NUR-SULTAN, 13 April 2021 — OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, concluded her official visit to Kazakhstan on 12 April. Nur-Sultan was the first stop on a four-day long trip of the Chairperson-in-Office to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Minister Linde will also visit Turkmenistan virtually through an online meeting with the Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan.
“My visit to Central Asia this week demonstrates the OSCE’s strong support to the participating States in the region and to their efforts towards fulfilling our common commitments and principles,” Linde said.
Chairperson-in-Office Linde discussed the priorities of the Swedish Chairpersonship, with its emphasis on defending the European security order and upholding the OSCE concept of comprehensive security. The interrelatedness between political and economic security, human rights, democracy, the rule of law and equality constitute the very foundation of this concept.
Talks with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Deputy Prime Minster – Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi focused on further strengthening key areas of co-operation.
Underlining the importance of the Astana Commemorative Declaration, adopted by participating States in 2010, the Chairperson said: “The declaration is our common achievement, as it highlights adherence to the OSCE’s key commitments. Today, these key commitments, re-enforced in the Astana Summit, remain valid.”
During her trip, Minister Linde met with civil society representatives and discussed current issues, including challenges to be addressed in view of the COVID-19 pandemic as well the National Development Plan until 2025, which was adopted this March by the National Economy Ministry and the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms.
Linde also met Ambassador Volker Frobarth, the newly appointed Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan. She expressed her strong support for the office and its programmatic activities.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Hassan Kukah, says though Nigerians profess two main religions with strong themes of love and togetherness, such themes are rarely ever practised.
The Bishop has now attributed the frequent rise against one another to the lack of practice of love.
He made the remark on Monday at a ceremony in Adamawa State where he was invited as a guest of honour.
“In Nigeria, religion has become a liability to us. The fruits of Christianity and Islam are alien to us, otherwise, we will not be seeing the fights that go on almost daily around the country. We must begin to do what our religions demand of us,” Kukah said.
The occasion was the commissioning of the 86 housing units which the Yola Catholic Diocese built for the Christians and Muslims who had been living as internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the head church of the Yola Catholic Diocese.
Bishop Kukah hailed the Yola Catholic Diocese for catering so equally to Christian and Muslim IDPs alike and especially for building a mosque rather than just a church at the estate.
He said the dream started seven years ago when his diocese was suddenly saddled with thousands of IDPs to house and to feed, and that the need for the estate grew stronger by the years when it became evident that some of the IDPs could not go back to their original homes because they had lost everything.
He announced that even after resettling the IDPs at the new estate, his diocese would keep providing their food and other necessities till later in the year when the IDPs, who are expected to utilize the large expanses of farmland surrounding the estate.
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<strong>One thing I found really fascinating in your book is when you say that Masaryk had this idea of, with the new country, also creating a new religion? What exactly was he hoping to achieve with that? Or what was it even?</strong>
“Yes, this is one of the most fascinating aspects, and an overlooked aspect, of his career as a politician.
“He saw Czechoslovakia as not just a new republic but one in which politics, morality and religion would be combined.
“He was raised Catholic, he became kind of Protestant – he never really went to church.
“He was influenced by his wife, who was an American Unitarian.
“He saw Czechoslovakia as not just a new republic but one in which politics, morality and religion would be combined.”
“His ideas of a new religion he drew a lot from 19th and 20th century scholarship on the sociology of religion, on the history of the Bible, on theology.
“So he wanted this religion to be really stripped of all he had experienced in the Catholic Church, in terms of hierarchy, in terms of rules, in terms of ritual and so forth.
“He wanted a religion that would be purely individualistic, in which the individual person would have a relationship with God; he believed in this idea of a personal connection with God.
“The individual would have this relationship with God and that relationship would motivate the individual to serve others, to serve the community, to serve the state.
“And this was his hope for Czechoslovakia, to have something like a civil religion that would inspire the citizens of this new state to serve the community and create a cohesive society.”
It struck me reading your book that it was so ambitious in the first place to create a new country, and then on top of that to also want to introduce a new religion for the people… I was wondering if we should regard Masaryk as being extremely ambitious, or some kind of megalomaniac, that he wanted to bring in a religion as well as a state for the two nations?
Photo: CEU PRESS
“I write at the beginning of the book of my visits with the late historian Antonín Klímek, who wrote a two-volume history of the new republic, Boj o hrad, and a number of other important books on the ‘20s and ‘30s in Czechoslovakia.
“I remember visiting him as he was working on his books about Masaryk and the First Republic, and the one thing that he could not really comprehend was Masaryk’s goal of creating a new religion.
“I remember sitting in his office and he would wave his arms around dramatically and would exclaim, He wanted to start a new religion!
“For Klímek this was just incomprehensible: How does someone have whether the ambition or the arrogance to think they are going to create a new religion?
“And, as I find in the book, there were a number of people around him who were inspired by his ambition, they were inspired by his vision.
“But ultimately he was really aiming to far, he was reaching too much to the stars, and both religious believers who trusted him, as well as more secular figures, such as Karel Čapek and Ferdinand Peroutka, just saw him as overreaching his ambition.”
Masaryk has become for many Czechs this kind of idealised figure of a leader. But you say that in the beginning, when he first became president, he considered being a benign dictator. I’m curious: Was Masaryk at heart a democrat?
“He was not a democrat in terms of having any faith in the messy processes of democracy.”
“Where we see the root of, how to say, the doubts we could have about Masaryk’s commitment to democracy is in how much he trusted those closest to him, beginning with his family and them moving out to his closest circle, and this of course includes Edvard Beneš.
“He did have the sense, and he uses this term to describe himself and his family and those closest to him, that he was an aristocrat, in the sense that he believed people of talent, people of morality, should have a leading role in society – and he saw himself and Beneš and his family as being among this aristocracy.
“He was not a democrat in terms of having any faith in the messy processes of democracy.
“He had no respect for political parties. He really didn’t have much trust in the whole process of elections and campaigns and so forth.
“He saw democracy as functioning best as a managed democracy, with his family and his supporters, the members of the so-called Castle – his group of supporters and closest confidantes – as the ones who would steer the democratic state in a responsible direction.
“So ultimately if we think of democracy in terms of elections and parties and the messy work of competing for votes, making alliances, making coalitions, then no, that’s not what he saw democracy as.”
Prague Castle is also a major focus of your book and you write about how Masaryk made the Castle a “central symbol of national democratic ideals” when he became president. That made me wonder, What was the Castle like prior to 1918?
Bruce Berglund, photo: Marta Berglund
“This is fascinating. I did research in the archive of Prague Castle and was able to see some of the photographs from before the renovation and it’s really much, much different from what we see today.
“For one, imagine the Third Courtyard. I know you’ve been there – any visitor to Prague has been to the Third Courtyard, the area that surrounds St. Vitus Cathedral, with the Obelisk.
“This area was cobblestoned. It was really rough, it was uneven – there were multiple levels, or multiple surfaces, to the courtyard.
“And the Castle itself was in such disrepair that it wasn’t even able to function as a centre of government.
“So this was the first order of business, when the government moves in 1918: How do we even use this place?
“One of my favourite anecdotes that comes out of the archive is that early on when Masaryk wants to have a state dinner at the Castle they had to go down to Obecní dům and borrow silverware and china to use in the Castle dining room, because there was very little.
“The situation was made worse, actually, when all of these different ministries and government officials moved into the Castle right away, in November 1918, and they start claiming space.
“And then people seeking government jobs start coming in.
“The Castle was in such disrepair that it wasn’t even able to function as a centre of government.”
“There are references in the archives that people were breaking furniture and dirtying the carpets and so forth.
“So this was a disordered, kind of chaotic environment in 1918 and 1919.”
The man charged with reshaping the Castle was the Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik. How did he come to get commissioned to do that work, especially considering that he was, you say, a devout or even mystical Catholic and Masaryk was, to some degree at least, anti-Catholic?
“Yes, this is a fascinating question and it’s something that I hunted in my research.
“There are only a few statements Masaryk himself made, to his daughter Alice Masaryková, about why he trusted so deeply in Jože Plečnik, despite the fact that Plečnik was Catholic and Masaryk was an opponent of the Catholic Church.
“A big part of it was that I think Masaryk saw Plečnik as something of a kindred spirit.
“Plečnik had an ascetic personality, Plečnik was rigidly moral like Masaryk and Plečnik had a great devotion to the classical period, to classical architecture, just as Masaryk was a great lover of classical philosophy.
“I think that’s what draws those two together.
Jože Plečnik, photo: Public Domain
“Masaryk said to his daughter once: ‘Plečnik understands what we’re doing here – we don’t have to explain it to him.’
“So there was a sense that Masaryk had that Plečnik understood the importance, the gravity, of what was being done at the Castle. That this wasn’t simply about making a set of buildings functional as a seat of government – it was creating a symbol of democracy, but also a sacred space.
“And that’s why Masaryk entrusted Plečnik with the entire Castle project.”
Something else interesting that you say is that Plečnik, when he was redesigning Prague Castle, was attacked from all sides?
“Yes. Initially I should say that Plečnik was recommended by the Guild of Czech Architects.
“Plečnik had been teaching architecture in Prague since 1912.
“He had a terrific reputation among his students, he had a terrific reputation among fellow architects and artists, and that’s the reason why Plečnik’s name first came to the attention of Masaryk.
“Now when Plečnik beings the Castle project he continues to hold the respect of the artistic community.
“Masaryk saw Plečnik as something of a kindred spirit.”
“But as the renovations are underway Czech nationalists, in particular conservative Catholic nationalists, as well as Communists and Socialists, see what Plečnik is doing as a violation of the tradition of the Castle.
“They don’t like the fact that Plečnik is a Slovene.
“But also, as I talk about in the book, the criticism of Plečnik and the Castle project was really veiled criticism of Masaryk.
“You couldn’t criticise Masaryk directly. For one it was against the law!
“But he was just so respected, so revered, during the time in the 1920s that critics on both the right and the left couldn’t attack the president directly.
“What they did instead is they used Plečnik and the Castle project as the stand-in, the proxy for their criticisms.”
Plečnik is of course known for the Castle gardens and also some stairways. But how deeply did his redesign impact the Castle? How much did he change, apart from the things that everyone knows?
“I was able to go inside the Castle, into the offices and into the apartments that he designed for Masaryk.
Third Courtyard of Prague Castle, photo: Kristýna Maková
“And that’s fascinating, just in terms of creating a functional work space.
“Masaryk didn’t live at the Castle, but he did have apartment space there.
“So to see those spaces… granted the area that Plečnik designed for the president is a small corner of the Castle.
“In his work in the 1920s and into the 1930s – he resigned as the Castle architect in 1935 – he did really transform the exterior.
“He did not complete all the projects that he intended and all the projects that Masaryk intended for him.
“He wanted to continue the gardens to the north of the Castle. He wanted to completely redo the street that goes up from Malá Strana to Hradčany – he wanted to redesign that entire area, all the way over to Letná.
“Alice Masaryková wanted Plečnik to do this as well, and this was the aim by the 1930s.
“But by this time point Masaryk was old, he was infirm, he did not have enough authority, he did not have enough energy to really push these renovations.
“Masaryk is inspiring and yet the ideas he presents are not concrete ideas.”
“And of course the Depression was going on, so there was not the money available.
“So Plečnik did recast the Castle exterior, but the vision that he had – and we have his plans, we have his models – was far more extensive, to completely the entire area of Hradčany.”
Finally, getting back to Masaryk, he started out with such lofty ideals – how successful was he?
“He was not very successful.
“He had high ideals. But what I talk about in the book is how his ideals were viewed by his closest supporters, so by people like Karel Čapek, by Edvard Beneš, by the Protestant theologian Josef Hromadka.
“And all of these figures, whether we see it from a secular standpoint in the case of Čapek, or from a Christian standpoint in the case of Hromadka… all these people were inspired by Masaryk, but they had their doubts about the vision he had for this moral republic built upon a civil religion.”
But what about the idea that he did have success in the longer term, in that he became this ideal for so many Czechs and was referred to by Havel and others of his ilk, that he became this kind of “gold standard” of a Czech?
Teresian wing of Prague Castle, photo: Kristýna Maková
“Yes, this is a good point.
“I remember a poll that was done in Lidové noviny years ago of the most important Czechs of the 20th century and Masaryk is still regarded as the greatest Czech.
“So he is this inspiring figure. But the point I make in the book is that he is inspiring and yet the ideas he presents are not concrete ideas.
“He’s someone you could say who lifts the spirit but doesn’t really provide practical teaching, which is ironic because Masaryk stressed his ideas were all about practical application.
“One of my favourite quotations, and I’m trying to think if it was from Jan Patočka or another Czech philosopher, was said Masaryk was like Socrates: He was this dynamic gadfly, this inspiring figure. What Masaryk didn’t have was a Plato, someone who would systematise his ideas and create something concrete for us.
“He also didn’t have an Aristotle, someone who would make it even more clear for the lay person.
“So yes, you can see why he’s inspiring, but there’s nothing concrete you can hold onto about Masaryk’s ideas.”
The office desk I use isn’t exactly modern art. It stems from the 40s or 50s, a hand-me-down that has served well but will never win a beauty contest. It was made during the era of everything veneer, and while it no doubt was unspoiled when new, it has become something less than striking from a visual standpoint. The oak veneer has chipped and taken damage on most outside corners and the drawers require wrestling moves to open them on occasion. Its most redeeming characteristic was summed up by a relative who declared, “It’s not much to look at, but it’s hell for stout.” I took that to mean built like a tank. It has certainly lived up to that.
In spite of the wear and tear, it serves its purpose well and will likely survive beyond any future need on my part. In the meantime, I am content with the beast and do my best to never malign it as long as it functions appropriately. In fact, there is something nice about the never wavering dependability that is generated through its use.
In religion, we are oh so used to seeing the veneer without comprehending much of the unseen framework underneath, including the joinery that holds it all together. As long as it is functional and puts us at some degree of ease, we rarely question what remains mostly unseen and unsaid. In the world of antiques and old desks, provenance (source) is everything. Without understanding origins, the value takes a drastic and sudden dip.
Is our faith representative of the veneer that is in place in many people’s lives? It’s hard to tell when there are so many voices avowing themselves in perfect harmony with God’s word. The veneer looks great, but what will we find underneath? Hardwood? Gumwood? Flake board? It’s helpful to know as it informs us of the origin and reputed durability of what we hear from various sources. What is true and real? What looks and sounds good but fails in actual use? What has been sold as one thing only to be repackaged into something entirely different to assuage the market?
Speaking with absolute conviction as to all things theological is a risky game, one undertaken by tens of thousands of preachers on any given Sunday. If it is that simple and straightforward, that certain and concrete, then what is to be done with equally adamant pastors of a different stripe? Can we not look below the surface and find something edifying about one another’s commitments to faith, even when we might nurture an opposite outlook?
To do so takes swallowing one’s pride on occasion, listening more than talking, practicing graciousness and hospitality. It means finding that place of liminality where our senses are heightened by the possibility of what comes next. Divine counterpoint keeps us aware and poised for something larger than the institutions that we represent. Can we pause long enough to hear and contemplate its meaning in our lives?
The next time you discover your religious veneer scratched or mussed up, split or even missing, rest easy knowing it’s all about what’s underneath. It might not be much to look at, but there’s a better than even chance when put to the test that it, too, will be hell for stout.
Although January and February saw six consecutive weeks of plummeting COVID-19 cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief said that had gone into reverse, with last week yielding “the fourth-highest number of cases in a single week so far”.
“We have now seen seven consecutive weeks of increasing cases, and four weeks of increasing deaths”, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists at a regular media briefing.
More than 780 million doses of vaccine have now been administered globally, but several Asian and Middle Eastern countries have seen large increases in infections, he said.
While acknowledging that vaccines are “vital and powerful” instruments, the WHO chief reiterated that they are not the only tools needed to defeat the coronavirus.
“Physical distancing works. Masks work. Hand hygiene works. Ventilation works. Surveillance, testing, contact tracing, isolation, supportive quarantine and compassionate care – they all work to stop infections and save lives”, Tedros underscored.
‘Complacency and inconsistency’
While stressing the need for “a consistent, coordinated and comprehensive approach” in battling the virus, he said that “confusion, complacency and inconsistency in public health measures and their application, are driving transmission and costing lives”.
WHO wants to see societies and economies reopening, and travel and trade resuming, instead it is witnessing intensive care units overflowing and people dying, which Tedros maintained “is totally avoidable”.
He said proven public health measures and strong systems that have enabled countries to respond rapidly and consistently, illustrate that COVID “can be stopped and contained”, adding that those nations are now able to enjoy sporting events, concerts, restaurants and seeing their family and friends safely.
Increase vaccine output
Currently, global manufacturing is insufficient to deliver quick, equitable vaccines and other essential health products, according to the WHO official.
Early in the pandemic, African countries agreed on a coordinated continental approach, “and now they’re coming together for a coordinated approach to scaling up manufacturing”, he said.
Tedros stressed the importance of investing in “sustainable and secure domestic manufacturing capacity and national regulatory authorities”, asserted that “what can be done today, should be done today”.
Noting that WHO and its partners have established a COVAX manufacturing taskforce, to increase supply and build a sustainable vaccine manufacturing platform, he offered the UN agency’s technical assistance in assessing the feasibility of local production and to access technology and know-how.
Bad choices
Despite continuing transmissions, some countries are re-opening restaurants, night clubs and indoor markets, with too few people taking precautions.
Moreover, the UN health chief observed that some young people appear to feel that it doesn’t matter if they get COVID-19.
“Young, healthy people have died. And we still don’t fully understand the long-term consequences of infection for those who survive”, he reminded, echoing reports of some mild cases that have left long-term symptoms, including fatigue, weakness and anxiety.
While the pandemic is “a long way from over”, Tedros said there were numerous reasons to be optimistic.
He pointed to the decline in cases and deaths during the first two months of the year as evidence that the virus and its variants can be stopped.
“With a concerted effort to apply public health measures alongside equitable vaccination, we could bring this pandemic under control in a matter of months”, he attested.
However, the WHO chief added that this hinges on the decisions and actions that governments and individuals make every day, spelling out: “The choice is ours”.
Secretary-General António Guterrespainted a grim picture of the past year during which more than three million have died from the virus. Around 120 million have fallen into extreme poverty and the equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs have been lost.
He noted that as the speed of infections is increasing, “the crisis is far from over”.
“An enormous push at the highest political level” is needed, said Mr. Guterres, to reverse these dangerous trends, prevent successive waves of infection, avoid a lengthy global recession and get back on track to fulfil the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.
Advancing an equitable global response to recover from the pandemic is “putting multilateralism to the test”, the UN chief said, adding, “so far, we have failed”.
To illustrate this, he pointed out that just 10 countries globally account for around 75 per cent of COVID vaccinations given, noting that some estimates put the global cost of unequal access and vaccine hoarding at more than $9 trillion.
Mr. Guterres underscored the need for “unity and solidarity” to save lives and prevent catastrophic debt and dysfunction.
Call for critical actions
To set the course for a sustainable and resilient COVID response and recovery, the UN chief called for urgent action in six areas, beginning with closing the funding gap of the UN-backed vaccine initiative, COVAX.
“To end the pandemic for good, we need equitable access to vaccines for everyone, everywhere”, he said. He also called for development assistance, to go primarily where it is most needed.
Debt crisis solutions
The debt crisis needed to be properly addressed, he said, including “debt suspension, relief, and liquidity”.
“But we need to go beyond debt relief”, he continued, urging a strengthened “international debt architecture to end the deadly cycles of debt waves, global debt crises and lost decades”.
Investing in a new social contract, based on solidarity in education, green jobs, social protection, and health systems was the UN chief’s fifth priority action, which he maintained was “the foundation for sustainable and inclusive development”.
“This Forum must provide ambition and momentum, to finance a resilient, inclusive, equitable and sustainable future for all”, the Secretary-General concluded.
90-year setback
The President of the General Assembly, Volkan Bozkır, observed that the COVID-19 pandemic has “precipitated the single largest economic contraction in 90-years, devastating lives and livelihoods in the process”.
Even with vaccines providing a light at the end of the tunnel, he said that “we are nonetheless faced with years of socioeconomic impact” ahead.
However, the Assembly president said the 2021 FfD Forum was an opportunity “to lay the foundation for a proper recovery”.
“Let us seize the opportunity of this crisis to effectively shift toward a more sustainable and resilient path, to demonstrate the strength and utility of the multilateral system, and to build a world that we will proudly pass down to future generations”, he added.
Before I get to House Bill 544, the proposed law that would proscribe the teaching of uncomfortable subjects to New Hampshire students, I’d like to imagine that we will be able travel again, sometime. Perhaps even, to other countries.
Maybe you will find yourself going to Italy again. If you travel the twisted streets of Florence you could happen upon a small but famous church, the Church of Santa Maria Del Carmine. From the outside, you will not know, and you could not assume unless you knew, that painted on the inner walls are works of great artistic, religious and cultural significance.
The most famous among these is a fresco titled “The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden.“ A Renaissance artist named Masaccio rendered it in the 1400s. It is one of the first pieces of western art to reflect perspective. In a style conveying early three-dimensionality, Adam and Eve are depicted at the moments after sin, wracked by guilt, shame and sorrow, an angel at their backs directing them further from their innocence. Michelangelo drew inspiration from the work when he painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.
My mother is a New Hampshire artist who grew up on the Seacoast and attended Catholic schools there. She was a thoughtful parent who first introduced me to these images when I was a student in New Hampshire’s public schools. She did so as part of my religious and cultural education.
The experience made me feel uncomfortable. It made me think about guilt and sin, including the sins of the human race, my race. But it also filled me with curiosity and an interest in my religious and cultural heritage. It led to many conversations about the role of religion in discussions about gender, sex, sin, the nature of good and evil, and the role of religion in framing these topics for us, at home and in school.
New Hampshire protects this attitude of curiosity and exploration in the domain of morality, religion and history. It does so as part of our fundamental laws. Part I, Article 4 of the New Hampshire Constitution protects the rights of conscience against government interference. It thus confers upon us the right to feel guilty (i.e., to have a “guilty conscience”). Part I, Article 5 secures the freedom of religion, which confers upon us the right to unrestrained freedom in matters of worship and religious study. Part I, Article 6, protects against the establishment of any one religious sect or persuasion in preference to any other religious sect or persuasion.
Under these laws, government cannot impose mandates upon thinking in the area of religion and morality.
Now to the subject at hand. HB 544, a bill that passed through the New Hampshire House, would “prohibit[] the dissemination of certain divisive concepts related to sex and race in state contracts … and training programs.” The bill forecloses the teaching of topics. These include any conveying that: “An individual, by virtue of his or her sex or race, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex.”
When I saw it and I reflected on the lessons my mother taught me, I asked, “Isn’t this the central lesson of Adam and Eve?”
The bill further forecloses the teaching of topics that would cause “discomfort” or “guilt” in any form on account of “race or sex.”
But isn’t this also a subject central to the tragedy of Cain and Abel (“Am I my brother’s keeper?”)?
As I continued to think about this, I wondered whether HB 544’s consequences with regard to teaching religion will we have our teachers interlineating the Gospels?
In some ways, we should thank the supporters of HB 544 for once again giving us an opportunity to reflect on how valuable our state Constitution is when it comes to the efforts of lawmakers to tell us what we should and should not think, discuss or teach when it comes to ethics and religion. We should also thank them for yet another lesson in civics.
We now have a chance to see whether our citizen-informed system of checks and balances, including our bicameral legislature, the veto power of the governor and the review power of our courts will be effective checks when it comes to protecting our core constitutional rights to religious freedom and conscience from the incursions HB 544 threaten.
Michael S. Lewis is an attorney who lives in Concord.
PanARMENIAN.Net – A special discussion of the European Parliament on the issue of the immediate release and return of Armenian captives from Azerbaijan will be held on Monday, April 12 evening, Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan has said in a Facebook post.
Among speakers set to deliver remarks are MEP Loukas Fourlas, who chairs the EU-Armenia friendship group at the European Parliament, as well as Chair of the delegation for relations with the South Caucasus at the European Parliament Marina Kaljurand, Tatoyan himself and Heghine Evinyan, the Executive Director, EAFJD – European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy.
Several dozen Armenian POWs have returned from Azerbaijan so far, although Armenian officials say many more people were being held in Baku. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claims, however, that persons being kept in Baku are not prisoners of war but “terrorists and saboteurs”. Officials and human rights advocates from the Armenian side, however, maintain Azerbaijan is still holding hundreds of people hostage, pledging to submit evidence proving the capture of said persons to international agencies and courts.
Cheshire Trafford (UK) Limited, a Fully-Owned Subsidiary of Argentum 47, Inc. Increases Its Total Funds Under Administration by 40% – Organic Food News Today – EIN Presswire
In this article we presented top 12 chocolate companies in the world. Click to skip our detailed discussion of the chocolate industry and see the Top 5 Chocolate Companies in the World.
The global chocolate industry is on a growth trajectory as taste for chocolate is being adopted around the world. In 2019, this market was already valued at over $130 billion. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of at least 5% by 2024, according to the market report by Technavio. The overall market value for the industry is projected to exceed almost $187 billion by 2026, according to Statista. The largest market for chocolate confectionary in the world is in Western Europe, which accounts for one-third of the global chocolate market.
The chocolate industry has been rapidly evolving over the last several years amid changing tastes and preferences of consumers. The trend of dark and premium chocolates forms the largest segment of the chocolate market in the U.S. With leading companies like Kraft Heinz, Mondelez, Hershey’s, Mars and General Mills, the American chocolate industry is thriving in the world. Unique products and luxurious consumption experiences are keeping consumers coming back for more. The growth in the chocolate market can be attributed to Asia Pacific countries where consumer preferences are becoming accustomed to western tastes. Thus, demand for chocolate is booming which has in turn raised the demand for cocoa by 30% as of 2020 according to Grand View Research.
There are growing preferences for chocolate products which are low in sugar content and which use organic ingredients. In 2019, Mars Wrigley Confectionary launched a new low-calorie range of single-serve bars with more protein and less sugar. Moreover, the packaging of chocolates has become even more innovative which is doing wonders for the gift-giving businesses as well. The Ferrero Rocher chocolate made by the Ferrero Group has a tin gold foil wrapping that gives it a premium look and is a popular choice for gifts.
Some of the notable developments identified in the industry include the health benefits of dark chocolates that are rich in cocoa, increasing demand for premium-based dark chocolates that are made as gifts, more regulated seasonal chocolates by producers, and flourishing marketing initiatives. There is a growing awareness regarding the health benefits of chocolate as well that has contributed towards the growth of the industry. Many prominent companies such as Mondelez have stepped up to meet this growing demand and brought about creative and delicious chocolate products that are enjoyed by consumers worldwide.
Here is a list of the top 12 chocolate companies in the world:
12. MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL INC Common Stock (NASDAQ: MDLZ)
Revenue: $27 billion in 2020
Mondelez International is an American multinational food, confectionary, holding, beverage, and snack food company which is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It operates in 160 countries and has an annual revenue of about $26 billion. In 2018, Mondelez was ranked 117 in the Fortune 500 list of the largest companies in USA in terms of their total revenues. The company manufactures products like chocolates, cookies, gum, biscuits, confectionary, and other powdered beverages. They also own several billion-dollar brands such as Milka and Cadbury chocolates, LU, Oreo biscuits, Tang beverages, BelVita and Trident gum. The company has a portfolio consisting of national, regional, and global brands, most of which are more than a hundred years old. Chocolates and biscuits account for most of the company’s annual revenue. Global markets account for a huge chunk of the company’s revenue. The company ranks 12th in the list of top chocolate companies in the world.
11. Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd. (TYO: 2206.T)
Revenue: $344,048,000 million in 2020 via Yahoo Finance
Ezaki Glico Co Ltd. is a Japanese food company which is headquartered in Osaka. Its primary focus is the production and sale of confectionary and other food items such as ice cream, milk and dairy products etc. The confectionaries segment of the company produces chocolates, gums, snacks and cookies. The company has raised high revenues with the sale of its biggest selling brands like Pocky and Pretz lines which feature chocolate cookies and pretzels. They have also become the biggest international sellers of these items. Another popular item that has boosted the company’s sales is their almond chocolate.
10. Pladis
Revenue: 3.5 billion GBP
Pladis Global is a confectionary and snacks food manufacturing company which is based in London, England. It was founded in 2016 as a subsidiary of Yildiz Holding and now has acquired multiple food brands such as United Biscuits, Godiva Chocolatier, DeMet’s Candy Company and Ulker. Pladis has 34 manufacturing units across 13 countries and its products are distributed to about 4 billion people around the world across 120 countries. Pladis has established itself as a leading chocolate company which makes sweet and savory treats which is recognized by consumers globally. The company is earning an annual revenue of £3.5 billion which has made it one of the most prominent companies in Europe. Pladis currently has 26,000 people working for them across different countries.
Lindt is a swiss chocolatier and confectionary company that is based in Kilchberg, Switzerland. It was founded in 1845 and has become a household name across the world since then. The company is famous for making premium chocolates, truffles, and other sweets. Its main factory and museum are also located in Kilchberg. Lindt specializes in creating high quality, premium chocolates, and chocolate desserts. It has established chocolate cafes around the world. They also sell handmade chocolates, cakes, ice cream and macaroons. Their most popular chocolate products include the LINDOR truffle and the Lindt Gold Bunny. According to Statista, the company’s total worldwide sales amounted to abour four billion Swiss francs in 2020.
The Hershey Co. was found in 1894 and is headquartered in Hershey, PA. It is involved in the manufacturing and marketing of chocolate and sugar confectionary products that are available across 60 countries worldwide. The company is divided into three segments. The North American segment is responsible for the traditional chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery market position of the company. It has multiple brands such as Hershey’s, Reese’s and Kisses. The company has three huge distribution centers that cater to the worldwide demand of its products. It is also associated with the Giant Center and the Hershey Park Stadium in the US. The most popular products of the company include Reese’s peanut butter cups, Hershey’s kisses, twizzlers, mounds, almond joy candy bars, Kit Kat bars and York peppermint patties. Apart from these, Hershey’s also produces grocery items like baking products, toppings, syrups, cookies, bubble gum and cocoa mixes. The US accounts for most of the sales of the company. The North American segment of Hershey’s had net sales of $1.844 billion as of 2020 according to the candyindustry.
General Mills is an American multinational company which manufactures branded consumer foods. It is among the list of top chocolate companies in the world. It is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and its brand portfolio consists of more than 89 leading US brands such as Betty Crocker, Totino’s, Haagen-Dazs, Annie’s Homegrown, Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs and Lucky Charms amongst others. Founded over 150 years ago, the company has become a leading name in the chocolate industry with its largest global operating segment generating $10 billion of net sales in 2020, according to Statista. The largest division of the company is the US Meals and Baking division which alone generated $4.5 billion worth of net sales in 2020. Its most popular chocolate products include cereals like Chocolate Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Count Chocula, Cookie Crisp and cookies and cream puffs etc.
The Kraft Heinz Company is an American food company which is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It ranks 6th in the list of 12 top chocolate companies in the world. It was formed by the merger of Kraft Foods and Heinz and has since become the 3rd largest food and beverage company in North America and the 5th largest in the world with $26 billion in annual sales in 2020. The company has in its portfolio several more brands such as Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia Cream cheese, Wattie’s and Planters. In 2018, Kraft was ranked number 114 in the Fortune 500 list of the largest corporations in the US based on its revenue. Its most popular chocolate products include Baker’s chocolate, Daim, Freia, Jet-puffed, Cote d’or, Lacta, Marabou, Milka, Toblerone, Terry’s, Prince Polo and Trakinas.
The office desk I use isn’t exactly modern art. It stems from the 40s or 50s, a hand-me-down that has served well but will never win a beauty contest. It was made during the era of everything veneer, and while it no doubt was unspoiled when new, it has become something less than striking from a visual standpoint. The oak veneer has chipped and taken damage on most outside corners and the drawers require wrestling moves to open them on occasion. Its most redeeming characteristic was summed up by a relative who declared, “It’s not much to look at, but it’s hell for stout.” I took that to mean built like a tank. It has certainly lived up to that.
April 12, 2021 – 18:25 AMT
