SA Celebrates World Tourism Day with a Commitment to Reignite Domestic Travel Markets

27 September 2020

South Africa joined the globe in celebrating World Tourism Day today with festivities at Maropeng’s Cradle of Humankind in the western corridor of the Gauteng Province.

World Tourism Day is a United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) initiative observed annually on 27 September to highlight the sector’s contribution to the socio–economic development of nations, and the advancement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Clarens, Free State, South Africa (File photo)

Themed ‘Rural Development and Tourism,’ the celebrations highlighted the significant role the domestic tourism market will play in reigniting the sector, especially in spearheading tourism in lesser-visited rural communities in all nine provinces.

“Today’s celebration is a testament that the tourism industry is able to host an event in a safe manner under the current Covid- 19 pandemic.”

“As we navigate a path to recovery, and gradually re-open our borders to safely welcome international visitors, we urge South Africans to travel and explore their country responsibly,” said Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane.

The tourism industry is one of the largest economic sectors in the world – creating jobs, driving exports and generating prosperous local economies. According to the UNWTO, the industry contributed 10.4% to the global GDP and created 319 million jobs in 2018.

Commitment to Build Back Better at Ministerial Meeting of the Alliance for Multilateralism

25 September 2020

Statement by Dr Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, on the occasion of the Ministerial Meeting of the Alliance for Multilateralism themed: “Our Commitment and Contribution to Building Back Better”

South Africa welcomes this discussion and hopes all of us will continue to ensure our global collaboration does serve the greater good.

Minister Pandor participating in a virtual Ministerial Meeting of the Alliance for Multilateralism (Photo: Jacoline Schoonees)

Africa has been severely impacted by the pandemic and gains made over many decades have been reversed. Our Alliance should devote time in the future to devising effective support measures to assist the most vulnerable. African countries have welcomed the debt stand still that has been agreed for 6 months of this year.

Much more relief and support is required for our economies to recover, for jobs to be created and for new industries.

Roundtable Devoted to Turkmenistan’s 25th Anniversary of Neutrality held in Brussels

On Friday 25 September, the Tangla Hotel in Brussels hosted a high-level roundtable on the topic of “Constructive Dialogue for Peace and Sustainable Development”, held on the auspicious occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan.

In his intervention, H.E. Tchary Atayev, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the EU, discussed the historical background and distinguishing features of Turkmenistan’s neutrality, and outlined the international initiatives being undertaken by Turkmenistan for regional and global peace, security, stability and development.

Following Ambassador Atayev’s speech, representatives from the Energy Charter, the Embassy of Afghanistan, the European Institutions, the European Institute for Asian Studies and Diplomatic World Institute took the floor and offered their perspectives on, among other topics, the implications of Turkmenistan’s neutrality status for relations with the European Union and its Member States (including increased trade relations); regional relations; solving the conflict in Afghanistan; engagement with the Energy Charter Treaty and strengthening connectivity across Eurasia.

Reshaping a new Regional Integration: The SAARC and SADC Nations

By Srimal Fernando and Vedangshi Roy Choudhuri

21 September 2020

Southern African and South Asian nations have resorted to the fact that one of the most significant methods for accomplishing a more prominent economic autonomy is through regional integration of economies. Cultivating economic discretion between the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) is one of the key foreign policy objectives that both regional alliances can cooperate on within the following decade.

South Africa and India would thus be able to exercise a significant and persuasive foreign policy focus in connecting these two regions.  From the governments' side, the essential enquiries rotate around the viability of its current strategies.

Towards a Prosperous and Sustainable World - UNGA 75

By Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa

21 September 2020

The United Nations will this week begin the 75th session of its General Assembly, where the nations of the world gather to seek collective solutions to global challenges.

In any other year, heads of state and government would travel to the UN headquarters in New York to address the General Assembly. But this year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, this gathering is taking place virtually, using technology to bridge the distance between the capitals of the world.

As South Africa, we will be addressing the General Assembly by videoconference from the Union Buildings and will be participating in several other meetings.

This is an important moment for the United Nations. It is 75 years since its formation following the destruction of the Second World War. The countries of the world were determined that never again should such a human tragedy be allowed to happen. They believed that through an organisation like the UN, the world’s problems could be peacefully resolved through cooperation.

Tribute to Mpondo Culture and Heritage 2020

By Dr Nomvuyo N. Nokwe, Secretary General of IORA

21 September 2020

COVID-19 has negatively impacted global travel and brought the world to an abrupt standstill. For the first time in history, close to 90% of the world’s population is now in countries with travel restrictions. Airlines, travel companies and the tourism sector as a whole are among the most affected businesses.

Photo: Ms Verena Gauthier, CEO of Impulse NGO from Basseland, Switzerland and Dr Nomvuyo Nokwe, Secretary General of IORA, during the Mpondo Culture and Heritage Festival 2018 at Lwandlolubomvu Great Place, Ntabankulu, Mpondo Kingdom

The UN Secretary-General stressed, “It is imperative that we rebuild the tourism sector.” He went on to say in order for it to “regain its position as a provider of decent jobs, stable incomes and the protection of our cultural and natural heritage.” tourism’s role is one of the most important economic sectors, providing livelihoods to hundreds of millions of people while “boosting economies and enabling countries to thrive.

Shaping Peace Together

21 September 2020

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.

Image: pixabay.com

"Shaping Peace Together" is the theme for world peace day this year. The United Nations encourages people to "celebrate the day by spreading compassion, kindness and hope in the face of the (COVID-19) pandemic."  This year, the UN said, has been clearer than ever that we are not each other’s enemies. “Rather, our common enemy is a tireless virus that threatens our health, security and very way of life. COVID-19 has thrown our world into turmoil and forcibly reminded us that what happens in one part of the planet can impact people everywhere.”

DWI Launches Wholistic World Innovation Trophy, WIT

Brussels, September 15, 2020: Diplomatic World Institute proudly announces the launch of the first ever Wholistic World Innovation Trophy.

The rapid technology-driven change has a huge impact on our societies, now fuelled by the pandemic crisis, by making people feel uneasy and longing for the stable structures of the past that had made them feel secure. However, post Corona innovation is no longer purely technology driven. Globalisation and business itself need to be thought of in a different, wholistic way.

The TIME industries (Technology, Internet Media & Entertainment) are playing a significant role for our societies. Media is content, and content is data. Thus, it takes a key role in both innovation cycles and how to monitor and comprehend it.

Therefore, once a year, we identify one exclusive innovation with the potential of global impact. Our independent board of senior experts from the TIME industries selects the most influential innovation of the year. DWI is the facilitator, providing the framework to reach an independent decision, free from any industry or social groups’ interest.

Israel - UAE - Bahrain Normalization Ceremony

by Hanan Jarrar, Ambassador of Palestine to South Africa

As Palestinians, on this eve of September 15, 2020, we feel betrayed by the step taken by the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Bahrain to normalise relations with the Israeli settler-colonial regime.  The signature by the foreign ministers of the two Arab Gulf states today in Washington D.C  of the agreement, does not only go against the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative -which offers Israel  normal relations in the region in exchange for ending  occupation- and against tens of  other Arab League resolutions that go in the same sense, but it is also a betrayal to the simple principles of Justice, emboldening Israel to continue oppressing the Palestinian people.
 
At a time where Israeli bulldozers are intensifying their work of tearing down Palestinian lands and homes to grow the illegal settlement enterprise, and Israeli strikes and blockade are suffocating the Gaza Strip, in addition to the daily threats and desacralizations of Muslim and Christian holy places, this move cannot be seen as a step towards peace. This agreement which comforts the Israel international stand is rewarding the crime perpetrators and an encouragement to the current rampant culture of impunity. As such, it will only draw nearer a movement of unrest in the region to oppose the growing injustices. Most notably, when the Israeli government is unapologetically stating that it will not allow a sovereign and viable Palestinian state to exist, and that annexation of Palestinian land shall persist.

210th Anniversary of the Independence of Mexico

by Ana Luisa Fajer, Ambassador of Mexico to South Africa

15 September 2020

It is with great pleasure that I address you today to celebrate the two hundred and tenth Anniversary of the Independence of Mexico.

Today, as on each fifteenth of September from the late nineteenth century, Mexicans around the world celebrate the beginning of our fight for freedom. With this ceremony, Mexicans renew their bond to freedom, to sovereignty, to Mexico.

In the early hours of the sixteenth of September 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo congregated the people of his parish in the town of Dolores and encouraged them to join him in the struggle for the freedom of Mexico. Hidalgo’s call became “el Grito de Independencia”, the Cry for Mexican Independence from Spain.

The revolution for independence was due to last eleven years. During this period the insurgents -as we refer to them, the heroes of this revolution- were so ahead of their time that Hidalgo abolished slavery as early as December 1810, and José María Morelos -a brilliant Afro- Mexican- signed the first Constitution in 1814: The Constitutional Decree for the Liberation of Mexican America.

Festive Launch of the Diplomatic World Magazine devoted to Uzbekistan held in Brussels

On 3 September 2020, a networking reception was held on the grounds of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Brussels, in order to celebrate Uzbekistan’s 29th anniversary of independence and the launch of the Special Edition of Diplomatic World Magazine exclusively devoted to Uzbekistan. Approximately 70 high-level guests were in attendance, coming not only from Brussels but also neighbouring countries Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany and France. They included representatives of the diplomatic corps (ambassadors of other Central Asian countries, Russia, the Philippines and the Maldives), European External Action Service, the European Parliament, arts & culture, business, media and think tank representatives.

Pictured (l-r) are H.E. Dilyor Khakimov Ambassador of Uzbekistan, H.E. Tchary Atayev Ambassador of Turkmenistan and Barbara Dietrich CEO and President Diplomatic World

After months of restrictive measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic which had severely limited social contact, this festive occasion allowed guests to interact with one another in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying Uzbek cuisine including its famous dish – plov – as well as a small exposition of traditional Uzbek dresses.