AT THE SERVICE OF OTHERS
Ø Following new attaques, Prince Philippe steps into the limelight
Ø In an exclusive interview he explains his actions
Ø “Our role isn’t in the first place to dominate the media, but to work for the Belgians, every day”
CHRISTIAN LAPORTE
Monseigneur, according to the majority of the participants, the mission to South Africa was a success. How must we explain certain press comments that claim the opposite?
As you say, the most important partcipants were very pleased with the mission: the 3 regions, the diamond sector, enterprises and companies that work with sports infrastructure, our harbours. Also on the diplomatic level, the contacts were more than warm. You see we had well prepared this mission with briefings, but all this happened far away from the cameras. And in South Africa we had many contacts that allowed us to really dig deeper into things – but this happened in a discreet way. That’s often the only way to make serious progress.
Of all Belgian public figures, the members of the royal family have a duty of reserve that doesn’t allow them to react to attaques. Isn’t it frustrating when the attaques are directed against a person in stead of an institution?
In the case of the monarchy, there are constitutional rules, it’s the government that reacts and you have been able to tell for yourself the system worked perfectly with secretary of state Vincent Van Quickenborne, who represented the federal government. Of course, I’m not insensitive to criticism, but luckily we receive a lot of tokens of sympathy, that strenghten us in performing a mission that’s to everybody’s benefit.
Of all the tasks that you perform, the one of super-ambassador for the foreign trade is especially close to your heart. Belgium exporting itself as a country is a wonderfull theme of action and reflection. Is that still your credo?
Yes, more than ever. When my father asked me 12 years ago to take over this role, I was thrilled because I knew how important export and economy are to our country, to our prosperity. And what’s more, there’s so much talent in our country, so much innovation and technology that we can present to the world. And I must add that the missions have evolved: they have adapted themselves to our institutional situation, operations to boost our country’s image have been added, there are a great many more enterprises that participate in the missions, we intensify our missions to the markets that are rapidly growing, like China, India, Brasil our South Africa.
Negative publicity was given to you when it was said that you were opposed to the regionalisation of the forein trade...
Those who participate in the missions know to what extent the regions play a leading role in them. All preparations are made in their full consent. I am present at seminaries, receptions, visits to companies, contacts organized by the regions. Take a close look at the mission to South Africa and you will see that each region, Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels, and the federal state have specific activities. And the companies are directly surrounded by the regions.
The various media are a vital part of the royal function, but isn’t the accessory, the futile empasized?
I don’t judge the world of the media. What’s important for us, is that we try to achieve, every day, and most often discreetly, what’s expected from us: to be there for our people, to listen to them, to participate in their joys and grieves and to respect their identity. The media that wish to show an interest for this will certainly be able to report about this.
The monarchy can’t get involved in politics but woudn’t it be to her benefit to show a certain openness to cut short gossip?
I think we are open, but within the limits of our function and our role in the country. That role isn’t in the first place a mediatic one, but to work for the country and for all Belgians, every day. It’s on the long term that people will be able to judge how well we have or have not perfomed our task.
Wich message would you give young Belgians about the future?
I have a lot of contact with young people and I’m very interested in them and their future. My message is: have confidence in your own talents, be open towards others, involve yourselves in society, surpass your own limits and discover the world. Above all: don’t fall back on yourselves but open yourselves towards others and towards the world.
Do your many contacts with young people make you feel optimistic about our country’s future?
Yes, very much. I love my country, we have so much talent and our young people have all the chances to succeed in the world of tomorrow.