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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
 Posted - 04 May 2006 : 13:44:26
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FOROYAA PANORAMA
WITH THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR DORETTA LOSCHELDER
In this edition of Panorama, our columnist interviewed the ambassador to the Republic of Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde. She did throw light on her career as a diplomat.
Foroyaa: Could you give a brief history of your education background?
Interviewee: After my high school education in Bonn (Germany), I started law in Bonn in a University in Southern Germany. I got a scholarship from the German Government to go the Ecole National del’ administration in Paris. It is an administrative school in France. At that time, there was an agreement between Germany and France for The German Government to send young people in ENA for training. ENA is an elite school for administrators. Most of the people in the French Government passed through this school. Chirae and Doming Devil pein passed through this school. I joined the Foreign Service after my training.
Foroyaa: How and when did you join the diplomatic circle?
Interviewee: I joined in 1974. That was move than thirty years ago. After studying law, I worked briefly with a solicitor in London and I got a lot of Interest in international Law. I was considering whether to be a lawyer or to go to the judiciary. But finally I though it was best to travel because what I was interested was the Foreign Service where you have broad spectrum of international relations.
Foroyaa: How is it like shifting from the legal profession to the diplomatic arena?
Interviewee: It helps a lot. I was first posted in Japan. There were lots of legal matters concerning ships that I had to handle. When I was posted to Tel Aviv, I was head of the visa and consular section, which was the biggest section of the embassy. Without being a lawyer, it would have been difficult for me to work there.
Foroyaa: In which countries did you work as a diplomat?
Interviewee: The first country was Japan. I went to Israel, then I was posted to peking (China), in between I went to Germany to serve in the foreign Ministry. I started my African career ten years ago. In Africa, I was first posted to Burkina Fasso, then I was later posted to Germany to become Chief of Division for Southern Africa. Them I was posted to Kinshasa as ambassador for 4 years. From there, I was ported to Dakar.
Foroyaa: What was your experience in Burkina Fasso like?
Interviewee: Well it was something new for me. It was the first time I had to professionally deal with economic corporation, which before was not the subject I dealt with. One of the things I like most in Burkina Fasso is the hospitality of the people. I still have contacts and friends in Burkina Fassa.
Foroyaa: what does your work entail?
Interviewee: The main focus is the bilateral relations between Germany and the countries I deal with. That is to say the political dialogue between Germany and those countries. For instance, last week we organised a football match between a group of Senegalese who had scholarships in Germany and members of the embassy. This is also part of the bilateral relation. What is attractive in this profession is that you deal with a variety of issues. You deal with issues that are difficult and unpleasant, but you also deal with pleasant issues.
Foroyaa: What is the most interesting thing about your job?
Interviewee: The big variety of subjects. It entails a lot of diplomatic work, but you make interesting contacts during your career. You have the opportunity to meet a lot of people, know a country and the culture of its people more than if you go to a country as a tourist.
Foroyaa: What are your challenges?
Interviewee: In this region, the focus is on economic corporation in a broader sense. This is a challenge because we have to work to make sure that our work is as successful as possible. Also not only in the interest of the countries directly concerned but also in our own interest. Lets take example of Congo for instance. The whole international community (Germany as part of the community) has interest in the Congo, which has the biggest forest in the world. It is of great importance for the climatic changes that the forest there is preserved. That war and illegal destruction of the forest will harm the environment and affect the whole world. Germany is very much dependent on exports. We have interest to have partners in Africa and the whole world that we could have normal economic relations with. The big challenge is the question of human rights, which is universal and indivisible.
Foroyaa: What problems do you often have from visa applicants?
Interviewee: People sometimes for tourist visa to go and have a short stay and come back. But they go and they don’t come back; they try to stay there illegally or they go to other schengen countries. This poses a serious problem.
Foroyaa: What are the consequencies of staying illegally?
Interviewee: They would be expelled back to the country they come from. They will not also be in a position to work on the basis that they are staying illegally. This might be dangerous, because they would try to find a job, but the job will not be protected. People with suspicious background will give them work and exploit them they would not also have access to medical care.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 34/2006, 4-7 May, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 04 May 2006 : 14:26:47
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Thank you, Momodou, for me as a German this is very interesting. But maybe one should tell Foroyaa that even if there may be a lot of Devil Pain in France, the name of the French Prime Minister is 'de Villepin'...  |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 04 May 2006 : 17:36:53
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| Good you corrected that Serenata ; I spotted the error too. |
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