By Larry Bate Takang, Rotterdam,The Netherlands
Wednesday, September 24, marked a historic ceremony at the Noordeinde Palace of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, following the presentation of the credentials of the new and only Cameroonian female Ambassador worldwide at the moment; Her Excellency Madam Odette Melono.
Her Excellency Mrs Odette Melono, Cameroon's Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
By assuming office, Ambassador Odette Melono, made history as not only the first full fledge Cameroon Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands since the Cameroon Consulate in the Netherlands was upgraded to a full embassy , but as well as the only female Ambassador representing Cameroon anywhere in the world at the moment. The last women that represented Cameroon diplomatically was Madam Simone Marie at the United Nations from 1982-1986.
After a short ride to the Noordeinde Palace, accompanied by a number of Dutch Royal guards who were all dressed in 19-century military outfits, Ambassador Melono disembarked and stood in position for the National Anthem of the Republic of Cameroon. She then, with full authority inspected the Guard of Honor mounted by the Royal Dutch Air Force.
She and her staff were later received by Her Royal Highness Queen Beatrix of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. During this meeting, Ambassador Melono presented her Credentials to the queen, then briefly outlined the Cameroon Government's agenda as well as extended greetings from the Cameroon Head of State, President Paul Biya.
Madam Melono is a career diplomat with the rank of Minister Plenipotentiary. She doesn't replace anyone but fills in that post as the very first Cameroon Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands since the consulate was upgraded to an Embassy.
Larry Bate Takang shaking hands with New Ambassador
After graduating from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, IRIC, in 1990, she held several positions in the Cameroon Ministry of External Relations.Before her appointment as Ambassador to the Netherlands, Madam Melono served at the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon, where she worked since 1993. At the Presidency, the diplomat held The Post of Chargé de Missions at the Diplomatic Division of the Presidency.
So far, she has been very warmly embraced by the Cameroonian community in the Netherlands, not only because Netherlands now hosts the only female Cameroonian Ambassador, but also because at 48, she is perceived as young, beautiful, humble and friendly.
Ambassador Melono comes at a time when Cameroonians in the Netherlands have a more favourable view of their Embassy following the arrival of H.E Blaise Banoum about two years ago. Banoum, who ran the Embassy in The Post of Charge d'Affaires, worked hard to change the widely negative image Cameroonians had generated about their Embassy and staff.
Today, he stays on as the Charge d'Affaires to assist his new boss.In a chat with The Post, H.E Melono promised to continue "the good work and do more" and to collaborate with Cameroonians towards very productive projects for Cameroon and Cameroonians in the Netherlands.
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