Dominique Struye de Swielande
Encyclopedia
Dominique Struye de Swielande (born July 10, 1947) is a Belgian
diplomat, currently the Ambassador of Belgium
to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
, in Flanders
, Belgium. He holds a doctorate in law from the Catholic University of Leuven
, a master’s in law from University College London
, and a master’s in European Law from the University of Ghent.
He began his diplomatic career on February 1, 1974. From 1975 to 1984 he held various posts at embassies in Austria
, Nigeria
, Zimbabwe
, and Zaire
.
From 1984 to 1987 he was a counselor in the cabinet of the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Leo Tindemans. From 1987 to 1990 he was the consul general and deputy permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva. In 1990 he was the director of the European section at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He then moved up to become the chief of staff (1991–92) in the cabinet of the new minister of Foreign Affairs, Mark Eyskens
. From 1992 to 1994 he was the diplomatic counselor and deputy chief of staff of the Belgian prime minister, Jean-Luc Dehaene
. From 1994 to 1995 he was the director general for administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
From 1995 to 1996 he was the head of the cabinet of the secretary of state for international cooperation, Reginald Moreels. From 1997 to 2002 he was the Belgian ambassador to Germany
. From 2002 to 2006 he was the permanent representative of Belgium at NATO.
He became Ambassador of Belgium to the United States on December 29, 2006.
On February 2009, he became Ambassador of Belgium to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
diplomat, currently the Ambassador of Belgium
Diplomatic missions of Belgium
This is a list of diplomatic missions of Belgium, excluding honorary consulates. Belgium is unique in having three networks of representation — one for the Belgian state, another for Dutch-speaking community of Flanders and Brussels, and a third one for the French-language Community of...
to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Biography
Struye was born in GhentGhent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Belgium. He holds a doctorate in law from the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
, a master’s in law from University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, and a master’s in European Law from the University of Ghent.
He began his diplomatic career on February 1, 1974. From 1975 to 1984 he held various posts at embassies in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, and Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
.
From 1984 to 1987 he was a counselor in the cabinet of the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Leo Tindemans. From 1987 to 1990 he was the consul general and deputy permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva. In 1990 he was the director of the European section at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He then moved up to become the chief of staff (1991–92) in the cabinet of the new minister of Foreign Affairs, Mark Eyskens
Mark Eyskens
Marc Maria Frans, Viscount Eyskens , known as Mark Eyskens , is a Belgian economist and politician in the Christian People's Party , now called Christian Democratic and Flemish, and briefly served as Prime Minister of Belgium in 1981.-Background:He was born in Leuven, the son of Gaston Eyskens, and...
. From 1992 to 1994 he was the diplomatic counselor and deputy chief of staff of the Belgian prime minister, Jean-Luc Dehaene
Jean-Luc Dehaene
-Early life and political career:He was born in Montpellier, France, when his parents were fleeing German troops. He got into politics through the Algemeen Christelijk Werknemersverbond , a trade union which was closely linked to the Christelijke Volkspartij .In 1981, he became Minister of Social...
. From 1994 to 1995 he was the director general for administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
From 1995 to 1996 he was the head of the cabinet of the secretary of state for international cooperation, Reginald Moreels. From 1997 to 2002 he was the Belgian ambassador to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. From 2002 to 2006 he was the permanent representative of Belgium at NATO.
He became Ambassador of Belgium to the United States on December 29, 2006.
On February 2009, he became Ambassador of Belgium to the Democratic Republic of Congo.