King of Belgium receives Samoa's Ambassador

By Victor Ale 20 May 2022, 11:48PM

Samoa’s new Ambassador to Belgium, Francella Strickland-Simonet has presented her credentials to the King of Belgium, His Majesty King Philippe at the Royal Palace of Brussels.  

The presentation of her credentials officially confirms her accreditation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Samoa to the Kingdom and Belgium.

Following the formalities, Ambassador Strickland and King Philippe reaffirmed the good relations between the two countries and discussed issues of mutual concern including COVID-19, climate change, trade, tourism and education. 

The discussion allowed the opportunity for Ambassador Strickland to share with His Majesty, Samoa’s challenges and priorities particularly as a Small Island Developing State. 

They also discussed coverage of the work of the Embassy and its engagement with the EU and its Member States.

Ambassador was accompanied to the credentials presentation ceremony by Fiona Lene-Samoa, the Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission and Rae Manuleleua, the First Secretary of the Embassy of Samoa in Brussels.

Ambassador Strickland-Simonet will also be accredited as Head of Mission to the European Union, other EU countries and the United Kingdom. 

She has more than 20 years experience in the Samoa foreign service which included postings as First Secretary to the Embassy in Belgium and Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission to the Samoa Mission in New York. 

Prior to being selected as Samoa’s Ambassador to Belgium she was the Assistant C.E.O. of the International Relations Division within Samoa's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

She was one of four new Heads of Mission whose appointments were announced by the Samoa Government in February this year. The others include Toleafoa Nella Tavita-Levy, Samoa's Ambassador to Switzerland accredited to UN Geneva, FAO and UNESCO; Luamanuvae Albert Mariner, Samoa's Ambassador to China accredited to the Republic of Korea; and the Consult General to American Samoa, Fata Brian Kaio.

The tenure for Heads of Missions is six years and four years for officers in Samoa's diplomatic missions.

By Victor Ale 20 May 2022, 11:48PM
Samoa Observer

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