Duterte welcomes new Norway, Belarus ambassadors
President Duterte welcomed to Malacañang the ambassadors-designate of the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Belarus as he received their credentials in a simple ceremony on Sept. 25.
“I welcome you, and we’re happy that you’re here,” he said.
Norwegian Ambassador Bjørn Staurset Jahnsen was first to submit his credentials to the President.
Jahnsen extended to Duterte the warmest regards of the King of Norway, His Majesty King Harald V.
He said he is looking forward to strengthening the relationship of Norway and the Philippines, especially that the two nations are celebrating its 70 years of bilateral ties this year.
“Your Excellency, I pray that our relationship will last for a thousand years,” Duterte told the envoy.
Ambassador’s wife Sandra Rojas Gonzalez; Aase Larissa Kosanovic, counsellor and deputy head of mission; Øyvind Lorenzen, first secretary; Stian Arvid Hegland, second secretary; and William Hovland, attaché, were also present during the visit.
Before his appointment to Manila, Jahnsen worked on the Colombian Peace Process in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo.
His previous diplomatic assignments include Mexico, London and Madrid. He also served as the official spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.
Meanwhile, Belarus Ambassador Valery Kolesnik also presented his credentials to Duterte.
“Ambassador, I am happy, in behalf of my country, to accept you as the envoy of your country and I hope that we can work together to expand our bilateral relations,” the President told Kolesnik.
In response, Kolesnik reiterated his nation’s commitment to improving the ties between the two governments.
The envoy served as the deputy director - head of Department of Foreign Trade Policy, Directorate of Foreign Economic Activity, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The President met with each ambassador after the submission of their respective credentials.