PH Ambassador to Poland Presents Credentials to Estonian President

After the playing of the national anthems of the Philippines and Estonia, Philippine Ambassador to Poland Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz inspects the Guard of Honor accompanied by the Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chief of State Protocol and the troop commander. (Warsaw PE photo)

WARSAW 17 December 2019 — Philippine Ambassador to Poland Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz presented her credentials to Estonia President Kersti Kaljulaid at the Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn as non-resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Estonia on 04 December 2019.

Ambassador Ruiz was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General to Warsaw Mardomel Melo D. Melicor.

The ceremony commenced with the conveyance of Ambassador Ruiz from the Nordic Hotel Forum to the Palace in a government car escorted by the diplomatic police. She was greeted upon arrival by the Director of State Protocol Mr. Lauri Bambus and the commander of the Honor Guard and was accorded the traditional military honors.

Ambassador Ruiz was greeted by the President’s Aide de Camp and escorted to the Ceremonial Hall where she was warmly welcomed by the President’s Foreign Policy Adviser Kadri Lepp.

During the presentation ceremony, President Kaljulaid warmly welcomed Ambassador Ruiz and received her Letter of Credentials and the Letter of Recall of her predecessor. After the photo-taking, Ambassador Ruiz had a private audience with the President accompanied by Deputy Chief Mission Melicor while the President was joined by Ms. Kadri Lepp and Director of the Division for Asia, Africa, Australia and Latin America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mart Tarmak.

Ambassador Ruiz conveyed the warm greetings and sincere regards of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and her own deep appreciation for her inclusion in the accreditation schedule before year end.  She proceeded to inform President Kaljulaid of the Embassy’s plans to further intensify tourism, trade and investment ties between the two countries, promote more people-to-people contacts through parliamentary visits, official visits, as well as academic and cultural exchanges.

President Kaljulaid agreed that there is potential for the relationship to flourish in all areas where cooperation is possible. She expressed the hope that Estonia can offer its expertise in e-governance where it has comparative advantage and experience and look forward to seeing concrete collaborative projects by Estonian companies take shape in the Philippines.

Ambassador Ruiz is the fifth Philippine Ambassador to Poland. Her post has concurrent jurisdiction over Philippine relations with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Previously, she was the first female Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon from 2011-2016 and also served at the Philippine Embassies in Wellington, Kuala Lumpur, Canberra, and Berlin. She served in various capacities in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila: Office of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Chief Coordinator, Assistant Secretary of the Department Legislative Liaison Unit, UN and International Organizations Office (UNIO) Executive Director, UNIO Political and Security Division Director, UNIO Human Rights Division Director, ASEAN Affairs Office Director, Office of European Affairs Central Europe Division Acting Director. END

Philippine Ambassador to Poland Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz presents her Letter of Credence to the President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid at Kadriorg Presidential Palace, Tallinn. (Warsaw PE photo)

Official Photo of Philippine Ambassador to Poland Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz and Estonia President Kersti Kaljulaid after the presentation of credentials ceremony. (Warsaw PE photo)

Philippine Ambassador to Poland Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz signs the Presidential Guest Book as President Kaljulaid looks on. (Warsaw PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.warsawpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinPoland/ or https://www.twitter.com/PHLINPL.