Q: To begin, tell us about how you
began as a consul representing Belarus
and some of your back ground.
A:
For ten years I was the career
consul of the Netherlands, from 2003-
2013. We had a large staff working in
Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. My
own business took a backseat to that,
and I resigned. I then was contacted by
the Charge d’Affairs in Washington to
see if I would be interested in work-
ing in Texas. I understood Belarus was
looking for a consul, and I contacted
the embassy to see if I could have a
meeting with the Charge d’Affairs in
Washington. We set up a meeting for
half an hour that ended up being 3.5
hrs. So, we had good chemistry. I was
approved by the government of Be-
larus though not by the State Depart-
ment yet, and it was a long process.
The State Department stepped in at
the end to accredit the nomination.
No one has taken such a long time,
from what I was told, to be accredited
by the State Dept. It normally takes 3
to 4 to 6 months to approve, though
not in my case. I got a lot of help from
the Houston OFM office during this.
Q: Tell us about the Belarus
Consulate in Houston, what parts of
cans interested in doing business in
Belarus, there is a focus on expos
and conventions to establish more
A: We are currently based in the trade relations since the trade sanc-
Woodlands. We were based on Rich- tions were lifted. In fact, I received an
mond Avenue in downtown Hous- email today concerning a trade show
ton. This new government office was in December where Belarusians ex-
well-received by the government of hibit their goods here in Houston
the Woodlands. This is the first diplo- at the George R. Brown. Foreigners
matic mission for the Woodlands. It’s travel to Belarus into Minsk by air-
a beautiful office with arts and pic- plane with no VISA requirements for
tures from the Belarus region. I rep- 5 days. Belarus would have to come
resent Texas., Louisiana., Arkansas., to those companies and vice versa to
and Oklahoma. We do mostly trade further those relationships and see
here and supply Belarusians with ad- how everything is developing. Con-
vice. We help with situations such as necting Arkansas to sell products in
a lady in Austin recently who lost her a way for the people of Belarus to
way and passport. Also, we assist in export their goods to large corpora-
situations where it may be expired. tions was a recent example of this. A
We used to do it at the Dutch con- large corporation in Arkansas is the
sulate; though not anymore. Passports Walmart Corporation headquar-
are sent by mail from the embassy in ters and they asked me for example;
“When is Walmart coming to Be-
Washington.
larus?” Dignitaries were invited to
Q: What are some past, present, & see the demonstrations hosted by
the World Affairs Council in that
future goals for Belarus’ relationship
with the U.S., and please tell us your area, and we were given the keys to
the city. The factories are very mod-
perspective on ways that U.S. -Be-
ern in Belarus like the vodka kind.
larus goals may be furthered?
I don’t drink vodka though it is of
A: More people are speaking Eng- high quality. it is clean and one of
lish each time I go over there. The the best in the world from what I’ve
trade aspect is important. For Ameri- seen. They have very nice for trade:
America are covered and what are the
services it provides?
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