“Added value for the city of The Hague”
“I am positively surprised of the excellent work and important role the CIMIC Centre Of Excellence (CCOE) plays in the field of Civil Military Cooperation. The open attitude in reaching out to others will be an added value to the city of The Hague as city of Peace and Justice”
On the 23rd of July 2015 the Director of the CCOE, Colonel Roel Been, accompanied by Major Laine den Hollander, visited Mr. Willem Post, Senior Fellow International Affairs with Institute Clingendael and advisor of the Municipality of The Hague. The meeting took place in the City Hall of The Hague.
During the 1 ½ hour meeting Mr Post and the Colonel Been spoke about several topics like promoting the CCOE to the applicable international organisations, the planned move of the CCOE to the City Centre of The Hague, possibilities for students to be part of the Academic program CCOE and partners offer but also how the City of The Hague could contribute in making the International employees of the CCOE, and their families, feel welcome in the Hague.
Mr Post and Colonel Been agreed to intensify the cooperation. Furthermore the CCOE will prepare an article for the “Diplomat Magazine” in order to reach out and inform the vast numbers of diplomats in The Hague. As part of the CCOE Academics CCOE will get in contact with the World Class The Hague, in which several The Hague-based universities participate, to find opportunities for cooperation. As part of the International Day of Peace (21 September 2015) members of CCOE have been invited to the “The Hague International Day” where all kind of organizations take the opportunity to introduce themselves to the public. This time as a visitor and hopefully next year as a participant. Last but certainly not least Mr. Post and Colonel Been agreed that new international employees of the CCOE and their families should be invited to “The Welcome to The Hague Program” which takes place several times per year, next opportunity will be on the 21st of September 2015.
CCOE Director Colonel Been was very pleased meeting Mr. Post. “Mr Post is an excellent ambassador of the City The Hague. For the CCOE this meeting and the agreed following actions will significantly strengthen CCOE’s further integration within the International Community of The Hague”.
The Hague is the International City of Peace and Justice. It is the United Nations’ second city, after New York. There are 165 international organisations in The Hague employing around 19,500 people in and around The Hague and fully dedicated to the cause of justice and world peace. Another 18,000 jobs are provided by international organisations and NGOs indirectly through the purchase of products and services from The Hague/Dutch businesses and through consumer spending by international employees and visitors. One of the most important reasons the CCOE moved in July 2014 to The Hague was to benefit from the many opportunities The Hague offers to promote and expand Civil-Military Cooperation in its widest form.
This article is written by CCOE/ T&E Branch/Major Laine den Hollander (NLD A).