NordenBladet – Today the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs and his Greenlandic colleague Suka K. Frederiksen is hosting an international high-level conference at Eigtveds Pakhus.With the SDGs as the starting point the conference will focus on economic development in the Arctic region. The conference is a part of the implementation of the Danish government’s Foreign and Security Policy Strategy 2017-18 and will be opened by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Denmark.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Anders Samuelsen says: “The Arctic is a region of change, and new opportunities are emerging. It is the government’s aim to focus on attracting more investments to the Arctic, including to Greenland, so that the populations can experience economic development in a sustainable manner. With the conference today we, together with Greenland, want to send a strong signal that there is a need for an increased economic focus in the Arctic cooperation.”
Further, Mr. Samuelsen adds: “I look forward to hearing the participants’ ideas as to how the UN Sustainable Development Goals can work as a catalyst for economic development in the Arctic. I expect that we will get some good suggestions as to how Greenland and other parts of the Arctic can take advantage of the new opportunities – while still taking care of the fragile environment. ”
The conference is organized by Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Arctic Economic Council and will have participation from all Arctic states. The main goal of the conference is to bring together the Arctic business community, international players, the UN and the EU to discuss how the SDGs can contribute to putting sustainable development of the Arctic region on the agenda. The SDGs were unanimously adopted in 2015 by all 193 UN member states. They consist of 17 goals that apply to all countries and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental aspects. While the challenges that the Arctic peoples face span across all three dimensions, creating sustainable economic growth through e.g. increased employment, innovation, infrastructure projects, export and tourism is the primary challenge.
The conference “Sustainable Development Goals in the Arctic – Local and Global Perspectives” will take place in Eigtveds Pakhus with more than 250 participants including CEO of UN Global Compact, Lise Kingo, CEO of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, Sturla Henriksen, as well as special Arctic representatives from Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Japan.
NordenBladet — ThisisFINLAND, Finland’s official country website, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland will tomorrow launch a limited edition urban fashion collection to celebrate the courage and against-the-odds mentality that have come to define its newest craze: hobbyhorsing.
Hobbyhorsing has been sweeping the Nordic nation in recent years, with thousands of enthusiasts making and selling horses and riding them at events inspired by real equestrian disciplines such as dressage and show jumping.
Riding hobbyhorses has even taken the form of an organised sport, with the Hobbyhorse Championships held annually in Finland. The sport is estimated to have more than 10,000 followers in Finland alone.
To support the hobbyhorsing community, and the fans’ gutsy attitude, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs worked with leading Finnish fashion labels IvanaHelsinki, Wwoollff, Tebian, Riski, Uhana Design and R-Collection to add a whole new level to the craze – by creating a limited edition urban fashion collection.
Designed under the banner of #BraveEnoughToRide, items from the limited edition collection will be made available on a pop-up webshop, www.braveenoughtoride.fi, each Friday leading up to Christmas, with the first items released on 1 December. The collection will be made available at production cost, with €1 per item sold donated to the hobbyhorsing community.
The Ministry, together with hobbyhorsing superstars Alisa Aarniomäki and Vilhelmiina Keskilä, is also launching a dedicated online toolbox, www.thehobbyhorse.fi. The site will be available in multiple languages (English, Russian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Swedish, and Finnish) and is aimed at inspiring a new generation of hobbyhorsing enthusiasts. It will include, among other things, advice on how to build your own hobbyhorse and videos with tips about everything from jumping obstacles to performing proper dressage movements.
“Hobbyhorsing is huge in Finland,” says Petra Theman, Director of the Unit for Public Diplomacy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. “Adults are often tempted to snicker at the phenomenon, but hobbyhorsing takes guts, and it isn’t as easy as you might think! We want to show that this sport is something really edgy and can be practiced all over the world. The toolbox came about because we want to give back to the hobbyhorse community and create a platform for people to learn about the community, the sport, and the art of hobbyhorsing.”
“A lot of hobbyhorse enthusiasts are still worried about how they’re seen, as many have faced some sort of bullying or ridicule,” says Vilhelmiina Keskilä, hobbyhorsing enthusiast. “That’s why I’m so excited about these products. They show that there’s nothing awkward or embarrassing about hobbyhorsing – quite the contrary. We should be proud of the phenomenon we’ve built.”
Viivi Huuska, the Finnish filmmaker who directed the short film that kicks off the campaign, says: “I want to show the whole world just how amazing these young people are and how unique their love for hobbyhorsing is. They have the courage to be themselves and everyone should notice that.”
Echoing her sentiments, Paola Ivana Suhonen, designer and founder of IvanaHelsinki, says: “Hobbyhorse girls are the future! These girls possess the courage and daring to do what they want and make their dreams come true. Ride on!”
NordenBladet — Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, was presented with an unusual gift during his official visit to Finland. Two handmade hobbyhorses were presented to The Duke during his visit to Slush, the biggest startup event in Europe, which takes place in Helsinki annually.
Hobbyhorsing has been sweeping the Nordic nation in recent years, with thousands of enthusiasts making and selling horses and riding them at events inspired by real equestrian disciplines such as dressage and show jumping.
Riding hobbyhorses has even taken the form of an organised sport, with the Hobbyhorse Championships held annually in Finland. The sport is estimated to have more than 10,000 followers in Finland alone.
Prince George’s hobbyhorse, named after his father’s first pony, Smokey, is a dark grey pony with a long, grey mane, friendly eyes and a dark brown bridle. Princess Charlotte’s horse, called Snowflake, is a white Finnhorse with ashen markings on its muzzle and a light blond mane. Its bridle is magenta.
Both hobbyhorses are designed and handmade by Finnish hobbyhorsing superstar Alisa Aarniomäki, who achieved worldwide visibility after she was featured in the documentary Hobbyhorse Revolution.
The hobbyhorses were presented by Emma Rispoli from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
ThisisFINLAND, Finland’s official country website, will tomorrow launch a worldwide campaign to promote hobbyhorsing to a global audience. The campaign includes a limited edition, hobbyhorse-inspired urban fashion collection by leading Finnish labels, a website that promotes the art and sport of hobbyhorsing, and a short film written and directed by Finnish filmmaker Viivi Huuska.
“The Duke of Cambridge and his family are known for their love of horses, and with hobbyhorsing a huge phenomenon in Finland, what better present to take home to Prince George and Princess Charlotte than a pair of hobbyhorses tailored to their interests,” says Petra Theman, Director of the Unit for Public Diplomacy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
NordenBladet — The Danish government donates DKK 2.5 million to the Danish Refugee Council in order for them to develop a new innovative model together with IBM. The model will be able to track and potentially also predict refugee and migrant flows, which will improve humanitarian response planning. The project taps into the government’s focus on technology and digitalization and the new TechPlomacy-initiative as a strategic priority in Denmark’s international engagement.
Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs:“I am pleased that we are able strengthen humanitarian action through innovative technology. The data model will hopefully serve as a concrete example of how innovative technology can ensure better information and contribute to a more proactive humanitarian response. There is no doubt that TechVelopment has a huge potential within development cooperation.”
The grant will enable the Danish Refugee Council to develop and test a new data model together with IBM. Danish Refugee Council will open source the solution and thereby assist humanitarian actors in developing a more proactive humanitarian response based on the model’s predictions.The project taps into the government’s focus on technology and digitalization and the new TechPlomacy-initiative as a strategic priority in Denmark’s international engagement across foreign and security policy, development cooperation, and humanitarian assistance.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Anders Samuelsen:“The project is a great example of an initiative that seeks to address some of the global challenges in a new and innovative way. The pace of technology development creates new challenges and risks but at the same time new opportunities. Denmark and Danish organizations are in a good position to seize these opportunities. The project also taps into our focus on technology and digitalization, which we have made a priority in Denmark’s international engagement since the launch of the TechPlomacy-initiative. Denmark has taken the lead by appointing the world’s first tech-ambassador and we are thereby able to be agenda setting within this field.”
BackgroundThe Danish Refugee Council and IBM have engaged in a partnership in order to co-create and test a new tech-driven analysis model under the project “Predictive Modeling of Migration Flows”. The model has the potential to predict refugee and migrant flows and thereby ensure a better humanitarian response. IBM contributes with its predictive analytics technology on a pro bono basis. The project runs until mid-2019.
NordenBladet — The establishment of the first United Nations Technology Innovation Lab (UNTIL) will be launched on Thursday 30 November in a Slush side event, co-organized by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Office for Information and Communication and Technologies of the United Nations. The first lab will be housed at Aalto University campus, in A Grid, the new centre for growth companies. Two more labs will be launched in 2017 in Asia and Africa, and the global network continues to grow in 2018.
The side event will debate the role of technology in advancing progress towards the UN’s 2030 Agenda. There will also be a panel discussion in which keynote speeches will be held by Kai Mykkänen, Minister of Trade and Development of Finland, and Ilona Lundström, Director General of Enterprise and Innovation Department at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
The first lab location in Finland has been selected in partnership with the Government of Finland and it focuses on the thematic areas of circular economy, education, peace and security, and health. Each of the global UNTIL labs will focus on different thematic areas that are central to the need of each individual lab’s specific geolocation. UNTIL labs create a platform for problem-solving between the UN, private sector, academia and civil society, with the help of start-ups.
NordenBladet — On Monday 27 November, Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini will visit Berlin, where he will hold a keynote speech at a gala concert in honour of the centenary of Finland’s independence, which will be held at the Berliner Philharmonie concert hall. Former President of Germany Horst Köhler will address the audience on behalf of the Government of Germany.
The gala concert will present the most wide-ranging mix of different types of Finnish music from classical folk music to jazz and modern music ever presented abroad. The composers of the music from different periods of time are all Finnish and the music will be performed by internationally renowned Finnish musicians living and working in Germany.
The concert and the reception afterwards are organised by the Embassy of Finland in Germany in collaboration with Finnish companies.
During his visit to Berlin, Minister Soini will also meet representatives of Finnish and German media.
NordenBladet — Far from boring, this phenomenon that makes the mundane mindful is now going global. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland is launching a slow-TV phenomenon, with a 12-hour-long livestream of unedited footage of the checkout counter of a supermarket.
The live footage of #checkout247 will be aired on ThisisFINLAND’s Facebook page starting December 5th at 2 pm GMT, on the eve of Finland’s 100th Independence Day, and ending at 2 am GMT on Independence Day itself. Thousands of shoppers are expected to pop into their local 24/7 supermarket for last-minute holiday treats.
The camera will be fixed on the conveyor belt of Prisma Kaari, the biggest supermarket in Helsinki, revealing what shoppers have put in their baskets, but not showing the shoppers themselves.
Viewers will be able to take part in the Finnish shopping experience by commenting on Finland’s official Facebook and Twitter channels (www.facebook.com/thisisfinlandFB/ and www.twitter.com/thisisFINLAND) using the hashtag #checkout247.
Slow TV has experienced a major renaissance in recent years, with films showing everything from knitting to log fires on TV or online streaming services.
“There’s something spellbinding about a conveyor belt and other people’s groceries,” says Petra Theman, Director of the Unit for Public Diplomacy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
“On the eve of Finland’s centenary, we wanted to create a moment of togetherness, a global broadcast open to participation from all over the world. At the same time we are revealing the glorious tedium of Finnish everyday life and eating habits. We claim that the everyday life in Finland is the best in the world, and that’s what we aim to show – this time through grocery shopping. This is mindfulness at its best and funniest.”
The supermarket concern S Group streamed similar footage of Finns shopping last summer. The livestream became an instant hit, with more than a million Facebook video views, including tens of thousands of comments during the live event, in a country of 5.5 million people.
This time around, viewers of the live #checkout247 broadcast will also see a rolling feed of quirky facts about Finnish food and lifestyle, provided by, among others, the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners.
“Our customers loved the first livestream last summer, so we wanted to make our second run even bigger and better and reach a global audience,” says Anne Sassi-Leivonen, Director of Publishing at S Group.
NordenBladet – while getting to know the Israeli sightseeings, I recommend paying a visit to Masada – the Jewish symbol for liberty and hope. In my previous blog I cast a look at Qumran, and today I take a glimpse at Masada, which is one of the best known Jewish symbols of rebellion against the Roman authority.
Masada is located in the southwestern top of the Dead Sea and it is a settlement on a rock 400m above the sea level, with a territory of 550 times 270 square meters. The fortified settlement was founded in the first century B.C. by Jannae Alexander. It was conquered by king Herod who also founded the fortress on the mountain between the years 37 and 31 B.C.
There are two options for reaching Masada. Either it is with a guide in the early morning, climbing the hill along a turning pathway, or like we did – also with a guide, but during daytime and using a special elevator. We had the wonderful guide Lilach Arad (Galey Kineret Tours) with us, who in a fascinating manner explained the historic events, the biographies and the daily lives of people and the stories of the buildings. I certainly recommend taking with you at least 2 litres of drinking water when getting up the hill, and not to forget to take along headgear against direct sunlight – the heat is unprecedented!
Let me also add a few words about the history of Masada. In the year 67 A.D. the Sicarii, the Jewish rebels, subdued the Masada Roman garnison and conquered the fortress. The rebels from Jerusalem joined them after the capture of the Second Temple in the year 70 A.D. in 73 A.D. the fortress was attacked by the Roman governer Lucius Flavius Silva of Judea as lead of the Legio X Fretensis. They surrounded the fortress and erected a ramp to the western wall. After the completion of the ramp and three months of struggle the Romans succeeded to break through the fortress wall on 16 April 73. It was only after the conquest that the Romans discovered that the fortress had been abandoned and all the inhabitants, 960 people – men, women and chidren, had committed suicide. Just two women and five children had survived.
The stronghold accommodated the inhabitants living rooms, dining rooms and bathing area. There was a water reservoir originating from the mountains, founded in the cave. While seated on the ruins of the Masada synagogue we contemplated on the braveness of those thousands of rebels that gave their lives in the struggle against the Roman power. The journey up the hill in the heat of 30 degrees celsius was toilsome, yet worth the effort, I had the feeling as if I had traveled in time backwards two thousand years – the ruins were preserved that well. The place is definitely worth visiting and it is a sign that life goes on – millennia later Masada is visited by local people as well as the Jews who have settled abroad, and also numerous tourists all over the world.
NordenBladet – Israel is a small Jewish state on Mediterranean coast, with a small window on the Red Sea. Israel’s neighbors are Egypt and the Gaza Strip in the southwest, Jordan and the West Bank in the east, and Syria and Lebanon in the north. Israel is a densely urbanized and economically developed society, and therefore it is most convenient for the passenger to distribute it by city, which also includes regions and other places. For a better understanding of Israel, I will give you a brief summary (translation from Estonian) of the Germalo tour operator’s newsletter.
General information for the state of Israel
National government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Jerusalem
Money: New Israeli Seekel, NIS is an abbreviation, ILS is International abbreviation
Time: UTC + 2 hours, same with Estonia.
Summertime / witertime: 1 hour, starts last Friday in March, ends on Saturday between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur holidays
Language: Hebrew (Official)
Population: 6,426,679 (including 187,000 Iiraels in the West Bank and 20,000 Israeli conquered Golan uplands and up to 177,000 in East Jerusalem, as of July 2007).
Electricity: The electrical voltages are 220V and 50 Hz.
Area: 20 770 km2
Highest point: Har Meron 1208m
The lowest point: Dead Sea – 408m
History
After World War II, the British took their troops out of Palestine and the United Nations shared the region with the Arabs and Jews, which the Arabs did not embrace. Israel’s Arabs neighbours conquered areas in the hope of restoring the borders that were the Ottoman Empire. The Israelis inflicted unfinished tensions on the two sides between the Arabs in several wars. On April 25, 1982, according to the Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty of 1979, Israeli troops pulled back from Sinai. The territorial disputes with Jordan were resolved on 26 October 1994 with the Israel-Jordan Peace Agreement. In addition, on May 25, 2000, Israeli troops retreated from Southern Lebanon, which they had been occupying since 1982. In October 1991, a conference was held between representatives of Israel, the West Bank, Palestine and Syria in Madrid to find a definitive solution.
Economy in Israel
Israel is a technologically advanced market economy with a large share of the government. The economy depends on imports of crude oil, grain, raw materials and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the last 20 years. Israel is largely natural-economic in the production of food products, with the exception of cereals. Polished diamonds, high-tech equipment, chemicals and chemical products, machinery and transportation equipment, rubber, plastics and textiles are the most important export articles. About half of the government’s external debt belongs to the United States, which also provides major economic and military assistance. The inflow of Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union 1989-99 coinceded with the opening of new markets at the end of the Cold War, and it gave the Israeli economy a big boost – the economy grew rapidly at the beginning of the 1990s. Later on, this growth stalled, and the current situation because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the steady decline in high technology and tourism, as well as the fiscal rigor, resulted in rising inflation.
People in israel
The Hebrew Bible, and also the Old Testament, names the people of Israel as descendants of Jacob. His gender was also called Israel. The easiest division in the Israeli society is between the Jews and not the Jews – Israeli Arabs. There are about 90% of Jewish areas in Israel and 15-40% of Israeli-controlled areas. In terms of faith, 77% of Jews, 16% of Muslims, 4% of Christians and 2% of Druuzs (an Islam branch). In theory, all religions are equal, but in practice, Arabs have many limitations, both legal and de facto (difficulties in obtaining building permits, difficulty in security and travel conditions). The division is also in the Jewish community. First of all, the differences between the Jews who lived in Europe for almost 2000 years and who are considered richer and have better political ties and those Jews who migrated from Central Asia to North Africa. However, in recent years, the differences between these groups have decreased. When these tensions have diminished, tensions have grown between secular and Orthodox Jews. Of the population, only 15% consider themselves strictly Orthodox, but they have a lot of power thanks to Israeli politics, 50% consider themselves moderately Orthodox, and 45% consider themselves secular, although they adhere to some traditions. Although secular Jews are over the whole of Israel, there are more Orthodox people in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak and Ashdod.
Israeli culture
The Israelis often compare themselves to a sharp, fruity fruit that is harsh and sharp from the outside but sweet inside. The Israelis are straightforward in a way that may seem sudden, even rude in the world. Honesty and openness are often valued more than courtesy and goodness. The direct personal questions are normal and should not be offended. The information they collect about you here is designed to make you feel better, not to set up traps. The Israelis are accustomed to fighting for their right to exist and to remain confident in their own family, religion, military, and towards other Israelis. Fights and uprisings have been approved by society and should not be taken as signs of hostility. The Israelis are careful not to be impressed by the friar – the loser, or the weak one – that is, someone who pays too much, queues quietly when others pass by and who use to use instead of standing up for themselves. But the Israelis are very friendly and accommodating. When they get connected, they take care of their guest.
Holidays
Official holidays in Israel follow the Jewish calendar and change from year to year, although they fall more or less to the same period. Different activities stop on different holidays – for example, public transport does not work on many holidays. According to the Jewish tradition, the new day begins with three stars in the sky, which means that the Jewish holidays begin after lunch, before the official date.
The language used in Israel
In Israel, the official languages are Hebrew and Arabic. Hebrew is more common, but a large proportion of the population is Israeli Arabs speaking Arabic. It’s usually easy to speak English in Israel because it is compulsory in school. All street signs and road signs have English names besides Hebrew and Arabic. Massive immigration from NL in the 1990s led to a large Russian-speaking community, the other languages that influence the Israeli population are French, German and Polish. Some elderly and very Orthodox inhabitants speak Yiddish, Germanic Jewish.
Israeli currency and money issues
The Israeli money is Shaghel, the proper name would be New Israeli Sheqel, Hebrew shekel chadas or short shash. Seekel is divided into 100 agorots. The usual symbol for a shackle is NIS, ILS or â,ª. Agorotte has a value of 10 and 50. The tokks are 1,2,5, and 10 as coins, and the 20, 50, 100 and 200 in paper money. ATMs are available in many large cities and, if necessary, money can be easily redeemed from there. US dollars are accepted at some tourist destinations, such as Jerusalem.
Workdays
Working days in Israel are from Sunday to Friday, allowing the Sabbath to be observed from Friday’s sunrise to Saturday sunrise. On Friday, several shops will close between 14:30 and 15:00, meanwhile, allowing for a quiet time to go home. Many shops, especially supermarkets, open the doors already on Saturday night, from 19:00 in the winter and around 20:30 in the summer. The same is true for shops in tourist areas. In Arab cities, shops are generally open 7 days a week. On typical days, shops are open from 9:30 to 21:00 on the big shopping streets. Banks, post offices and some individual shops keep up with the more traditional times and open from 8:30 to 19:00, with lunch break between 13:00 and 16:00. Markets are usually open in the early hours of the morning.
Trading in Israel
Trading is common in contemporary Israel. It’s definitely harder in big stores and supermarkets, but it’s worth a try. Usually, it’s easier to make it when you buy more than one item. Trading in markets and bazaars is quite common, and in tourist places, such as Jerusalem’s Old Town, trades can lower the price by 25%.
Israeli souvenirs
Israeli wine, Kosher products, T-shirts and diamonds. And of course Israel is one of the best places to buy Jewish and Christianity-related nippers. Although purchasing antiques with authorized dealers is allowed, their exports are illegal.
Israeli national cuisine
Israeli cuisine is as varied as its ethnicity. The food here is usually very high, and immigrants from all over the world have come up with all sorts of options. Tips is expected to be 10% in regular restaurants (15% if service seems very good). Some eateries add a service charge, but in this case it is clearly indicated in both Hebrew and English. Falafel is officially a national dish. In recent years, though, it has lost popularity, but is still quite widespread. These are small fried balls, chickpea puree, usually served in pita bread with French fries and lettuce. Usually you can add salads to your choice. It is usually the cheapest available lunch, with prices from 10 to 15 NIS. Another popular choice is shawarma. Cut turkey meat, which is also served in pita or in its bigger brother Lafa, with french fries and salad. There are many other things you can put in Pita, such as Me’orav Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Mix), which contains several special sorts of meat or shnitslit, dipping the fried chicken breast. Usually more humus is added to the plate – chickpea, sesame seeds, onion, lemon and olive oil, which is eaten by hand using pitta. Another famous Iraqi food is the street – sabich – pita bread with hard boiled eggs, fried eggplant, humus and salad.
Kosher food
The Hebrew word for Kasher means legal or law, and this word is not just about food. When it is associated with food, he denotes everything food that faith allows him to eat. These laws are quite complex, but it briefly prohibits certain products, such as pork and crustaceans, and allows some others with only certain restrictions, most importantly, that meat and dairy products must not be bake or cooked with the same meal, which prohibits all Western food such as pizza and cheeseburger. In addition, firing of fire during the Sabbath is prohibited, so at that time only cold meals can be eaten. However, because Israel is already largely secular, it also finds many non-kosher restaurants. Every meal can be called kosher if it matches it, but every meal that is “Jewish food” is not necessarily kosher. For example, kreplach, cholent, kugel, latke and kishka are traditional Jewish foods, but if they are not made by the casher, they are not kosher food. According to Torah, mosquitoes that remember grass are grassy, for example. Deer, sheep and goat, while the pig and rabbit are not kosher. Animals can only be slaughtered under strict rules. Kosher in the kitchen should not interfere with the pots and pans of different foods, they should not be washed together, etc. Most Israeli hotels are Kosher, so breakfast is a dairy product for lunch, or in the evening milk is not included in the coffee, although it is a substitute for soy milk. Most large supermarkets sell only kosher goods, but more and more non-kosher stores are starting to emerge due to the large number of secular Jews who came from the former NL. The least is a kosher restaurant in Tel Aviv, on the other hand in Jerusalem they are much more common. Kosher restaurant is either a meat or dairy restaurant, the latter are great for vegetarians. One of the interesting attractions for many is kosher McDonald’s restaurants (however, one must note that not all of them are Kosher). Most Burger-King eateries are kosher, as well as Pizza Hut, so they do not offer pizza with meat, while the Domino chain is not kosher and offers similar pizza in the West.
Israeli national food
The Jews who have migrated to Israel from many different places in the world have also brought with them different dining traditions. Most of them are offered in specialty restaurants. The range includes: Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewry), Bulgaria, Turkey, North Africa, Iraq, Iran and others. You can also enjoy Arabic cuisine, in areas where Arabs live. One of the food is known in almost the entire Jewish diaspora. It is known in Europe as Cholenty and the Middle East and North Africa as Chamini. This is a kind of stew that has been caught in for a few hours on a small fire, traditionally a Sabbath dish, has begun to ignite the fire as well as a ban on cooking during the Sabbath. The exact ingredients vary by area, but usually it contains animal or chicken, peanuts (chick peas or beans) and / or rice, eggs and vegetables – potatoes, onions and carrots. Chamini is served on some restaurants on Saturdays.
In Israel, good coffee and coffee culture are valued throughout the country. Although Starbucks is not very popular here, there are many very popular local coffee shops here. Many Israelis like to spend time drinking hafuchi (cafe latte) and telling their friends. Meanwhile, there is also a light meal – sandwiches and salads. The largest coffee card in Israel is Aroma. There are three sizes of sandwiches and can be selected from different bread varieties. Arcaffe is a bit more expensive, but their coffee is better. There is also Elite Coffe, Cafe Cafe, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Kosher Cafe Hillel. Many Israelis eagerly eat a bottle of particularly fine-grained coffee that is mixed in a cup and allowed to settle.
Krembo (hybrid from the words Cream and Bo, respectively “Cream” and “inside”) is the most common chocolate snack in Israel. It consists of a round biscuit, with a cream on it, covered with chocolate shell. They are packed in foil and are very delicate, they are not made in summer in hot weather. In Israel, it has been eaten for two generations now and there is a debate about how to eat it right – whether to cook before the cookie, holding it from the top or vice versa, eat all at once or before the top, the base, and finally the cream.
Israeli drinks
There are three kinds of beers in Israel: Goldstar – Munich-style dark beer. It is available in 0.5 and 0.3 liter bottles, KHE-tsi and sh-LISH (half and a thirdof a litre). Maccabee is a pilsner, brighter and softer than Goldstar, in both a bottle and a purse. Nesher – malt beer, in a bottle. There is also a Palestine beer – Taybeh. In addition, many foreign brands are available, among them Heineken, Carlsberg, Tuborg. The most respected liquor is Arak. This is clear, aniseed flavor, which is usually served in 0.3l glass, mixed with water and ice. Drink with grapefruit juice. Store it in ice-cold.
There are also a lot of local large and small vineyards in Israel, many of them very high quality. Most of the common soda-livers and many of their local “sister-brooms”, which are not very tasty, are available in soft drinks. Local beverages include: Tropit – inexpensive fruit flavors – usually grapefruit – a drink. It is sold packed with straw. Coconut Milk – Different brands are available and Prigat – Fruit juice.
NordenBladet — The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anders Samuelsen, has approved a new five year Neighbourhood Programme for Ukraine and Georgia. The Neighbourhood Programme supports Denmark’s foreign policy priority of a peaceful and stable Europe. The programme will focus on key areas of the countries’ reform processes, including in particular democracy, human rights and sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Ukraine and Georgia are facing serious challenges, including from the territorial threat from Russia. Both countries are committed to increased European integration and are undergoing ambitious and difficult reform processes.
Anders Samuelsen says:”It is in the interest of Denmark and Europe that Ukraine and Georgia continue the European course that they have chosen. It is essentially about stability and security in Europe. The countries’ comprehensive reform programs are a precondition for the development of modern and well-functioning societies. They represent the best possible answer to the aggression from Russia – and are essential for the wish to continue on the path of European integration. For this reason, it is important that we continue to support their reform agendas. The Danish assistance will facilitate important steps in the right direction. This is why I have approved a new Neighbourhood programme amounting to DKK 860 million.”
The new Neighbourhood Programme builds on experiences and results from previous engagements in the region and contains a number of areas with specific Danish strengths and capabilities. This includes for instance the energy sector, where the Danish Energy Agency will engage in a government-to-government cooperation with Ukraine. It also includes the fight against corruption where Denmark will work to strengthen the capacity in Ukrainian institutions to prevent and combat corruption.
Ukraine and Georgia have entered into deep and comprehensive free trade agreements with the EU that hold substantial potential for the countries’ private sectors but also necessitate difficult transitions. The Danish programme offers technical assistance and support to small and medium sized companies to enable them to live up to applied requirements and thus fully benefit from the trade agreements with the EU.
The Neighbourhood programme also includes support to both Ukrainian and Georgian civil society organisations, which play an essential role in keeping the governments on the reform track and in securing transparency and accountability.
