Opinions & Interviews
Fionna Gibb: I have fallen in love with Belarus
MINSK, 7 August (BelTA) – Outgoing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Fionna Gibb shared her impressions of Belarus after she met with Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 7 August, BelTA has learned.
“I really like your country. I lived in Ukraine, Germany, Canada, Turkey, Iraq, Yemen and Kenya… Now I am living in Belarus, and so far this is the country I love most. It was a great honor for me to work here as an ambassador. Of course, the work was interesting. I really value the contacts I established here as part of my work, as well as my private contacts. As I told the president, I want to retain these connections with Belarus in the future,” the diplomat said.
She told reporters that Aleksandr Lukashenko gave her a chocolate gift set. No additives were used in making this chocolate, therefore it has a very short shelf life. The diplomat noted that it was a perfect gift. “I am fond of chocolate. I was delighted, because every day at about 11 in the morning I have coffee. Now I can eat one chocolate bar a day till the end of my mission in Belarus,” the ambassador said.
When asked what gifts and souvenirs from Belarus she will take home, she said that her luggage is huge. Several days before the departure, some 80kg of unaccompanied luggage will be sent to the UK. “I have already booked a business class flight with Belavia with the luggage allowance of 64kg. I have received many gifts, including books, linens, paintings,” the diplomat said.
According to Ambassador Fionna Gibb, upon her return to the UK, she will work at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Speaking about relations with Belarus, she emphasized that cooperation is gaining momentum. “Belarus is an important country in the center of Europe. The two countries have everything in place to scale up bilateral relations, first of all, in trade,” the diplomat believes.
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