King Felipe and Queen Letizia Visit Brandenburg Gate

King Felipe Speaks at the Spanish-German Forum

King Felipe and Queen Letizia Visit Germany

Crown Prince Haakon Gives Speech for National Maritime Conference

Queen Rania Presents Golden Victoria

Queen Rania presented the Golden Victoria Honorary Award for Political Leadership to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The Countess of Wessex Salutes Battalion in Germany

The Countess of Wessex visited her battalion last week in Paderborn, Germany. She is Royal Colonel to the 5th Battalion The Rifles currently stationed at Alanbrooke Barracks. It is the first royal engagement for the countess since giving birth to her second child last December.

Below is The Royal Channel’s You Tube video clip of the Countess of Wessex visiting the 5th Battalion The Rifles at Alanbrooke Barracks in Paderborn, Germany.

The Football Celebration Continues at Zarzuela Palace

King Juan Carlos proudly held the trophy again whilst he met with Spain’s football team at Zarzuela Palace today. He was joined by Queen Sofía, Infanta Elena and the Prince and Princess of Asturias. They congratulated the team and admired the trophy. Spain won the UEFA Euro 2008 against Germany on June 29th.

Photo: REUTERS

Spain Rejoices as Football Team Wins Euro Final over Germany

It was a sweet victory for Spain’s football team as they scored the only goal in the final match against Germany in the 2008 European Championships. The game took place at the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria today. The last time Spain claimed the European Championship trophy was in 1964. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía attended the final match along with their eldest daughter, Infanta Elena. Also present was sports enthusiast Prince Albert of Monaco and his girlfriend, Charlene Wittstock who were seated a couple of rows back from the Spanish monarch.

Photo: REUTERS

The Prince and Princess of Asturias Cheer Spain’s Football Team to Victory

Playing in Vienna, Austria, Spain’s football team emerged victorious in the semi-finals of the 2008 European Championships against Russia on June 26th. The final score was 3 – 0. The Prince of Asturias could barely contain his excitement when he was interviewed in the hallway after the game. Spain will square off against Germany in the final match on June 29th.

Photo: Associated Press/Frank Augstein

Liechtenstein’s Prince Alois Excoriates Germany’s Tax Investigation

Prince Alois of Liechtenstein excoriated the recent actions of Germany to expose tax evaders that have accounts in his country. Based on stolen data from the LGT Group, a bank owned by Liechtenstein’s royal family, several prominent businessmen have undergone closer scrutiny from their governments. Andorra and Monaco are two other countries that are considered uncooperative tax havens.

Two reputable newspapers discussed the tax haven issue when Liechtenstein came under fire recently for their banking policies. The Wall Street Journal opined that it was not right for other governments to criticise Liechtenstein for protecting their clients. The New York Times opined that Liechtenstein had no right protecting tax evaders and should cough up the necessary information when other governments request it.

What is considered ethical? Is it right to use monetary means to obtain stolen data in order to catch the tax evaders? Should tax havens be held accountable for the business dealings of their clients? Is it right to demand documents from other countries which do not disclose the banking practices of their clients?

You be the judge.

A Bambi for a Queen

Attending the 59th Bambi award ceremony in Düsseldorf, Germany on November 29th, Queen Rania of Jordan was recognized again for her humanitarian efforts as an advocate for women’s issues and child welfare. In her acceptance speech, the queen reminded the attendees to have compassion for children that do not have the basic essentials and care in life as she exhorted, “let us remember we belong to one family…and that the children who do not have anyone to hug them when they are sick, or the children who are doing housework not homework, or the children who are missing out on their childhoods... are our children and our responsibility. Let us pledge to give all of them our full attention. Let us pledge to take a lead role in their futures. Let us leave this room with the resolve to make their lives better, safer, and healthier.”

Photo: Petra

King Abdullah II Fosters Relations with Germany

As King Abdullah II of Jordan continues to pursue a bilateral economic cooperation between Jordan and Germany, he rendezvous with German Chancellor Angela Merkel while on an official visit to Germany on Tuesday and Wednesday. In part, he was invited to speak at the 7th German Foreign Trade Congress 2007 in Bremen and participated in a summit to facilitate relations between the international forums of the G-8 and G-11.

Below is King Abdullah II of Jordan’s entire speech from the 7th German Foreign Trade Congress 2007.

"Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim;"

"Excellencies,"

"Ladies and Gentlemen,"

"Thank you. I am pleased to be with you in Bremen today, and it's a pleasure to be back in Germany to meet friends, old and new. I speak for all Jordanians, when I say that your country is one of our most valued friends – a voice of leadership for our neighbours in Europe ... and our partner in global business and diplomacy.
Vital to that partnership – indeed, vital to the outlook for our regions as a whole –are the trade issues and interests that this Congress is here to discuss. So I feel greatly honoured to be invited to be with you, and to help to open this important event."

"My friends,"

"We meet at a time when global distance is shrinking rapidly – but the global future is expanding. Never before have there been greater opportunities for progress. Never has the global economy been able to give hope to so many people.
The private sector is central to today’s advances and hopes. Not just large corporations, but small- and medium-size businesses, and visionary entrepreneurs, have driven global growth. By opening new markets; by innovating and thinking ahead; by building opportunity – you have re-shaped the future for billions of people."

"This wealth-creating flow of trade and investment is critical to emerging economies – especially to economies seeking sustainable progress. But trade and investment is an equal concern for the continued prosperity of the advanced economies as well. Our challenge today is to understand that nexus, and together, seize the opportunities before us."

"In this room are many of the people who make the global economy go – who make the decisions where, when and how to trade and invest and partner across borders.
And many of you know first-hand what the experts confirm: doing business in emerging economies benefits both sides."

"For foreign companies that enter emerging markets, there are valuable connections: to in-country markets and regional trading networks; to a competitive workforce; to important knowledge about regional cultures and customers. Such businesses find significant trade and investment opportunities – especially in economies like Jordan’s, which are on a path of modernization and growth ... and which are regional gateways ... in our case, to the 300-million people of the Arab World. On a strategic level, building business in emerging markets helps create a counter-balance against market shifts and slowdowns elsewhere. And that contributes to the global economic vitality and stability that we all seek."

"For the emerging economies, private-sector-led growth is, quite simply, the engine of sustainable development. It expands markets, promotes the transfer of knowledge and technology, and increases opportunities. It also requires sound fiscal and monetary policies, hard decisions and long-term commitment to structural reform, the rule of law, and much more."

"In fact, experience has shown that the same economic activity that puts developing countries on the ladder to prosperity ... also helps keep them from falling back. Securing our gains is a principal goal of the G-11. Ours is a group of eleven lower-middle-income countries – from Latin America, to Eastern Europe, to the Middle East and Asia – with a proven commitment to reform and growth-based development. We’ve achieved results and we are poised to move ahead and stabilize at higher income levels. I believe this success will send an important signal to all developing nations, that a commitment to reform and global cooperation is the right direction to go."

"Leading nations have both a strategic interest in our success, and an ability to help. That means getting beyond old assistance models, to put the focus where it does the most good: keeping the doors open to progress and growth. We’ve asked the G-8 industrial nations for close cooperation, on shared interests such as market access, development partnerships, and investment. Germany, as the rotating G-8 president, has welcomed that dialogue. Tomorrow, I shall join Chancellor Merkel at the first summit meeting of our two groups. One major focus will be finding mechanisms to encourage private-sector-led growth. And I am confident that the G-11—G-8 partnership will grow, to the benefit of both."

"My friends,"

"Nowhere is the role of private-sector trade and investment more important than in the Middle East. My region is a well-spring of resources and capabilities that the world needs – and a strategic centre of cultures. But there are major economic challenges to be faced. Regional conflicts have delayed and destroyed the futures of millions, and diverted resources and attention from development. There are unacceptable levels of unemployment and hardship, fuelling frustration. I am especially concerned on behalf of the region’s growing youth population – young men and women of talent and potential, who expect and deserve the opportunity to build positive, thriving futures."

"Today, the Arab world recognizes the private sector’s contributions to a better future. Leaders from the region – private sector, civil society, and public officials – have worked together to design innovative approaches to development. I am proud that Jordan has taken an active role."

"Within the region, we have been a strong voice, not only for peace, but for the day after peace. We have encouraged private-public partnerships that can create an economic framework of new opportunity and cross-border cooperation."

"At home, we have not waited for external events to shape our future. We have made deep structural reforms – economic, political, social – to give people a better future, and allow them to become stakeholders in progress. We have built on Jordan’s stability and security to make our country a regional and global gateway. Special economic zones, and our many free-trade agreements, allow Jordan-based businesses to find markets around the world."

"These and other reforms have achieved results. But we cannot do it alone. Our international partners play a key role in progress. And it is necessary that this partnership continue, not just with Jordan but the entire region. The European-Mediterranean Partnership recognizes that bond, as well as the central role of the private sector in development. Germany, too, has given active and long-term support."

"Two years ago we established the German-Jordanian University, a unique regional institution that focuses strongly on market-oriented and technical knowledge. It will form part of our joint approach as we go forward in our partnership to create new opportunities for sustainable development."

"I hope you will join the dialogue on private-sector contributions to development. I hope you will seek, with us, new mechanisms for private-public partnerships. And I hope you will help develop the tremendous possibilities for increased trade and investment between our regions. Those of you who are not already working in the Middle East, I invite to come and discover its potential."

"My friends,"

"It is in the power of the world’s private sector to advance progress. You have the opportunity – to build a global economy that thrives, to build prosperity that lasts; to shape a new future, as you have shaped the past.
It is an opportunity we must seize. The partnership among us can change the lives of millions of people. Working together, we can succeed."

"Thank you very much."

Photo: Yousef Allan

Queen Beatrix Hosts the President of Germany

At the invitation of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, the president of Germany, Dr. Horst Köhler, and his wife, Eva Luise, officially visited the Netherlands from October 8th to October 10th which included the Haag, Rotterdam and the Euregio Twente. A state banquet was held in his honor at the Paleis Noordeinde. The queen lauded his country and said, “After all your country is economically and geographically – and psychologically – in the heart of Europe. It is in all our best interests that this heart continues to beat for Europe.”


On his whirlwind agenda, the president lunched with government officials at the Ridderzaal. He attended a meeting at the International Criminal Court. In tribute, the president laid a wreath at Rotterdam’s monument The Destroyed City sculpted by Ossip Zadkine. He met with Dutch business representatives at the Crowne Plaza Promenade Hotel. He attended a concert at Nieuwe Kerk with Queen Beatrix featuring the choir Carmina Mundi and visited the University of Twente. He rounded off his visit with a lunch at Twickel with the commissioner to the Queen in Overijssel, Mr. G.J. Jansen.

Photos: ANP