2011
Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Head of State honoured by F.U.E.C.H.

On the occasion of a F.U.E.C.H.-Mission to West-Africa F.U.E.C.H. Vice-President Hon. Consul General Dr. G. Suha awarded in Freetown to the Head of State of the Republic of Sierra Leone H.E. President Ernest Bai Koroma the CROSS OF MERIT of F.U.E.C.H. for supporting and promoting the work of Hon. Consuls accredited to Sierra Leone and the Hon. Consuls of Sierra Leone in the world.

The respective diploma was signed by F.U.E.C.H.-President Hon. Consul General A.K. Bauknecht following a decision of the F.U.E.C.H.-Board. H.E. President Koroma thanked for this award and confirmed the importance of the Honorary-Consular-Corps especially for less developed states to offer consular services throughout the world.

F.U.E.C.H. Board Meeting of 20^th May 2011

in A – 1010 Vienna, Hotel Astoria, Führichgasse 1

President HCG Mdme. A.K. Bauknecht welcomes all members in attendance at 09.30 hrs.. The President thanked the President of UCCA HCG Dr. W. Breitenthaler to host the FUECH- Board Meeting in Vienna.

The minutes of the latest Board Meeting in Paris had been approved unanimously.

The Board decided on membership matters as well as decided to establish an official “F.U.E.C.H. Cross of Merit” to be awarded to Heads of States, Ministers, Diplomats and outstanding persons, who have earned important merits in supporting the aims of FUECH.

The Diplomatic Vice-President Dr. G. Suha had been requested to check possibilities of cooperation with international institutions, FUECH already is registered with the European Commission as organisation representing the interests of Honorary Consuls in Europe.

Unanimously it was decided to extend regular membership on individual basis to CCs of european states not members in the EC. The CC of Principality of Liechtenstein had been approved as regular member of FUECH.

The Board-Meeting ended at 12.00 hrs and was followed by a Lunch at Hotel Astoria, where President Mdme. HCG A.K. Bauknecht thanked for efficient cooperation of all Board-Members.

La Valletta, 15 May, 2011

Dr. Gyorgy Suha President of the Honorary Consular Corps of Hungary, in his capacity as Vice President for Diplomatic Affairs of FUECH met today with Prime Minister of Malta, His Excellency Mr. Lawrence Gonzi. During their discussion, Hon. Consul General Dr. Suha stressed the importance of the work of the honorary consuls and thanked Prime Minister Gonzi for his support of this important institution at European level.

Dr. Suha was in Malta on the occasion of the official visit organised by UHCF , the Honorary Consular Union of France together with other European consular representatives. During the three days visit he has been received by the Vice President of Malta as well.

General Assembly of „Fédération des Unions de Européenes des Consuls Honoraires (F.U.E.C.H.)“ in Paris on 26th of September 2010

On the occasion of the General Assembly of the European Association of the National Unions of Honorary Consuls the board for the next 3 years had been elected by the member organisations.

As President HCG Mdme. Ann-Katrin Bauknecht had been elected again.

Further members of the board are:

HC Roland Roux de Chavannes, Chancellor and 1^st Vice-President (F)

HCG Dr. Wolfgang Breitenthaler, Secretary General (A)

HCG Dr. Georgy Suha, Vice-President for Diplomatic Affairs (HU)

HC Willy Deswaef, Vice-President (B)

HC Marko Smole, Treasurer (SLO)

In her report President HCG Mdme. Ann-Katrin Bauknecht especially mentioned the successful establishment of the seat of F.U.E.C.H. in Brussels at the Permanent Mission of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg to the European Institutions. Also F.U.E.C.H. is officially registered with the European Commission as organisation representing the interests of Honorary Consuls in Europe at the European Institutions in Brussels.

At present the national consular organisations of Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, Principality of Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Kingdom of Netherlands, Kingdom of Belgium and Lithuania are members of F.U.E.C.H., the CC-organisations of Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Montenegro are interested to become members.

On 25^th of September, the day before the F.U.E.C.H.-General Assembly, the President of UCCF Hon. Consul Roland Roux de Chavannes opened the founding assembly of the “Ordre de Saint Gabriel”, a newly constituted international Order of Merit with headquarter (Magistry) in Lyon, an association of the Order is registered in Brussels. The founding Consular Corps had been France, Belgium, Austria, Italy and Hungary. The Order is awarding its ranks (Officier, Chevalier, Commandeur) to merited persons with diplomatic and consular background as well as to persons from military, politics, culture and business. The corresponding Presidents of the Consular Corps members are first contact for persons interested in the Order.

The Spring Board Meeting of F.U.E.C.H. took place in Vienna on 18^th⁄19^th April 2008.

The F.U.E.C.H. activities in Brussels including registration as interest association at the Directorate of the European Commission and direct access as guest status to the European Parliarflent were discussed as well as a Bonus Programme for member associations. It was further decided to establish a Code of Conduct for Honorary Consuls and to render assistance to new EU Member States in their efforts to establish new' consular associations.

In October 2007, Guest Status as Member of the Corps Diplomatique was granted by the Directorate of the European Parliament to the President of F.U.E.C.H.

In November 2007, the Bulgarian Corps Consulaire joined F.U.E.C.H. as newest member assotiation.

The General Assembly of F.U.E.C.H. 2007 took place in Stuttgart on 12⁄13^th October, hosted by the President of F.U.E.C.H. and the German Consular Association U.C.C., Mrs. Ann-Katrin Bauknecht. The Annual Meeting was attended by 58 representatives from the various member associations. An official reception by the Government of Baden-Wuerttemberg and U.C.C. Germany on 12^th October was followed by the Annual Assembly on 13^th October at the famous new Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

In 2007 the Spring Board Meeting of F.U.E.C.H. took place in Vienna on 18^th and 19^th May, hosted by the Austrian Corps Consulaire. New memberships and steps taken to achieve registration of F.U.E.C.H. in the Conccex Data Base of the EU as interest organization in Brussels were discussed.

The F.U.E.C.H. General Assembly 2006 was hosted by the Slovenian Corps Consulaire and Vice president of F.U.E.C.H - Honorary Consul Marko Smole in Ljubljana with an official reception on 20th October followed by the Annual Assembly on 21st October. At the General Assembly the new F.U.E.C.H. website was officially launched and agreement was reached to issue a F.U.E.C.H. Identity Cards to all member organizations.

In November 2006, the Corps Consulaire of the Grand Dutchy of Liechtenstein was welcomed by F.U.E.C.H. as an Associated Member and further contacts were extended to the new EU members in Eastern and Central Europe to join our European Association of Honorary Corps Consulaires.