Captain Nigel Amphlett, Defence Attaché

This is a guest blog by Captain Nigel Amphlett, Defence Attaché, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands Amphibious Force.

On the 9^th of May the United Kingdom / Netherlands Amphibious Force – the UKNLAF – celebrated its 40^th anniversary. Established by a Memorandum of Understanding between the respective countries, the vision for the UKNLAF was to create a combined force capable of operating together across the full spectrum of military operations from benign peacekeeping operations right up to sustained, high intensity war fighting.

40 years on, this force represents a model of best practice for international co-operation on defence matters.  It is a fully integrated, combined force that trains and exercises under a single, unified command structure alongside other NATO and EU allies.

And so it was that on a warm, sunny day in May the assault ship, and Flag Ship of the Royal Navy, HMS BULWARK and her sister ship, the Dutch assault ship HNLMS Johan de Witt visited Rotterdam and provided a combined venue for the Anniversary celebrations.

Berthed on the very high profile Wilhemina Quay in the centre of the city, the principle guests at the Anniversary celebrations were Dr Andrew Murrison MP, the UK Government Minister responsible for International Security Strategy, and the Dutch Minister of Defence, Mrs Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

Other VIP guests included General Tom Middendorp, the Dutch Chief of Defence; Mr Paul Arkwright, the British Ambassador; Mr Erik Akerboom, the secretary General of the Dutch Ministry of Defence; Vice Admiral Matthieu Borsboom, the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy; Major General Ed Davis, the Commandant General of the Royal Marines; Brigadier Richard Oppelaar, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps; Brigadier Martin Smith, Commander of 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines; Commodore Peter Lenselink, Commander of the Netherlands Maritime Force; and, Commodore Paddy McAlpine, Commander of the UK Task Group.

The keynote event was the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) by both Ministers, which will build on the previous 40 years of cooperation and develop further the force as it moves forward into the future.

Both Ministers preceded the signing of the LoI by speeches in which both Dr Andrew Murrison MP as well as Dutch Minister of Defence, Mrs Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert reinforced the shared values of our 2 nations, talked about our long maritime traditions, praised the strength and professionalism of the force, and highlighted what can be achieved by nations working together for a common good.

As we look towards the instability caused by conflict in numerous regions of the globe, it is increasingly apparent that international partnering has become even more important in the 21^st Century, and the UKNLAF will remain as relevant tomorrow as it was when it was conceived 40 years ago.

In the words of Dr Murrison MP:

“I believe our citizens are safer because of the existence of this force, summed up perfectly by the combined mottos of the 2 Marine Corps at its heart…  we can all feel protected: ‘By Sea, By Land’… ‘As Far as The World Extends’”.

Copyright: Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst

It’s rare in life to be able to witness history in the making. I was fortunate to have been in Berlin when the Wall came down in 1989. And this week, I was one of the lucky 2,000 in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam who witnessed the investiture of King Willem Alexander – the first King of the Netherlands for over a century.

We Brits like to think we do pomp and ceremony better than most. But the investiture in Amsterdam rivalled the best that the UK can manage: from the immaculately choreographed entrance to the church of the Royal guests – including TRH the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall – to the soaring music and stunning flower arrangements (with a heavy hint of orange of course). But there was a simplicity too about this strikingly secular event – and a certain modesty which the Dutch do rather well. The new King referred to the “citizens”, not his “subjects”. His crown remained on the table in front of him. Instead of a full choral ensemble, or world famous operatic diva, the Royal Couple were treated to a simple song sung by a children’s choir. And the presence of the 3 princesses added to the family feel. Crown Princess Amalia was caught yawning on camera – something I suspect will be replayed many times in her life!

At the reception afterwards, I was able to congratulate the new King and Queen in person. I have met them several times before: they take a lively interest in the UK (the new King has told me how much he enjoyed London 2012 in his capacity as an IOC member). They come across as warm and engaged – and that’s the secret of their increasing popularity.

Sadly, I’ll be leaving this post in a few months as my tour of duty comes to an end. But the images of orange-clad Nederlanders in the streets of Amsterdam, and the sights and sounds of Dutch ceremony and celebration at its height will remain with me as undoubtedly the highlight of my time as Ambassador here.

Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, His Excellency Mr Ahmet Üzümcü

This is a guest blog by the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, His Excellency Mr Ahmet Üzümcü, on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare, 29 April.

Today, April 29, marks The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Remembrance Day.

This day allows us all a moment of reflection. We must not forget the pain and suffering inflicted by chemical weapons. I feel that there is no better occasion than this to recall and reaffirm our collective commitment to a world free of chemical weapons.

Today 188 states are parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, and nearly 80% of all declared stockpiles of chemical weapons have been successfully destroyed by States Parties. Progress continues to be made on the destruction of remaining stockpiles and on promoting the universality of the Convention through engagement with the 8 states which remain outside of its ambit.

Recent events in Syria have underlined how critical the goal of eliminating all chemical weapons remains. I have voiced my concern at the current allegations concerning the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria. The OPCW is assisting the United Nations Secretary General in his fact finding Mission to investigate these allegations.

I want to reiterate that the use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances would be reprehensible and is completely contrary to the legal norms and standards of the international community.

Remembrance Day reminds us of our obligation to do everything in our power to eliminate chemical weapons and to ensure that they never re-emerge. This is the best tribute that we can pay in memory of the fallen.

I still remember when Marks & Spencer (M&S) withdrew from the Continent about ten years ago. My family and I were in Paris at the time and we were sad to see the shops, and that little piece of home, close.

I was therefore very pleased to welcome M&S and their Dutch CEO, Marc Bolland, back to The Netherlands at the opening of their concept shop on the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam earlier this week. Through the launch of their new  ‘Clicks and Bricks’ strategy, they are looking to give customers the opportunity to explore a new way of shopping, combining both an online and in-store experience. We were able to see this in action last Tuesday – and it’s very impressive.

During the opening event BP Managing Director, Hendrik Muilerman, mentioned how the UK-Netherlands Strategic Business Dialogue contributed to M&S and BP taking their partnership to The Netherlands. The first pilot M&S Simply Food shop will be opening at a BP petrol station later this year. This is another clear example of a successful venture the bi-lateral Strategic Business Dialogue has brought to fruition.

M&S’s shift to a new and different way of shopping can be seen in the wider UK retail sector. The sector’s innovative culture in areas such as e-commerce and self-service, are reshaping the shopping experience across the world and have put the UK at the vanguard of multi-channel shopping. This is significant as retail is very important to the UK economy, it contributes 5% per cent to the GDP and employs over 10 per cent of the UK workforce, making it Britain’s largest private employer.

At the British Embassy our UK Trade & Investment team looks forward to working closely with the British retailer to support them with their planned activities in The Netherlands, including opening a store in The Hague. As the British Ambassador to The Netherlands I am delighted to support UK retail sector by promoting the return of an iconic household name as M&S.

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to the M&S curry and sticky toffee pudding I was given at the launch.

Minister Burt with HMA Arkwright

On 8 April a two week Review Conference for the Chemical Weapons Convention opened here in The Hague. We were honoured by the attendance of Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General – it was the first time a UN Secretary-General came and addressed us formally.

The Convention aims to:

“exclude completely the possibility of use of chemical weapons”.

Given the nature of these inhumane weapons, you would think that such an aim would be universal and unarguable. But we still need to persuade a few more – eight – States to join us.

Such a conference is convened every five years to review the operation of the Convention and take into account any relevant scientific and technological developments. As well as Ban Ki Moon speaking, there are many official statements from Governments setting out their positions on the points under discussion. The Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt made the statement for the UK.

We are meeting at a time when there have been allegations of the use of chemical weapons in Syria – so the threat which the Convention is supposed to end is still very real. That should make us focus even harder on the review. But it should also take us beyond the routine.

Syria is not a member of the Convention, but any use of chemical weapons would be abhorrent and rightly condemned by the international community – and any responsible individuals must be held to account. We believe the Review Conference can’t ignore such a challenge to its object and purpose.

So I wholeheartedly support the aim of the UN Secretary General to investigate these allegations. I welcome his attendance at this conference, which demonstrates the vital importance and relevance of this Convention in today’s world. And I hope that at the end of the two weeks we will have done justice to the review and the reality.

Copyright: Maverick – www.earthhour.org

Can you imagine the effect it might have if we all switched off non essential lights for just one hour?

Renewable Energy is the theme of this year´s Earth Hour. On 23^rd of March we all have an opportunity to show our concern for the environment by doing something as simple as just reaching for that light switch. I am planning to do just that and join the global community of millions of people in 7,001 cities and towns across 152 countries on the 23^rd for this unique largest global environmental event.

Back in the UK the Foreign Office in London will be observing Earth Hour and throughout the country there will various events ranging from McFly doing a concert in the dark for Earth Hour, to individual communities planning events to remind us all of the necessity to think about what we can do to protect our planet.

In the Netherlands 13,000 people, businesses and local councils have announced they will participate.  There will be an Earth Hour rooftop concert in De Rotterdam, the lights will go out in the inner city in Tilburg whilst in the North of Holland there will be a  competition to write a song for Earth Hour.

But it is not just about the large organised events and it’s not just about one hour. It’s a way of reminding us all that what really matters is that we should all be thinking about the bright future of our planet.  It’s about taking positive steps to reduce our impact on the planet – not just for one hour, but every day.

View of Port Stanley, Falkland Islands (DANIEL GARCIA, AFP, Getty Images)

There are times in life when certain news stories take you back to a previous existence and bring back strong memories. This week provided a good example as I read and heard about the referendum on the Falkland Islands.

From 1993-97 I worked at the UK Mission to the UN in New York. One of my responsibilities was to cover the so-called “UN Decolonisation Committee” which considered the situation in a number of Overseas Territories, including the Falklands. After dealing with the issue for a couple of years, and looking after Falkland Island Councillors on their annual visits to New York, I was keen to learn more about the Islands, so I travelled to the South Atlantic via the UK and Ascension Island.

I was left with many impressions, including the bleakness of the landscape contrasting with the bright colours of the houses; the cheerful professionalism of the British military at the Garrison there; the abundance of lamb and absence of fish in the diet. But the impression which has stayed with me the longest is of the Islanders’ determination to stay British, retain their connection with the UK, and reject Argentine claims over sovereignty of the Islands.

From the outcome of this week’s referendum, it’s clear that this view hasn’t changed. And it shouldn’t be surprising. After all, the Islanders were exercising what every democracy grants to its citizens – the right to self-determination. 99.8% of the Islanders voted to remain a UK Overseas Territory, with just 3 ‘no’ votes. The turnout was extremely high at 92%. This sends a definitive message to the international community about what the Islanders want.

The Dutch government have paid attention, too, taking note of the referendum result “where the majority of the population have expressed, in clear terms, the desire to maintain their status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom.”

This will not be the end of the dispute. No doubt there will be more arguments in the UN, as there were when I was posted there. But now no-one can claim that they are ignorant of the strong views of the Islanders themselves.

This is a guest blog by the Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Brenda J. Hollis, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

Brenda Hollis at Bishop Johnson Memorial School

Today, over 100 years since International Women’s Day was first acknowledged, we celebrate the progress achieved in the fight to achieve gender equality. We reflect on the courage and sacrifices of those women and girls at the forefront of this fight, and the men and boys at their side.

We also reflect on the challenges that remain to ensure that women and girls achieve their true potential in all walks of life and are no longer the targets of violence.

Inequality and discrimination have fostered an environment which all too often tolerates this violence against females. Women and girls have routinely been treated as “spoils of war”, viciously and disproportionately targeted during conflict, for example in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone.

In these conflicts they were savagely and repeatedly raped, and often used as sex slaves, with fatal or lifelong medical and emotional consequences.

The maltreatment of women and girls in these conflicts demonstrates much work remains to achieve true gender equality; but the response to this maltreatment gives rise to renewed hope. The ad hoc tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, and the Special Court for Sierra Leone, have made crystal clear the criminal nature of this sexual violence, and have prosecuted and punished those responsible.

History will judge to what extent this will deter future criminal conduct targeted at females, but there can no longer be any doubt that such conduct is deserving of the strongest condemnation.

The United Kingdom’s Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative is an auspicious development in this regard. In this year of the UK’s G8 presidency, I welcome the priority it has given to this matter.

I also salute its commitment to building on the practices and case law developed by the international criminal courts, thus ensuring more effective and efficient investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women and girls.

To prevent sexual violence, and to eliminate inequality and discrimination against women and girls, we must all act as one. Each woman and man, girl and boy, must act to ensure that the types of victimization visited upon women and girls in conflicts, and on their sisters elsewhere, will no longer be tolerated.

Justice for all must be just that. There can be no justice until everyone, female and male alike, is treated with the dignity, respect and equality that each deserves as a member of the global community.

• Follow @FCOHumanRights on Twitter #IWD #womensday
• Map showing UK government action to empower women across the globe.

Regional visit to the Province of Limburg – Ambassador Paul Arkwright at Weir Minerals

With so much political and economic activity here centred around the “Randstad” of The Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht, it’s good to be reminded that there are Dutch provinces beyond North and South Holland. After all, I’m British Ambassador to the whole of the country…

Just before the traditional ‘Carnaval’ festivities took over both the streets and the local government of the main cities and villages, I recently visited the Province of Limburg as part of my programme of Regional Visits to Innovation Hotspots in the Netherlands.

All the way down south from a The Hague perspective, but very much in the heart of Europe. As I was told, if you live in Venlo or Maastricht, it easier to go shopping in Paris, Antwerp or Dusseldorf than in the ‘Randstad’.

A varied and very interesting programme of meetings with businesses, local and regional government and Maastricht University kicked off at Weir Minerals, one of the largest British employers in the region, with coffee and a generous slice of ‘vlaai’.

I soon learned that this is an essential part of the very welcoming southern hospitality we enjoyed throughout the visit. It was fascinating to see the production of the high-quality pumps, 90% of which are exported worldwide.

After an introduction to ‘Greenport Venlo’, I had an opportunity to talk to some of the Small and Medium Size Enterprises active in the region about their activities and trade relations with the UK.

At Océ I got a fascinating ‘picture’ of the future of 2.5D printing, which for example can be used to print a map of the UK on which it is easy to see and feel that the Snowdon and Ben Nevis are indeed the highest UK mountains.

I then went on to the vibrant heart of Limburg, the city of Maastricht, where I was introduced to the region’s strengths in life sciences, health and chemistry by the LIOF, the Limburg Development and Investment Company, represented by Jérôme Verhagen, the Mayor of Maastricht, Onno Hoes, and the Governor of the Province of Limburg, Theo Bovens. And again enjoyed even more generous slices of ‘vlaai’.)

I particularly enjoyed co-hosting a dinner for businesses, academics and local government with Jérôme Verhagen, who showed a keen interest in learning more about not just Britain’s vision on Limburg, but also about Britain’s vision on Europe.

In my remarks to the dinner, held in the “heart of Europe” I referred the PM’s recent speech on Europe, urging my guests to read the whole of the speech which sets out a positive, engaged approach to Europe and the EU which is a long way from what you might believe if you read only the media headlines.

The next day started with a intriguing tour of Brains Unlimited, a company based at Maastricht University which will soon exploit one of only five 9.4Tesla MRI scanners in the world.

At Maastricht University it was easy to see what attracts constantly increasing numbers of British students to the youngest but one of the most successful Universities in the Netherlands.

Over coffee – and yes, ‘vlaai’ again – I was impressed with their ambition and their enthusiasm for studying at Maastricht University. I’m convinced they will continue to foster the excellent relations between the Netherlands and the UK. Prof. Martin Paul, President of the University Board, completed the picture the students sketched of Maastricht University: an innovative and ambitious University which is at the heart of knowledge creation and commercial activities in the region as well as in Europe.

The day ended with a fascinating meeting with Feike Sijbersma, CEO of DSM, a highly successful multinational Dutch company with significant investments in the UK, which has transformed itself several times over the past 30 years – from mining to chemicals to life sciences.

Again, Europe was on the agenda. I took away the clear message – repeated many times during my visit – that an active and activist UK working alongside our Dutch friends in Europe was very much in the national interest of The Netherlands – and beyond our continent. And from DSM straight to Amsterdam where I had the pleasure of hearing Seb Coe talk about his role in preparing and organising London 2012.

An eye-opening 3 days. I returned convinced of the value of these visits, and sadly a few pounds heavier. So it’s back to the swimming pool, inspired by those Olympic athletes….

In an ideal world, January is a time for to gear up for the year ahead, with a bit of breathing space to carefully plan and prepare. Here in The Hague, January has turned out to be far from the business-as-usual routine.

First of all, we were informed that the Prime Minister intended to give his important speech on Britain’s relationship with the EU in Amsterdam. We had 5 days to find a venue and 300 guests, liaise with the Dutch authorities and No.10, ensure the right level of media coverage – and complete a hundred other tasks which come with the territory of a PM’s visit, an event which was planned to resonate around the world. I’m pleased to say that our teams in The Hague and Amsterdam rose to the challenge with style – and a good dose of humour which is essential on these occasions.

It was indeed disappointing that the PM decided to cancel at the last minute, and that we missed our opportunity to be part of history. But the tragic events in Algeria were clearly more important – and more urgent. All here involved in the visit fully understood the reason. Our thoughts are first and foremost with the families of the victims of the appalling terrorist act in Algeria.

The speech itself caused a great deal of comment here – not least because of the intention to hold it in The Netherlands. While some have been critical, many politicians and commentators have praised the clarity of the speech – and the PM’s firm commitment to the UK remaining in a reformed EU which brings the work and objectives of the Union closer to the citizens of Europe. Indeed, the debate about the Netherlands’ own relationship with the EU has already started here –the PM’s speech has certainly provided much food for thought.

Less than a week after the speech was delivered, we heard the news that Queen Beatrix has decided to abdicate in favour of her son, Crown Prince Willem Alexander. The reaction has been overwhelmingly one of respect and admiration for all that Her Majesty has done in the service of the Dutch people. I can only echo that. I have seen at first hand the extraordinary commitment, resolve and devotion to duty which has marked her reign since she became Queen in 1980 – sentiments which are shared by the British people when we reflect on 60 years of service by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

No doubt there will be more work for the Embassy as we prepare for the inauguration of the new King on 30 April. We are happy to play a small part in that – and to join all around the world wishing Queen Beatrix and the soon to be King Willem Alexander every best wish for the future.