Ambassadors of Switzerland, Pakistan, Cuba and UAE calls on Hon’ble Foreign Minister

H.E. Dr. Andreas Baum, Ambassador of Switzerland to Bhutan, called on the Hon’ble Foreign Minister Lyonpo Damcho Dorji on 19 January 2017 at the Gyelyong Tshokhang. Ambassador Baum is on a five day visit to Bhutan from 16 – 20 January 2017 and is accompanied by Mrs. Brigitte Bruhin, Counsellor (Economic & Commercial) with the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi. Lyonpo and the Ambassador reviewed the state of bilateral relations between Bhutan and Switzerland. Lyonpo expressed appreciation to the Government of Switzerland for support rendered to Bhutan over the years and said he was confident that bilateral relations would be further strengthened during Ambassador Baum’s tenure. During the visit Ambassador Baum also called on Hon’ble Lyonchhen and Leader of Opposition. He also met with officials of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Tourism Council of Bhutan as well as the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Druk Green Power Corporation. Prior to this posting, Ambassador Baum served as the Swiss Ambassador to Israel and has served in Canada, Nigeria and at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.

H.E. Mr. Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui, Ambassasor of Pakistan to Bhutan, called on the Hon;ble Foreign Minister Lyonpo Damcho Dorji on 19 January 2017. Ambassador Siddiqui was on a four days visit to Bhutan from 17-20 January 2017 and was accompanied by Mrs. Samina Mehtab, Deputy High Commissioner, Embassy of Pakistan in Dhaka and Mr. Abdul Wahid Khan, Spouse of the Deputy High Commissioner. Lyonpo and the Ambassador discussed on the relations between Bhutan and Pakistan at bilateral level and in the SAARC. They also discussed continuance of the visits to Buddhist sites in Pakistan by Bhutanese delegations. Ambassador Siddiqui served as Ambassador of Pakistan to Kenya prior to this posting to India.

H.E. Mr. Oscar Israel Martinez Cordoves, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the Kingdom of Bhutan called on Foreign Minister Lyonpo Damcho Dorji on 18 January 2017 at the Gyalyong Tshokhang, Thimphu. He is accompanied by his wife Mrs. Francisca Marlene Aguilera Vega. During his meeting with the Foreign Minister, Ambassador Cordoves said that Cuba would like to strengthen bilateral relations with Bhutan. He said that his government is not only interested in extending scholarships in medicine but in other areas too. The Ambassador and spouse arrived Thimphu on 16 January and departed for New Delhi on 19 January 2017. During the visit Ambassador Cordoves also called on the Prime Minister on 18 January 2017. The Ambassador also met doctors who have completed their study in Cuba on the evening of 17 January 2017. The Kingdom of Bhutan and the Republic of Cuba established formal diplomatic relations on 26 September 2011.  Ambassador Cordoves served as the Ambassador of Cuba to Germany from 1995-2000 and as the Deputy Head of International Relations in the Department of Central Committee prior to this posting.

H.E. Dr. Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Banna, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates met Lyonpo Damcho Dorji, Foreign Minister on 18 January 2017. Ambassador Al Banna was accompanied by his spouse Mrs. Khadija Abdulqader Amro Gourab and Mr. C.P. Sharma, Public Relations officer, Embassy of the United Arab Emirates. Lyonpo Damcho Dorji and Ambassador Al Banna discussed on bilateral relations between Bhutan and UAE. The Ambassador conveyed the invitation of UAE to RGOB for the World Government Summit in February 2017and the World Expo 2020.

Ambassadors of Switzerland, Pakistan, Cuba and UAE presented their credentials to His Majesty the King on 18 January 2017.