EFSAS meets Member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands
19-04-2018
A delegation of EFSAS consisting of Mr. Dušan Vejinović (Senior Research Analyst) and Mr. Junaid Qureshi (Director) held a meeting at the Dutch Parliament (Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal) in The Hague, with Mr. Martijn van Helvert, honourable Member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands for the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). Besides a Member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, Mr. van Helvert is also a distinguished member of the Parliamentary Committees for Human Rights and Foreign Affairs.
The EFSAS delegation discussed in detail the Jammu & Kashmir conflict, ongoing human rights violations in the wider South Asian region, current volatile situation in Afghanistan and the construction of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its impact on the region. Mr. Helvert assured EFSAS that the Dutch Government is committed to upholding human rights and that his party takes EFSAS’ concerns and recommendations regarding the human right violations in Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan, as a consequence of the construction of CPEC, very seriously.
Mr. Junaid Qureshi and Mr. Dušan Vejinović with Mr. Martijn van Helvert, Member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands
During the meeting, Mr. Helvert appreciated EFSAS’ work of providing unbiased and authentic research about South Asia, as he agreed that there is insufficient knowledge in Europe, including in the Netherlands, about the political complexities and historical sensitivities prevalent in the region. It was agreed that EFSAS will continue providing the Parliamentary Committees for Human Rights and Foreign Affairs with research and information regarding developments in South Asia. Opportunities for apprising the Committee with presentations on particular topics and other mechanisms for future collaboration on organizing events were also explored.
Mr. Qureshi and Mr. Vejinović also presented the honourable Member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands with EFSAS’ research work for consideration by the Parliamentary Committees of the Dutch Parliament.
