Ariadne Petridis becomes first woman to represent Belgium at NATO

Ariadne Petridis is set to become the first woman to represent Belgium at NATO. On Tuesday, she will succeed Pascal Heyman as our country's permanent representative, or ambassador, to the treaty organisation.

Petridis began her diplomatic career in 1990. She worked, among other things, for Belgium's Permanent Representation to the European Union and for the country's Permanent Representation to the United Nations in New York. Her last post was as head of the Americas and Caribbean department at Foreign Affairs in Brussels.

In December, the then minister of Foreign Affairs, Sophie Wilmès, put Petridis forward as the new Belgian representative to NATO. The new minister, Hadja Lahbib, says she fully supports Petridis.

The current representative, Pascal Heyman, will become Belgium's ambassador to Switzerland.

According to Foreign Affairs, 15 percent of Belgium's ambassadors, consul generals and permanent representatives are currently women.

(BRV)

© BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE