheless 

represents only a slight increase of about 0.1 % of the wooded 

surface area. 

parts of the world where deforestation remains a major problem, 

the EU’s forests are growing: they gained around 11 million 

hectares between 1990 and 2010, mainly as a result of natural 

growth and reforestation initiatives. 

Finally, Russia’s forests represent a fifth of all the world’s forests 

combined, with 809 million hectares, even bigger than Brazil’s 

520 million hectares. It covers 70 % of the territory. Yet, even the 

Russian Federation is not spared from deforestation. 

Despite this, it may well be Russia who provides the solution to 

global deforestation, notably through its long history of experience 

in multi-sourced and multi-resourced forest inventories that 

take into account all the forests’ resources and their social and 

ecological functions. Moreover, the vast surface area of Russia’s 

forests, their expanse and condition have considerable importance 

for the rest of the world. Russia’s experience of forestry 

and forest management could be of interest and use to many 

other countries. 

If we want to continue to inhabit this planet and be amazed 

by its wonders, we need to maintain the beauty of our forests. 

For each one of us and for every country, it is not too late to fully 

commit to preserving our trees. This is also our duty to future 

generations. Of course, responsible international cooperation 

concerning these problems affecting our planet is more than 

necessary. We must accept interdependence and go into action: 

planting trees and educating the young - and not-so-young! 

- on the subject of trees and forests. 

It is so important to give love and protection to our trees. 

By Dr. Pick Keobandith, Founder and Director of Inspiring Culture 

AN INDIAN OCEAN HAVEN WHERE EVERY 

EXPERIENCE IS EXCEPTIONAL 

Every dream you’ve had of a tropical paradise comes alive at 

OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI. Expansive white beaches and 

turquoise waters fringe the lush island resort. 

Where sophisticated luxury blends with rustic, barefoot charms 

for a uniquely Maldivian experience. Bespoke adventures allow 

for blissful relaxation. Every experience is meticulously crafted to 

indulge you with a romantic escape or a joyful family getaway. 

VILLAS & RESERVES 

Experience paradise at your doorstep! Gorgeously decorated 

suites and villas create luxurious island stays. Lose yourself in 

vast interiors. Soak in the sun on cosy wooden sunbeds. 

A blissful island heaven – just for you! 

www.ozenreserve-bolifushi.com 

OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI 

DINING 

OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI offers memorable fine-dining experiences 

in singularly unique settings. Relish delicious beach grills. 

Revel in romantic dining in an elegant overwater restaurant. 

Gaze on Maldives hues as you enjoy delicious seafood. Travel 

the world through exquisitely crafted culinary journeys! 

India used to be almost entirely covered with forest, but the total 

forest area was reduced fourfold down to only 20%. Special efforts 

have been made since the 2000s and the forest cover rose 

to 25% in 2020. At the Paris conference on climate change, India 

committed to increasing forest cover to 33% by the year 2030. 

The European Union’s forests cover over 158 million hectares 

(5% of the global forest surface area). This is 37.7 % of the surface 

of the EU. Six countries - Sweden, Finland, Spain, France, 

Germany and Poland - account for two thirds of the EU’s forests. 

On a national level, forest cover varies greatly: Finland, 

Sweden and Slovenia have almost 60 % forest cover, whereas 

the Netherlands has only 8.9 %. Furthermore, unlike many 

190 191

PRINCE LUDWIG OF BAVARIA 

Der Löwenmarsch 

The weather gods were kind to the participants of the Löwenmarsch 

2021, a fundraising run that entered its third round this 

year. In glorious sunshine, around 650 participants gathered at 

Kaltenberg Castle, the starting point of the 100 km run. 

Numerous volunteers and also some well-equipped knights 

ensure that everything runs smoothly and good humour prevails. 

In the midst of this merry circle: Ludwig Prinz von Bayern, the 

initiator of this event. 

The participants have an ambitious route ahead of them, 

which takes them via various stopovers to the finish line at 

Hohenschwangau Castle to the local Löwenhof, a Bavarian 

restaurant. The 100 km are run in 24 hours, the marathon among 

hikers, so to speak, but the march can be left or started at fixed 

sections. 

For every kilometre run, participants collect donations from relatives, 

acquaintances or work colleagues for the Learning Lions 

project, set up by Prince Ludwig and like-minded friends. 

“From education to entrepreneurship” is the motto of the 

Learning Lions, which clearly sets it apart from conventional 

development aid projects. Money is not simply donated, which 

often disappears in the mills of large organisations, but the project 

enables help for self-help. 

Young people are trained at an IT school in Turkana County 

(Kenya) and thus gain the opportunity to escape the cycle of 

poor education and poverty. It is very gratifying that more and 

more young girls are also completing this training and from 

then on can support their families as IT professionals. 

The Bavarian government also supports Prince Ludwig in his 

heartfelt project: Melanie Huml, Bavarian Minister of State for 

European Affairs and International Affairs, has taken over the 

patronage for this year’s event. She presented Prince Ludwig and 

his organisation with a donation of 603,000 Euros from the Free 

State of Bavaria in the arena of Kaltenberg Castle. From this, she 

said, further premises can now be built for future pupils. Plans 

include a boarding school and also a kindergarten for the youngest 

children, because some of the Learning Lions already have 

families and do not want to be separated from them. Kenyan girls 

have children at an early age and it is a great concern of Prince 

Ludwig to be able to grant them full access to the programme. 

Ludwig Prince of Bavaria and Nicole Baronin von Vietinghoff-Scheel 

192 193

The start of the march is carefully chosen: Kaltenberg Castle is 

Prince Ludwig’s home; he and his siblings grew up here. Some of 

his family are present on this beautiful September day to support 

him and his project: his mother Princess Beatrix, as well as his 

brother Heinrich Prince of Bavaria accompanied by his wife 

Henriette and son Maximilian. The latter cheerfully carries a 

poster supporting the fundraising run in his pram, delighting 

he proud parents and his uncle, Prince Ludwig. 

But also many people from the region, who feel committed to 

tradition and their homeland, support the project of the Bavarian 

prince by walking the 100 km with him. “I walk for Africa” is the 

motto of the Lion March. There are families, couples, young and 

old people among the walkers, even a company takes part with 

its employees. You can hear different languages in the “Burgarena”, 

the castle’s arena, quite a few of the runners come from 

different countries. Project participants from Kenya are also on 

site and receive a particularly enthusiastic applause in the arena. 

Prince Ludwig’s project unites people who value tradition, cultivate 

voluntary work and who care about the fate of people from 

every part of the world. Who realise that national ties to one’s 

homeland and international commitment are not contradictory, 

but are the basis for a better future for all people. 

Prince Ludwig was born in 1982 and is the oldest son of 

Princess Beatrix and Prince Luitpold of Bavaria. He grew 

up at Kaltenberg Castle together with his four siblings. 

He studied law at the University of Göttingen, focusing on 

international public law and human rights. Prince Ludwig 

assumed a number of representative and honorary roles 

by request of HRH Duke Franz of Bavaria. Beside other 

roles he has been a member of the board of the Foundation 

Hilfsverein Nymphenburg since 2011 and is especially 

responsible for projects in Africa. 

In 2014 he founded the charitable organizations “Learning 

Lions” and “Start up Lions” in Kenya, together with several 

partners. Both foundations are exclusively funded by 

donations. 

Since 2019 he has been organizing the so called 

“Löwenmarsch” or March of the Lions from Kaltenberg 

to Neuschwanstein, counting a distance of approximately 

100 km. Prince Ludwig participates regularly in this march 

with other enthusiasts. The returns are donated to the 

Learning Lions. 

Text: Susanne Graue, Photos Wolf Heider-Sawal 

194 195

One of the most exquisite surprises of the autumn for Belgians 

and the international community alike has been the organisation 

of “Korean Temple Cuisine” by Wookwan, a Buddhist nun, 

brought to us by the Korean Cultural Center Brussels. It is an 

unforgettable present for all of us after this long period of global 

lockdown. Meeting one of the happiest women from the 

Gameunsa Temple in Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, in South Korea, 

is an extraordinary experience. 

Wookwan is a Buddhist nun, not a chef, even if her book 

Wookwan’s Korean Temple Food: The Road to the taste of 

Enlightenment was met with high critical acclaim in 2019. 

It was the first Korean temple food cookbook to be published 

in English. Wookwan is a temple-food expert and leading practitioner 

of this discipline. As she herself has said, some are good 

with praying to Buddha, some are good with mediation, just as 

she is good with food. She cooks to look at the wider world. 

Buddhist cuisine is a guide to finding oneself. 

TEMPLE FOOD AND PRAYER 

FOR LIFE AND PEACE 

In listening to Wookwan, we understand that sharing good, 

healthy, simple “temple food” is one of the best ways of connecting 

together and exchanging feelings and emotion. We consume 

food with both heart and mind. Your body and soul are filled with 

beauty and goodness. It gives us strength and the energy to find 

ourselves. It makes you realize how magnificent nature is. Eating 

food and sharing stories is a means of being present together. 

And being at Peace. 

Wookwan’s cuisine is deeply influenced by philosophy, respect 

for the planet and making people happy. As she explained in 

her lecture, Korean temple food is made without any meat, fish 

and shellfish, and excludes five pungent spices and plants. The 

prohibited five pungent plants are green onion, garlic, chives, 

leeks and onions. 

It is intrinsically natural and generally seasoned as little as possible 

using just a variety of natural mountain herbs and wild edible 

greens. They take ingredients that follow the flow of the seasons 

— spring, summer, autumn, and winter. 

Using the gifts of nature and cooking sensitively from the heart, 

everything becomes a present, an offering of the entire universe 

to others. Wookwan reminds us that we nourish not only the 

body but also the soul. She teaches us how to enjoy food on a 

deeper level. 

We thank Nun Wookwan for being such a beautiful inspiration. 

Wookwan (The Buddhist Nun) always wanted to pursue self-reflection 

in the temple, living like a rolling wheel or a cloud. At 

the age of 17 she joined a Buddhist monastery and still enjoys 

life there today. Wookwan is Director of Mahayeon Temple 

Food Cultural Center and an expert member of temple food at 

Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism. 

She graduated from Suwon Bongnyeongsa Sangha University, 

received her master’s degree in Buddhist studies and completed 

her doctoral coursework at the University of Delhi in India. 

Since 2010 she has been invited to various countries including 

the US, Italy, Kazakhstan, Hungary, UK and Russia. In 2021, invited 

by the Korean Culture Center Belgium directed by Jaewhan 

Kim, she enchants us with food for thought. 

By Dr. Pick Keobandith, Founder and Director of Inspiring Culture 

As it is autumn, the perfect mushroom season, 

here is an adapted recipe, easy and delicious, 

taken from Wookwan’s cookbook. 

Fried Mushrooms 

Ingredients: 

1 green chilli – seeds removed, minced finely 

1 tbsp pine nuts – ground 

250g shiitakes or button mushrooms 

Sauce ingredients: 

1 tbsp sesame oil 

2 tbsp soy sauce 

1 tbsp maple syrup 

Prepare the sauce by mixing the 

sauce ingredients together. Put aside. 

In salted boiling water blanch the mushrooms for 1 minute. 

Dry them on kitchen paper. Fry until the mushrooms 

have some colour. Add the sauce to the mushrooms. 

Put everything on a plate and sprinkle over 

with the pine nuts and minced chilli. 

196 197

NOVEMBER IS WORLDWIDE 

PANCREATIC CANCER MONTH 

SUDDEN ONSET DIABETES. Research suggests that a sudden 

onset of type 2 diabetes in people aged 50 or older may be an 

early symptom of pancreatic cancer, especially in those who 

have a low body mass index, experience continuous weight loss 

or do not have a family history of diabetes. A sudden change 

in blood sugar levels in diabetics who previously had well-controlled 

diabetes, may be a sign of pancreatic cancer 

Until we find the cause of Pancreatic Cancer, until we find a cure, 

we will continue campaigning for more awareness, prevention 

and healthy living. 

PANCREATIC CANCER 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD KNOW 

The common belief that one can’t survive pancreatic cancer, 

is not true any longer, not for everybody. The key however to a 

good outcome is knowing your family history, live a healthy life, 

know the signs and symptoms, consult your family physician 

at the first signs of worry. The earlier pancreatic cancer will be 

detected, the higher the chance for survival. 

ABDOMINAL PAIN. Abdominal pain radiating to your back. Your 

pancreas is located right in the middle of body central, squeezed 

between your stomach and your spine. Anything that infects will 

show swelling and a tumour will enlarge the pancreas as well. 

When this occurs, because of the location of the pancreas, pain 

from pressure or blockage will be the result. 

LOSS OF APPETITE. The chemical processes of the pancreas 

are so important that, when an infection or a tumour blocks the 

flow of juices, it will affect the digestion. You may experience gas 

or bloating or a build-up of extra fluid in the abdomen that will 

cause the belly to swell. At times you will feel so uncomfortable 

that you don’t feel like eating. 

JAUNDICE. A tumour in the head of the pancreas could block 

the bile flowing from the gallbladder into the small intestine and 

affect the liver. This can result in yellowing of the white of the 

eyes or of the skin. Other symptoms could be dark urine, claylike 

stools and itching of the skin. 

WEIGHT LOSS. When you’re losing weight and you can’t pinpoint 

why, cancer could be the cause of the loss of weight and 

breakdown of muscle mass. A tumour uses calories and protein 

to grow. In cancers of the digestive system, cancer can decrease 

appetite because of the pressure it puts on the organs. 

NAUSEA. The pressure of bloating and effects of growing 

tumours in the centre of your belly can affect so many organs 

that nausea could be one of the first symptoms. Do not 

self-medicate and consult your family physician. 

CHANGE IN STOOL. In this day and age of computers, this is not 

difficult to understand: what you put in and how it is processed, 

will have an effect on how it comes out. Because of the blockage 

not enough pancreatic enzymes reach the intestines and will 

affect the digestion process. Many pancreatic cancer patients 

have diarrhea, constipation or both. 

PIN - Prevention Information Network. 

For more information check out https://www.pancan.org/news/ 

7-pancreatic-cancer-symptoms-and-signs-you-should-know/ 

A TEAM OF RESEARCHERS FROM THE VUB 

UNIVERSITY IN BRUSSELS, THE UZ BRUSSEL 

AND SCIENTISTS FROM THE NETHERLANDS 

AND ABROAD, LED BY VUB PROFESSOR ILSE 

ROOMAN, HAVE DISCOVERED A CELL IN THE 

PANCREAS OF HEALTHY PEOPLE THAT IS 

VERY SIMILAR TO THE MOST AGGRESSIVE 

PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS. 

With this discovery, the researchers hope to gain more insight 

into the development of this dangerous cancer so that it can be 

better detected and treated. 

“We discovered in the pancreas of healthy people a rare cell that 

is very similar to the most aggressive group of tumours. The cells 

are more numerous in patients with chronic inflammation of the 

pancreas, a risk factor for cancer” states Professor Ilse Rooman. 

Before the discovery of Ilse Rooman’s team, only minor progress 

was made in pancreatic cancer research. 

The number of deaths from pancreatic cancer is already almost 

as those from breast cancer and the number of cases will increase 

further in the coming years. 

In Belgium, we are now at about 1.800 deaths from pancreatic 

cancer per year. Within Europe, we count by 2035, a substantial 

increase is still predicted, while for other cancers the number of 

deaths will decrease significantly. 

“Until now, it was assumed that such cells in the pancreas did 

not exist. How can we treat the tumour if we already do not fully 

know the healthy organ? This cell can be at the origin of a specific 

subtype of pancreatic cancer or at least teach us how this 

subtype develops, knowledge that is indispensable for 

better detection and treatment,” says Prof. Rooman. 

“We suspect that this new cell is at the origin of the basal tumour 

subtype. If it turns out afterwards that this is not the case, then 

study of these cells will still give more insights into the subtype 

of tumours with the worst prognosis. This allows the tumour to 

be detected earlier and treated more efficiently.” 

Professor Ilse Rooman has a main interest and expertise in pancreatic 

cell biology and pancreatic cancer, in particular tumour 

development, cell plasticity and regeneration. 

Ilse Rooman was educated at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 

where she obtained her PhD in 2002, studying cellular plasticity 

in the pancreatic organ. 

198 199

DR. NOUREDIN MESSAOUDI 

Pancreatic cysts: surveillance may decrease cancer risk 

Pancreatic cysts are pockets of fluid that form a sac within the 

pancreas. Most pancreatic cysts are benign (non-cancerous) and 

diagnosed incidentally during MRIs or CT scans done for other 

conditions. 

European Code of Cancer 

Practice 

Some of these cysts produce large amounts of proteins that form 

mucus (IPMNs or Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms) and 

have the potential to develop into pancreatic cancer. 

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: 

“By 2025, pancreatic cancer is predicted to be the second 

leading cause of cancer death in Europe,” says Dr Nouredin 

Messaoudi, pancreatic surgeon at the University Hospital of 

Brussels (UZ Brussel). “One place where we may really be able 

to make significant improvements is in early detection and 

prevention, by recognizing and removing these mucin-producing 

cysts before they progress to cancer.” 

Mucinous pancreatic cysts that become cancerous over time or 

have cancer in them when they are found usually are associated 

with the following high-risk features on imaging: 

1. EQUAL ACCESS 

Equal access to affordable 

and optimal cancer care, 

including the right to a 

second opinion. 

2. INFORMATION 

Information about your 

disease and treatment 

from your medical team 

and other reliable sources, 

including patient and 

professional organisations. 

3. QUALITY, 

EXPERTISE & OUTCOMES 

Information about the 

quality and safety of care, 

the level of expertise and 

the outcomes achieved for 

your type of cancer in the 

centre where you are being 

treated. 

4. SPECIALISED 

MULTIDISCIPLINARY 

CARE 

Receive care from 

a specialised 

multidisciplinary team, 

ideally as part of a cancer 

care network. 

• the cyst has a solid component 

• the main pancreatic duct is widened 

• the cyst is growing and causing pain or pressure on other 

structures such as the bile duct. 

5. SHARED 

DECISION-MAKING 

Participate in shared 

decision-making with your 

healthcare team about all 

aspects of your treatment 

and care. 

6. RESEARCH & 

INNOVATION 

Be informed about ongoing 

research relevant to 

you, and your ability and 

eligibility to participate in 

research. 

7. QUALITY OF LIFE 

Discuss with your 

healthcare team your 

priorities and preferences 

to achieve the best 

possible quality of life. 

8. INTEGRATED 

SUPPORTIVE & 

PALLIATIVE CARE 

Receive optimal supportive 

and palliative care, as 

relevant, during any part of 

your cancer journey. 

“Watchful waiting is recommended when the risk of the operation 

to remove the cyst is greater than the chance that the cyst contains cancer 

or will soon become cancerous. 

Follow-up imaging is performed regularly to monitor these cysts. 

When above-mentioned cystic changes are found on surveillance scans, 

it may be necessary to remove the pancreatic cyst, explains Dr Messaoudi, 

“which is often possible through 

a minimally invasive surgical approach.” 

9. SURVIVORSHIP & 

REHABILITATION 

Receive and discuss with 

your care team a clear, 

managed and achievable 

plan for your survivorship 

and rehabilitation. 

10. REINTEGRATION 

Be fully reintegrated into 

society and protected from 

cancer-related stigma and 

discrimination, so that, in so 

far as is possible, you can 

return to a normal life. 

www.europeancancer.org/code 

info@europeancancer.org 

200

BIG BANG INTEGRAL 

Blue ceramic case with integrated bracelet. 

In-house UNICO chronograph movement.

Diplomatic World 66

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?