Max van der Stoel
Encyclopedia
Max van der Stoel, KCMG
(3 August 1924 23 April 2011) was a Dutch politician
and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
. He served as the first High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
.
On 17 May 1991, he was granted the honorary title of Minister of State
.
where he obtained an LL.M.
degree. From 1953 to 1958 he worked for the Wiardi Beckman Stichting
, the scientific bureau of the Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA) and became international secretary for the PvdA in 1963. From 1973 to 1977 and 1981 to 1982 he was the Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs.
He was appointed as the first High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
in December 1992 and took up his functions in January 1993. He remained in office until 2000. Max van der Stoel is a member of the Bilderberg Group.
In 2001, following his intervention as High Commissioner in the ongoing problem of equitable access to higher education by members of he Albanian ethnic group in the Republic of Macedonia, he became the founding President of the International Foundation for the South East European University, raising some 35m Euros from the international community. He later served as President of the University Board until 2004. He was awarded the University's first honorary Doctorate and the University named its Library in his honour.
Van der Stoel was a member of the Advisory Board of the European Association of History Educators
(EUROCLIO).
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(3 August 1924 23 April 2011) was a Dutch politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He served as the first High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
.
On 17 May 1991, he was granted the honorary title of Minister of State
Minister of State (Netherlands)
The Minister of State is an honorary title in the Netherlands. The title is formally granted together with the style Excellency, by the Monarch, but on the initiative of the cabinet of the Netherlands. It is given on a personal basis, for life rather than for a specified period. The title is...
.
Career
Van der Stoel studied law at Leiden UniversityLeiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
where he obtained an LL.M.
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
degree. From 1953 to 1958 he worked for the Wiardi Beckman Stichting
Wiardi Beckman Stichting
The Wiardi Beckman Stichting is a Dutch think tank linked to the left-of-center Labour Party .The foundation is named after Herman Bernard Wiardi Beckman, a member of the Dutch Senate, who during the Second World War was summoned by Queen Wilhelmina to become a member of the war cabinet, but who...
, the scientific bureau of the Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA) and became international secretary for the PvdA in 1963. From 1973 to 1977 and 1981 to 1982 he was the Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs.
He was appointed as the first High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
in December 1992 and took up his functions in January 1993. He remained in office until 2000. Max van der Stoel is a member of the Bilderberg Group.
In 2001, following his intervention as High Commissioner in the ongoing problem of equitable access to higher education by members of he Albanian ethnic group in the Republic of Macedonia, he became the founding President of the International Foundation for the South East European University, raising some 35m Euros from the international community. He later served as President of the University Board until 2004. He was awarded the University's first honorary Doctorate and the University named its Library in his honour.
Van der Stoel was a member of the Advisory Board of the European Association of History Educators
European Association of History Educators
The European Association of History Educators was established in 1992 with the support of the Council of Europe. EUROCLIO is an International NGO that actively functions as a European wide facilitator for innovation and progress in History Education...
(EUROCLIO).
Honours of the Netherlands
- Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (5 December 1966)
- The Honorary medal for Initiative and Ingenuity of the Order of the House of Orange (19 September 1974)
- Order of Orange-NassauOrder of Orange-NassauThe Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
:- Commander (11 April 1978)
- Grand Officer (9 September 1982)
- Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau (31 augustus 1999)
Foreign honours
- Grand Cordon of the Honorary Order of the PalmHonorary Order of the PalmThe Honorary Order of the Palm is a military and civil state decoration of the Republic of Suriname. The Order was instituted in 1975 at the independence of Suriname and replaced the Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau. It is awarded to individuals for special service in the civil or military field. The...
(1977, Suriname) - Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix (1977, Greece)
- Knight Commander (KCMG) of the Order of St Michael and St GeorgeOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(2006, United Kingdom)
Freedom awards
- Freedom of Speech of the Four Freedoms AwardFour Freedoms AwardThe Four Freedoms Award is an annual award presented to those men and women who have "demonstrated" an achievement to the principles lined out in the Four freedoms speech president Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave to the US Congress on 6 January 1941...
(1982) - Helène de Montigny award (December 1991)
- Dr. J.P. van Praag award (1 June 1993, Netherlands)
- GeuzenpenningGeuzenpenningThe Geuzenpenning is a Dutch award given to persons or organizations who have fought for democracy and against dictatorship, racism and discrimination. It has been awarded annually since 1987 in the city of Vlaardingen....
(1993, Netherlands) - Wateler Peace award (30 oktober 1996)
Honorary appointments
- Minister of StateMinister of State (Netherlands)The Minister of State is an honorary title in the Netherlands. The title is formally granted together with the style Excellency, by the Monarch, but on the initiative of the cabinet of the Netherlands. It is given on a personal basis, for life rather than for a specified period. The title is...
(17 May 1991, Netherlands)
Honorary degrees
- Honorary doctorate in Law, University of Athens (1977, Greece)
- Honorary doctorate in Law, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht UniversityUtrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
(1994, Netherlands) - Honorary Doctor, South East European UniversitySouth East European UniversitySouth East European University , is a university located in Tetovo, Republic of Macedonia with a branch campus in Skopje. It is the first private-public not for profit university in Macedonia. It was founded in October 2001 and is a member of the Balkan Universities Network and an associate member...
(2005), Republic of Macedonia]