New Head of British Diplomatic Mission Already Knows Two Belarusian Words
William Longhurst, the interim Chargé d'Affaires of Great Britain in Belarus, who started his work at the end of July, recorded a video message to Belarusians.
In his address, the diplomat thanked the country's residents for the warm welcome, good wishes, and advice on what to see and try in Belarus. According to him, he received far more feedback than he expected and considers this a testament to the hospitality of Belarusians.
Longhurst also tried to address the viewers in Belarusian. He admitted with a smile that for now he only knows two words — "hello" and "thank you."
The diplomat joked that thanks to the advice he received, he already has an entire program for his three-year stay in Belarus.
William Jesse Longhurst is a diplomat with over thirty years of experience.
He began his diplomatic career in 1990, joining the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Initially, he worked as an assistant officer in the Economic Relations Department.
From 1992 to 1995, he served at the British Embassy in Seoul: he was Third Secretary for Economic Affairs, and later Second Secretary for Political Affairs and Information. From 1995 to 1998, he worked as First Secretary for Commercial Affairs at the British Embassy in Tokyo.
From 1998 to 2001, he headed the Japan Export Department at the UK Department of Trade and Industry. From 2001 to 2006, he served as First Secretary at the Permanent Representation of the UK to the UN in New York, where he was responsible for financial matters and management reform.
From 2006 to 2007, he underwent a full course of Serbian language study, after which, from 2007 to 2011, he served as Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General of the United Kingdom in Belgrade.
From 2011 to 2013, he served as Deputy Head of the ASEAN Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2014 to 2018, he was Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
In 2018, he led the Global Britain Task Force at the British FCO. In 2019, he underwent intensive German language training, after which, from 2019 to 2024, he served as Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General of the United Kingdom in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
From 2024 to 2026, he underwent full Russian language training at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
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