Sierra Leone’s Envoy presents credentials to King and EU boss
Precisely two months of his arrival in Brussels to assume duties, His Excellency Hon. Ambassador Ibrahim Sorie on Thursday, September 19th presented the Letters of Recall of his Predecessor and his credentials to His Majesty, King Philippe of Belgium at the Royal Palace in Brussels automatically signalling the start of his official functions as Ambassador.
His arrival had coincided with the abdication from the throne of King Albert 11 to his son on July 21, Belgium’s Independence Day which apparently caused the delay of his presentation.
Ceremonial procedure
Ambassador Sorie was picked up from his official residence at 1100hrs by members of the Royal Guards and driven in a motorcade to the Palace, accompanied by three members of the mission’s diplomatic staff. About 400 metres to the Palace, the convoy was escorted by 32 Royal Horses, all dressed in ceremonial outfits.
Upon arrival at the precincts of the Palace, Ambassador Sorie, clad in a white-flowing-African-gown was received by a team of Royal protocol officers who later ushered him and entourage to the credentials room where King Philippe was readily standing.
“Your Majesty, I bring you fraternal greetings from His Excellency, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. I have the honour to present to you the Letters of Recall of my predecessor and my Letters of Credence as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Belgium”
The letters were warmly received by King Philippe with a smile and a warm handshake. The Ambassador in turn introduced his three accompanying diplomatic staff to the King who shook hands with each. The two thereafter retired to a room for a twenty minutes closed door discussion.
At the end of the short but solemn ceremony, Ambassador Sorie was again led off the Palace’s vicinity by the Royal Horses with a Guard of Honour before driven back home.
Reception
The reception that followed at the Ambassador’s residence immediately after the ceremony was well attended by members of the diplomatic community in Brussels including a cross section of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States Ambassadors and its Secretary General, relatives, friends, well-wishers and representatives of the Sierra Leone communities in Belgium and The Netherlands.
Coincidentally, Sierra Leone’s Minister of State Finance and Economic Development, Alhaji Foday B.L. Mansaray and three members of the Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Bundu, Hon. Alpha Babatunde Lewallie and the SLPP’s Hon. Hellen Kuyembeh, who had earlier arrived in Brussels on official assignments were also in full attendance to add more glamour to the colourful ceremony.
European Council
In a related development, Ambassador Sorie had also presented his credentials to the President of the European Council a week earlier, His Excellency Herman van Rompuy at the Justus Lipsius Building in Brussels.
Describing the EC President as ‘Mr. Wiseman’ as a result of the way he successfully navigated the protracted Belgium political controversy, Ambassador Sorie conveyed warm greetings of President Koroma and people of Sierra Leone adding that the European Union is not only Sierra Leone’s most important development partner, but the most active for the entire group of the ACP.
The Ambassador further expressed deep appreciation for the EU’s support to his country over the years particularly after the war. He highlighted some of the EU funded projects including trunk roads, health, education, agriculture, energy and good governance.
Congratulating Ambassador Sorie on his appointment, Mr. Rompuy commended the Sierra Leone government on its reconciliatory style of governance which he described as ‘very encouraging’, furthering that the European Union’s development programmes especially with Africa is increasing despite the economic down turn some European countries are experiencing. He expressed hope that the wealth of the soon-to-be-drilled oil in the country will be evenly distributed for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans whilst at the same time commending the government on the economic progress the country is making. “I envy Sierra Leone when I read about the economic growth your county is making”, the EC President stated.
Mr. Rompuy disclosed that the European Union now seeks partners of development with Africa and no longer seeking power as it was in the past. He extended special invitation to His Excellency, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma through the Ambassador to attend the forthcoming EU/Africa Summit to be held in Brussels next April.
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2013, https:. All rights reserved.
