As the permanent representative of the Netherlands to the UN, I would like to thank you for visiting our website. Here, you will find information about the Dutch Permanent Mission and on the activities at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. If you have any questions, queries or suggestions, don't hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you.
H.E. Herman Schaper
Permanent Representative
Headlines
| 11 May 12 | Netherlands sees business opportunities in Iraq |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal sees major opportunities in Iraq for Dutch businesses and has discussed this with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussain al-Shahristani. A Dutch trade delegation comprising companies from the oil and gas and agricultural sectors will be visiting Baghdad, Basra and Erbil from 2 to 8 June. (more) | |
| 3 May 12 | Costa Rica joins the Coalition of States to promote and protect the freedom of expression online |
| 3 May 12 | Rosenthal calls for more internet freedom |
| To mark World Press Freedom Day, foreign minister Uri Rosenthal issued a statement today on behalf of Freedom Online, an international coalition that he was instrumental in forming. (more) | |
| 1 May 12 | New police training group launched in Kunduz |
| Last Sunday saw the official launch of the third police training group (PTG) in Kunduz. In a ceremony held at Camp Kunduz the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Civilian Representative, Matthijs Wolters, passed on the baton to his successor, Simon van der Burg. Colonel Nico van der Zee presented the unit flag, and command, to his successor Colonel (MC) Jarst de Jong. (more) |
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| 1 May 12 | Rule of law in Ukraine urgently needs improving |
| Foreign minister Uri Rosenthal today announced that if there are no visible improvements to the rule of law in Ukraine in the short term, particularly with respect to the treatment of the imprisoned ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, the Dutch government will not be represented at the Euro 2012 football matches in Ukraine. (more) | |
| 1 May 12 | Rosenthal: Many business opportunities in Southeast Asia |
| Foreign minister Uri Rosenthal has held a series of bilateral talks with Asian government ministers in the margins of the meeting in Brunei between the European Union and ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The talks focused mainly on the Netherlands’ economic relations with the various countries. ‘There are plenty of opportunities in this part of the world. That is the message I’ve been hearing. There is a real need here for Dutch expertise, particularly in areas like water management, renewable energy, shipbuilding, logistics and port development,’ Mr Rosenthal said. ‘There is also scope for Dutch knowledge institutions to help strengthen professional training within these sectors.’ (more) | |
| 27 Apr 12 | Rosenthal welcomes start of Burmese reform process |
| Foreign minister Uri Rosenthal spoke in Brunei on Friday with his Burmese counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin about Burma’s democratic reforms. ‘I said that Burma’s by-elections, in which the opposition could participate, were a step forward on the road to democracy,’ said Mr Rosenthal. (more) | |
| 26 Apr 12 | Conviction of Charles Taylor a milestone in international criminal law |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal has called the conviction of former Liberian president Charles Taylor ‘historic’. (more) | |
| 25 Apr 12 | Rosenthal concerned about decision on Israeli settlements |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal is concerned about Israel’s decision to legalise three settlements that had previously been regarded as unlawful. ‘The decision by the Israeli government is counterproductive to the peace process,’ said the minister. ‘Within the framework of the peace process, Israel has certain obligations. Legalisation or further expansion of settlements, in either number or surface area, runs counter to these obligations.’ (more) | |
| 25 Apr 12 | Housing for Palestinian refugees in Gaza |
| Yesterday, 223 dwellings funded by the Netherlands were turned over to 1,300 Palestinians at the Khan Younis refugee camp. ‘These kinds of projects help improve the economy and living conditions in the Palestinian Territories,’ said foreign minister Uri Rosenthal. ‘It is significant that we have achieved this result working with Israel.’ (more) | |
| 19 Apr 12 | Rosenthal response to AIV report |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal has expressed his gratitude to the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) for its advisory report on Iran. The government will study the report’s conclusions and consider its response. (more) | |
| 17 Apr 12 | Rosenthal: maintain sanctions against Iran |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal has stated that ‘sanctions against Iran should be enforced in full as long as Tehran does not provide full disclosure of its nuclear programme and comply with its international obligations.' This was in response to comments by his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi to the effect that Iran was prepared to discuss any nuclear issues as soon as the West begins lifting sanctions. (more) | |
| 11 Apr 12 | Minister Rosenthal talks to religious leaders |
| Today foreign minister Uri Rosenthal met with a group of religious leaders. He expressed his concern about the recent violence affecting vulnerable minorities, such as Christians, in a number of countries. (more) | |
| 11 Apr 12 | Rosenthal: approach in Afghanistan unchanged |
| The Netherlands and its international partners will continue to work for a stable and safe Afghanistan. ‘Recent incidents illustrate the complexity of the situation in Afghanistan, but have not changed the international community’s strategic approach,’ said foreign minister Uri Rosenthal during the parliamentary debate on Afghanistan. (more) | |
| 6 Apr 12 | Rosenthal: Netherlands wants more balanced role for UN Human Rights Council in Middle East peace process |
| In a debate in the House of Representatives foreign minister Uri Rosenthal has clarified the Netherlands’ position in the Middle East peace process. The debate yesterday was prompted by a procedural objection that the Netherlands had made to an EU report by member states’ heads of mission on violence by Israeli settlers. (more) | |
| 6 Apr 12 | Dutch nationals told to leave Mali |
| The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges all Dutch nationals currently in Mali to leave the country while they still have the opportunity to do so by commercial means. This information appeared in the Travel Advice update of Friday 6 April on the Ministry’s website. (more) | |
| 5 Apr 12 | Dutch suspends development cooperation with Mali |
| The Netherlands has suspended development cooperation with the Malian government until civilian rule is reinstated. This move has been closely coordinated with other European and international donors. This is the substance of a letter to the House of Representatives from the Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation, Ben Knapen. (more) | |
| 3 Apr 12 | Burmese elections major step towards democracy |
| Foreign minister Uri Rosenthal is pleased that Burma organised an election that was open to opposition members as well. ‘This has been a major step in the process of democratisation. It was good that the opposition could take part in the election, even though it concerned only a modest number of parliamentary seats.’ (more) | |
| 2 Apr 12 | Rosenthal calls on Friends of Syria to support defectors |
| The international community should encourage Syrian military personnel and officials to defect and provide them with the necessary support. Foreign minister Uri Rosenthal issued this call at the second Friends of Syria meeting in Istanbul. Over 80 countries, organisations and opposition groups took part. (more) | |
| 28 Mar 12 | The Netherlands to host Nuclear Security Summit in 2014 |
| The Netherlands is to host the third Nuclear Security Summit in 2014. The purpose of the Summits, which are an initiative of President Obama, is to promote nuclear security, by preventing nuclear terrorism and the traffic in nuclear material. The first was held in Washington DC in 2010. (more) | |
| 28 Mar 12 | The Netherlands to give €4 million in humanitarian aid to South Sudan |
| The Netherlands will donate an additional €4 million to the Humanitarian Action Plan for South Sudan. In taking this step the Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation, Ben Knapen, is responding to an appeal by the United Nations and various NGOs. (more) | |
| 27 Mar 12 | Rosenthal visits demilitarised zone |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal visited the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea today. This zone is four kilometres wide and 238 kilometres long, and has separated North and South Korea since the signing of the armistice that ended the Korean War in 1953. With its watchtowers, barbed wire and landmines, the zone is one of the best guarded borders in the world. Skirmishes regularly take place there, usually provoked by North Korea. ‘I stood today on the border between freedom and dictatorship,’ said Mr Rosenthal. (more) | |
| 26 Mar 12 | Peace and Justice visit by Dutch delegation |
| The presidents of several international courts and tribunals based in The Hague (The Netherlands) will be visiting New York and Washington DC between March 27th and April 1st, accompanied by Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague. The purpose of the visit is to inform the public about the role of international courts and tribunals in The Hague, the international city of peace and justice. (more) | |
| 22 Mar 12 | Presidents of international courts and the Mayor of The Hague visit New York and Washington, DC |
| The presidents of several international courts and tribunals based in The Hague (The Netherlands) will be visiting New York and Washington DC between March 27th and April 1st, accompanied by Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague. The purpose of the visit is to inform the public about the role of international courts and tribunals in The Hague, the international city of peace and justice. (more) | |
| 22 Mar 12 | World Water Day: the Netherlands leads the field in water for development |
| Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation Ben Knapen wants companies, knowledge institutions and civil society organisations to join the government in tackling water problems in developing countries. Today, on World Water Day, he launched the Sustainable Water Fund. (more) |
