Interview Swiss Ambassador Helene Budliger Artieda

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Interview Swiss Ambassador Helene Budliger Artieda

by Expat Life

 

 

I arrived in Thailand at the beginning of October 2019 and experienced thankfully a bit more than five months of normal diplomatic activity before my Embassy like many others had to enter into crisis modus operation to tackle the situation created by the spread of COVID-19. 

 

Previously, I was posted for four years to beautiful South Africa where I also represented Switzerland in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius and Namibia and served as Swiss Special Representative to the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). 

 

I was born in Zurich and grew up in the suburbs of my hometown. In Switzerland, it is equally important to know where your family originates from. My canton of origin is Lucerne.

 

Already in my late teens, I had hopes for an international career because I enjoyed travelling and discovering new cultures from a young age on. First, my eyes were set on one of the many Swiss hotel schools. It was more of a coincidence that I ended up with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs instead.

 

No. My father worked in banking, and so did two of my uncles. My mother stayed at home to educate and take care of us.  As for my sister, she has a great position at the Swiss National TV station . All my extended family members love to travel internationally. However, I am the only one that pursued an international career.

 

Thailand, the Thai authorities, and people have been wonderfully welcoming. Bangkok is a safe, during normal times very lively city with lots of opportunities. Today, Thailand, like every country in the world, is facing great difficulties with regards to the current global health and economic crisis. It worries me that millions of Thai people have lost their job in recent weeks. This global recession will mean that we will have to lock hands in solidarity among friendly nations and work together to find a way back to what is perceived as a good lifeworth living. As an obstacle, or rather a regret on my side, I would consider the lack of understanding and speaking of the Thai language. Without any prior knowledge or affinity, I find it difficult to learn the language during my mission in Thailand.

 

Between Thailand and Switzerland, I would think it is more that opposites attract. Swiss tourists flock to Thailand because of the beautiful beaches, the distinctively different food, to visit the colorful markets, chill on the famous rooftop terraces in Bangkok and for many other experiences which Thailand offers plentiful. Thai people tell me that they enjoy Switzerland for its nature, good air, historic cities and villages, cheese and chocolate, snow, mountains and so forth. There are also aspects, which make for a strong bond between the two countries. Swiss people most often stem from farming ancestry. Although quite urban nowadays, this love for the land unites us. There are many intercultural marriages, which to me build the strongest bond possible. Diplomacy is a people-to-people business. It immediately creates a closeness when I meet a representative of Thailand who tells me that he or she has Swiss relatives in the family. Last but certainly not least, there are many historic ties between the Thai Royal Family and Switzerland. Most Thai people are aware, that their beloved late King Rama IX spent crucial years in Lausanne before returning home. 

 

I don’t have children, but I am married, and my husband and I enjoy the company of three dogs who travel everywhere with us. No substitute for children, but we nevertheless consider them as part of the pack. 

 

As many of my colleagues must have told you, Bangkok is a remarkably busy post. For Switzerland, the Embassy also plays a regional role with side accreditations to Cambodia and Laos and with a regional consular center for some of the Mekong region. It is an immensely popular post, which regularly attracts great interest when openings are advertised within the Ministry. So, I feel very privileged to serve in Bangkok. There is not much routine, and my days never look the same and the topics I deal with vary greatly. I have looked randomly at one of my weeks back in December, and this is what I found: I hosted a dinner in honor of a visiting business executive at the Swiss Residence; paid a Thai official at MoFA a courtesy call; attended a National Day of a European friend; travelled to Hua Hin to meet with the Swiss community; hosted the Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce for a joint networking event at the Residence; lunched with a former Swiss Ambassador; held bilateral meetings with a Thai entrepreneur, with a representative of a social impact fund and with an international NGO; attended several Embassy internal meetings. To round things up, that week the Embassy hosted a Swiss delegation from its headquarters and the region. I could have picked any other week and it would have been equally busy, diverse and interesting. 

 

Full Story: https://expatlifeinthailand.com/featured/interview-ambassador-helene-budliger-artieda/

 

-- © Copyright Expat Life in Thailand 2020-09-23

 

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