The Philippine Business and News’ Post

During the past two days, our interpreters were engaged in a meeting between officials from the Swedish Foreign Office and a Turkmenistan delegation headed by the Deputy Foreign Minister, which posed a significant opportunity for diplomatic engagement and cultural exchange. Both parties discussed various topics at the meeting, including trade partnerships, cultural cooperation, and regional security issues. Sweden, known for its progressive foreign policy and commitment to human rights, had naturally approached the discussions with a lens focused on promoting democratic values and sustainable development. Meanwhile, Turkmenistan's government, which has historically positioned itself as neutral in foreign conflicts while maintaining a distinct political identity, would seek to emphasize its sovereignty and economic interests. Effective interpretation during these discussions is crucial. It requires both linguistic proficiency and a deep understanding of both nations' diplomatic cultures. The interpreter must navigate between different political contexts, ensuring nuanced meanings are accurately conveyed. For instance, when discussing human rights—where Sweden prioritizes advocacy—the interpreter must be sensitive to Turkmenistan's perspective, ensuring the conversation remains constructive and diplomatic rather than confrontational. As the two nations continue their diplomatic journey, skilled interpreters will be instrumental during these crucial conversations.

Vessela Tcherneva, Deputy Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, gave this interview on a number of issues related to the reaffirmation and regional integration of Central and South-Eastern Europe within the EU. She discussed the rising profile of the region’s representatives at the helm of EU’s foreign and security policy, as well as the crucial role of the security sphere in the development of relations within the region. In her view, the Three Seas Initiative has not produced convincing results. However, the general trend towards greater infrastructural interconnection in Central and South-Eastern Europe remains very important. Vessela Tcherneva also believes that the rising salaries in Bulgaria in the midst of the political crisis are an incentive for the population not to demand too high a political price from their representatives in the protracted political crisis. She doesn’t expect Bulgaria to replace France with Hungary as a mediator in relations with North Macedonia, because Viktor Orban’s Hungary has little to offer. As for Bulgaria’s national-centric and inward-looking public discourse and state orientation, she points out that many of Bulgaria’s political leaders and influential decision-makers lack experience and exposure to international realities, and often don’t even speak foreign languages. So the shift towards internationalisation could be linked to the political rise of people with greater foreign and intellectual experience. Most likely, however, it will be encouraged by the EC’s incentives for reforms that could lead to social transformation. https://lnkd.in/d6jq5aRX

Vessela Tcherneva, Deputy Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, gave this interview on a number of issues related to the reaffirmation and regional integration of Central and South-Eastern Europe within the EU.  She discussed the rising profile of the region's representatives at the helm of EU's foreign and security policy, as well as the crucial role of the security sphere in the development of relations within the region. In her view, the Three Seas Initiative has not produced convincing results. However, the general trend towards greater infrastructural interconnection in Central and South-Eastern Europe remains very important. Vessela Tcherneva also believes that the rising salaries in Bulgaria in the midst of the political crisis are an incentive for the population not to demand too high a political price from their representatives in the protracted political crisis. She doesn't expect Bulgaria to replace France with Hungary as a mediator in relations with North Macedonia, because Viktor Orban's Hungary has little to offer. As for Bulgaria's nationalistic and inward-looking public discourse and state orientation, she points out that many of Bulgaria's political leaders and influential decision-makers lack experience and exposure to international realities, and often don't even speak foreign languages. So the shift towards internationalisation could be linked to the political rise of people with greater foreign and intellectual experience. Most likely, however, it will be encouraged by the EC's incentives for reforms that could lead to social transformation.

STILL no idea what an Ambassador does? 10 (non-official, updated) headlines: 1️⃣ A (British) Ambassador acts as senior envoy of (His Majesty The King and) their government to one or more countries. 2️⃣ An Ambassador leads an Embassy. In a Commonwealth country, a High Commissioner leads a High Commission. They implement their government’s policy in the home country. They’re responsible for the mission & their colleagues, including safety & security. Some Embassies have only an Ambassador. Others employ diplomats from many ministries and hundreds of locally-appointed staff. In Latvia my team was 12, in Vietnam 100. 3️⃣ Diplomats are a formal channel through which countries talk, lobby & cooperate. 4️⃣ Communication between governments is frequent in crisis and in quieter times. This can involve large development projects, as well as security, climate, investment, human rights, health, science, crime, education and more. 5️⃣ Diplomats foster and support non-state links: commercial, cultural, academic, media, civil society and more. Even in Cuba and Vietnam, I and my outstanding teams worked to advance all of those. Diplomacy is at heart about relationships, government & beyond. We use programmes, partnerships, dialogues, visits, scholarships, travel & entertainment. 6️⃣ Embassies provide emergency assistance to their citizens when most needed. They plan for, rehearse for & respond to crises: political, economic, military, war, unrest, accident, natural disaster. Some provide services too, renewing passports or receiving visa applications. For the UK, that’s mostly handled centrally. 7️⃣ The diplomats follow instructions from “authorities” back home: ministers, senior officials. Overseas they cultivate contacts, listen, investigate, analyse, persuade, explain, report back. 8️⃣ Governments communicate with international organisations such as the UN, EU and NATO. They do this through representative offices at the organisations’ HQ. The Head is a “Permanent Representative”. 9️⃣ An Ambassador can represent a policy theme, such as human rights. One of my own roles was Global UK Ambassador for Climate. 🔟 Diplomats promote their country’s interests more widely through public messages, dialogue, traditional channels and… social media. This though is a personal LinkedIn account, not official. The career ideas, “how to” tips, explanations, lessons, omissions & mistakes are mine. What’s your view of Ambassadors? Are they needed?

Another comment on Prabowo's recent foreign visit to France-Serbia-Turkiye-Russia for The Jakarta Post. I argue that this visit exposes an early sign of his pragmatic and personalistic approach to Indonesia's foreign policy, which might distinguish Prabowo's foreign policy with the Jokowi's ones. Definitely this is very early and we need to wait until we have a new Foreign Minister appointed by Prabowo, but if Prabowo's active foreign visit continues, there would be a sign of a more 'personalistic and active' foreign policy. centred on the office and character of the President, in the next few years. https://lnkd.in/gkVN4-nn

New LSE Blog on UK-SA relations and priorities as new foreign ministers from each country will meet this week in London. Draws on confence held at Chatham House in June. Key point: 'South Africa’s desire to play a more prominent role on issues where it feels it has moral leadership have at times placed it at odds with UK positions.... Even where countries disagree on some issues, they will need to cooperate on others. It is in that context that the UK must view its important relationship with South Africa and cooperate on areas of mutual interest and shared values in a robust manner guided by frameworks and institutions, not personalities and politics.' https://lnkd.in/eGjM-Xpt

“The fifth round of political consultations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Federative Republic of Brazil was held today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, chaired by the Director General of Bilateral Relations, Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Khalifa, and the Secretary for Africa and the Middle East at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Ambassador Carlos Sergio Duarte. Shaikh Abdullah welcomed Ambassador Carlos, praising the level of the close relations between the two countries, emphasizing the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthen cooperation with Brazil in various fields, including politics, economics, tourism, and culture, and advancing these relations to broader horizons. He also highlighted Brazil's prominent role in international alliances and its contributions and supportive positions in efforts to maintain maritime security, reaffirming Bahrain's commitment to making diligent efforts to achieve regional and international stability and enhance international partnerships to ensure peace, prosperity, and welfare for the peoples of the region and the world. Ambassador Carlos expressed Brazil's eagerness to strengthen relations in various fields with Bahrain, appreciating the fruitful outcomes of the fifth round of consultations in the cooperation journey between the two countries. Both sides reviewed ways to activate the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed in cultural, social, and economic fields, as well as opportunities for cooperation and enhancing trade exchange. Brazil ranked third in terms of import volume for the Kingdom of Bahrain, with a share of 9% amounting to a total value of 126 million dollars during the third quarter of 2024. The meeting also discussed the latest developments in regional and international arenas and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.” https://lnkd.in/dtTsxQeQ

This week marks a pivotal moment in UK foreign affairs as Foreign Secretary David Cameron embarks on a historic visit to Central Asia and Mongolia, aiming to deepen ties and foster economic growth in a region brimming with potential. #BritishCouncilEnglishresources #BritishCouncilteachingmaterials #BritishForeignSecretaryvisit #Britishinvestmentopportunities #CentralAsiabusinessopportunities #DavidCameronCentralAsia #UKCentralAsiacooperation #UKCheveningscholarships #UKfundingCentralAsia #UKMongoliarelations

Swapo slammed for overreacting to EU, Itula meeting: … EU still consulting after stern warning International relations expert and public policy analyst Marius Kudumo has slammed Swapo after its vice president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, issued European Union (EU) ambassadors a stern warning against interfering in Namibia’s affairs. This comes after German ambassador Thorsten Hutter hosted a lunch in honour of Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Itula on behalf of the EU in Windhoek on Tuesday. In attendance were ambassadors from Spain, Portugal and France. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s sentiments come after minister of internatonal relations and cooperation Peya Mushelenga summoned the European ambassadors and rapped them on the fingers over the meeting. Kudumo says: “ . . . overreaction on political matters from political actors – even if not necessary. In my view, this is an overreaction, and it would not have been the same if it were not an election year.” He says the 1961 Vienna Convention defines diplomatic relations, including the roles, functions, actions, and behaviour of states in interstate relations. “Diplomats as representatives of their states have the duty to report on political, economic, and social matters in the receiving state. “Therefore, they meet with governments, political parties, and non-state actors to carry out their representation and reporting functions if they are serious and effective representatives of sending states,” he says. Kudumo says according to the Vienna Convention, the functions of a diplomatic mission include ascertaining conditions and developments in a receiving state, reporting on this to the government of a sending state. “To achieve this, diplomats rely on various sources of information. Equally, they have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of a receiving state,” he says. Political analyst Henning Melber says Swapo’s strong response was expected, considering the meeting was seemingly an interference in domestic policies. He says discussions on government matters should remain within the purview of the government itself. “From a government perspective, it is particularly annoying that the initiative was taken by Germany’s ambassador. “The very country which left a genocidal mark on its colonial rule,” Melber says. He says the incident in which Bonifatius Munango, a Swapo branch coordinator, was slapped further raises concerns about the potential escalation of violence in what should be a democratic and peaceful electoral process. The EU and its member states have yet to respond to questions sent to them on the matter. SWAPO STICKS TO ITS GUNS While addressing the party’s central committee, Nandi-Ndaitwah yesterday accused the EU ambassadors of attempting to interfere in Namibia’s elections. Swapo says the meeting was “unusual” in terms of diplomatic protocol and etiquette as…

Seven Astonishing Outcomes of the Politburo’s Resolution 36-NQ/TW: A Comprehensive Overview of Its Impact on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Vietnamese Expats: A Global Community with Strong Homeland Ties “Searching for Ambassadors”: A Contest to Engage Vietnamese Abroad in 2024 An informative session was held, bringing together domestic news agencies, Vietnamese associations, and their foreign counterparts in a hybrid format. This included participation from Thailand, Laos, Japan, Korea, Russia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, the USA, Australia, Angola, and more. Marking two decades since the implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution 36-NQ/TW (Resolution 36) on overseas Vietnamese affairs, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang highlighted the following notable achievements: The hybrid session facilitated valuable discussions and exchanges. (Photo: TD) Resolution 36 has fostered a heightened sense of awareness and responsibility in addressing overseas Vietnamese affairs. Within Vietnam, this matter has become a priority for the entire political system, from central to local levels. Departments, ministries, and localities have recognized the significance of the Vietnamese diaspora and established dedicated departments to address their needs and concerns. Moreover, the resolution has been embraced by a large number of overseas Vietnamese. They are not only beneficiaries of the policies but also active participants in their implementation. Vietnamese associations abroad have played a pivotal role in uniting the community, offering support, and organizing cultural activities to maintain their language and identity. Secondly, the advisory and policy development aspects related to overseas Vietnamese affairs have been focused and comprehensively addressed. This includes both the leadership and direction provided by the Party and State law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked collaboratively with various entities to conduct reviews and propose directives to further enhance the implementation of Resolution 36. In terms of legislation, the National Assembly and the Government have established a robust legal framework encompassing crucial areas such as nationality, civil affairs, housing, land, residence, investment, and business. These measures ensure that the rights of overseas Vietnamese communities are aligned with those of domestic citizens, facilitating their contributions to their homeland. Thirdly, the efforts to foster solidarity and mobilize the Vietnamese diaspora towards their homeland have yielded significant results. Overseas Vietnamese are actively engaged in providing insights on critical issues, including Party Congress documents, draft laws, and key policies. Annual events like “Homeland Spring,” the delegation to...