Blog entry | 09-18-2022 | Minister of Foreign Affairs
“This is a massive operation.” Emma Beelaerts (The Hague) and Nynke Staal (New York) jointly coordinate the Kingdom’s contribution to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High Level Week. The bout, which begins tomorrow, is again fully physical in the US for the first time since 2019; which requires the necessary preparation and creates crowds on both sides of the ocean.
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‘Ministers – New York – meetings – crowds.’ It was with these keywords that Emma initiated the thought process as she prepares for the so-called high-level week. From the specially equipped office on the Rijnstraat in The Hague, you manage 6 colleagues who have been preparing the Dutch contribution for the high-level week since the summer. The main question she and her team addressed: “What will we do as a country during this week, where 193 countries gather, hundreds of events take place and countless UN organizations, think tanks and companies are present?”
Emma: ‘We started by cutting this colossal job. Together we had to find answers to the following questions, among others. How can we optimally use this platform to correctly submit the Dutch profile? How do we advance our priorities and strengthen the network? Which countries do we want to talk to? Who goes to New York from the Netherlands and the Kingdom? ‘
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In recent months, hard work has been done to answer these questions and set programs for the Dutch delegation. In addition to numerous planning documents, scripts and sheets, Emma’s team wrote a letter to inform the House of Representatives on behalf of the ministers of the Dutch engagement during the UNGA. They also initiated discussions with international and interdepartmental partners regarding (co) hosting of events. Colleagues from almost all Directorates of Foreign Affairs (BZ) came together to advise and make substantial contributions. A huge job: not just for the AVVN team, but for the entire BZ.
Emma: ‘We have now come to the questions at a different level of detail: is there a coffee in the event hall, who the minister is talking to between events, how long does it take to walk from point a to point b, is there a microphone, are there enough passes? ‘
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New York: from macro to micro
The Permanent Representation (PV) to the UN in New York has also moved from macro to micro. Nynke Staal coordinates the efforts of some 30 colleagues who focus enthusiastically on the experience of an “old-fashioned” high-level physical week, so no longer online or hybrid as in previous years, but completely in person in New York. “We are already noticing this from the hustle and bustle of the city and the security of the United Nations,” Nynke experiences. “Soon there will be a lot of world leaders, ministers and dignitaries together in a small area and this is a gigantic operation, even for us.”
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Nynke: ‘In recent months we have dealt with, among other things, the division of the team’s duties, the registration of Prime Minister Rutte for general consultation, the organization of locations for the Dutch events (which will take place in locations outside due to Covid – 19 restrictions this year, etc.). not in the UN building), what events we organize ourselves, what other countries are doing and where we can work together. ‘
According to Nynke, it’s sort of an unwritten rule that something happens just before the high-level week, which means everything has to be completely reversed again. “Last year our minister suddenly resigned, this year Queen Elizabeth died. The funeral will take place on the first day of the UNGA. As a result, we had to move Minister Hoekstra’s flagship event on disinformation to another day. ‘
It also means that President Biden will speak later in the general assembly. This in turn could have consequences for our program, because if it is “on the move” in New York, the city will be closed. Everything can literally stop, even when one of our ministers, Prime Minister Rutte or Queen Maxima is on her way to an event. ”
In the very busy final days before the event, Nynke’s team is also still busy with countless cases still open. “This ranges from continuously going through the very detailed schedules of ministers and other delegation members, asking if we need a permit for certain events, which dignitaries can speak where, asking the UN if we can please find more UN passes. where the members of the delegation can work at the PV, to draw up reports, files and speeches. ‘
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Expectations
What are Emma and Nynke waiting for during UNGA and how are they spending the last few days?
Emma: ‘We have the ambition to use UNGA as an international platform in the most optimal way possible. Together we want to establish the Netherlands as a country active in multilateral cooperation, water, Ukraine and responsibility, LGBTIQ + rights, feminist foreign policy and sustainable development. Of course we cannot do it alone, which is why we also do a lot together with other countries and we ask other countries to support us in our efforts. ‘
Nynke: ‘With the various flagship events that we organize as a Kingdom, we bring countries together to discuss the greatest challenges of our time, such as the war in Ukraine, the climate and the food crisis. These events concern: disinformation, Ukraine and responsibility, the link between water and food, Artificial Intelligence, MH17, the water conference that our country is organizing and Safer Tanker. Our biggest challenge is not to run out of time so that everything continues to fit into the tight schedule. But we must always take into account the last minute changes, which unfortunately are always part of it. ‘
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Collaborate
As a coordinator Nynke tries to keep the atmosphere in the team good during this time full of chaos and crowds. ‘The entire PV is involved in the preparations for the diplomatic highlight of the year. That means a lot of long meetings every day, but also eating pizza or falafel together in the evening and a very strong team feeling. ‘
The collaboration between the teams from New York and The Hague is also going well. Emma and Nynke are normally counterparts to each other in building peace. Nynke: ‘We knew each other well before UNGA was organized, which is one of the reasons I think we only need a few words to keep us informed. Due to the time difference, we are forced to concentrate our consultations with the team in The Hague within a short period of time. Finally, when it’s 9 in the morning with us, the clock in The Hague strikes three in the afternoon, but both teams are used to it by now. ‘
There is also a “we do it together” atmosphere in The Hague. Emma’s team members motivate each other with real team shirts, a shuffleboard, and a “steady stream of snacks and good food” in between or when it’s late again.
Emma: ‘Colleagues have a huge push to send our ministers and general managers on the road with strong messages. It is beautiful to see. We will also continue to work closely with Nynke and his team in New York over the last few days and during High Level Week; both teams are in full AVVN mode. We complement each other and support each other where possible. ‘
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