An interview with Filip from "Het Laatste Nieuws", 1-2 July 2006.
"I'm very proud of what Mathilde does for me"
MOSCOW- "I'm here to see happy people", says prince Filip on the last night of the trade mission to Russia, and it looks like he succeeded in what he set out to do. The businessmen are enthusiastic -"The prince was prepared a lot better than in South-Africa"- and the press is glad as well that the princely silence has been broken. Still Filip would rather not hear talks about a 'new wind'. "This is an old, powerful palace wind, 8 Beaufort"
There were some complaints on your previous mission, to South Africa. People blamed you for not being intrested. Do you think the criticism was just?
"It's up to you to decide about that. The businessmen that I have spoken with, seemed very satisfied anyway."
Here in Russia it seemed for a moment as though you didn't want to talk to us anymore?
"The first days I had various short conversations with members of the press. But when we heard about the tragic news from Belgium (that Stacy and Nathalie had been found murdered), we thought it would be better to stay silent. The princess and I reacted in the first place as parents. We're here for the people in the first place, not to focus the attention on ourselves. When something happens, people really need support."
Talking about parenthood: princess Mathilde flew home a day earlier to be present for princess Elisabeth's last day of school. Didn't you feel sorry you couldn't be here as well?
"I can't just fly back before the program is finished. The most important is that one of us was present at the closure of the schoolyear. It's important for a child: the last day is just as important as the first."
How important is the presence of princess Mathilde at a mission like this one?
"I'm very glad when she's there so we can divide the tasks. The princess has specific talents and inerests, and starting from those points also works in other fields. At missions like this one it's my choice to enhance the image of our country, and when Mathilde comes along she helps me with it. I'm very proud of her, and of all the things she does for me. I know I can trust her a 100%."
You and the princess usually have a separate agenda. Do you talk at night about what you each saw and did during the day?
"When we have the time, yes. But you know our program: it's very busy. Sometimes we get the chance to talk about it in the car, when we're on our way to a next visit. And otherwise afterwards, when the mission is over."
How do you look back on this trip to Russia, and what's your impression of the coutry?
"I think Russia is a very intresting country. I know it well, and I'm very charmed by it. I'm convinced that this time as well we managed to make useful contacts and book results. I think we've made anther step foward in placing belgium on the map, and that's what matters. I'm very satisfied."
What were the highlights for you on this mission?
"I think the mission was a big success in the whole. The meeting with the mayor of Moscow has given us a lot of results, and also the way we were received in Kazan has impressed me. Of course we shoudn't forget the talks with gass supplier Gasprom. And I also expect a lot of the meeting with president Putin tomorrow."
Going back to the Belgian news: are you worried about the ongoing violence in our society?
(chooses his words carefully)" In the first place we feel very much for he victims as individuals. We don't want to jump to conclusion too quickly. Of course violence is aways negative. An ideal world is a society where people can be happy. I do my best to get us going on that way by placing Belgium on the map and contributng to the employment."
Thank you for this interview. May we hope that we will get the same chances at the next mission?
"Who knows. Or we might just do something alltogether different." (laughs)
HILDE SABBE
