A passion for the people
Having served the Namibian nation with all his heart through the Russian embassy in Namibia, the first secretary and press attaché Yury Tsvetkov’s time in Namibia has come to an end.
Octavia Tsibes
Yury Tsvetkov was born in Moscow, Russia and grew up in a diplomatic family. His passion, he says, is to serve people. Having lived the diplomatic life, he almost automatically followed in his father’s footsteps.
“Growing up in a diplomatic household gave me the chance to travel the world, see different cultures and learn from different people,” Tsvetkov says.
He obtained is first qualification as a lawyer specialising in international law. In 2013 Tsvetkov obtained his second qualification in economics, specialising in microeconomics.
After he graduated, his first job was in Estonia as a diplomat, which he says “was a remarkable journey for me because my father was also a diplomat in the same country”.
He was stationed in Estonia for less than two years and returned to Russia to the ministry of international affairs.
“By the time my wife Eugenia and I returned to Russia, my marriage was still young. We were not planning to settle down,” he says.
Starting their journey together, Tsvetkov got an opportunity to work in Namibia. “During the time when my dad was a diplomat we were stationed in Botswana. I knew I was going to come back to Africa one day, but I didn’t think it was going to be Namibia,” he says.
Eugenia had never been to Africa and for him to take the opportunity, he says he thought hard before he made the decision. “If I look back now from the year 2016, when I got to Namibia, the decision was 100% correct,” he says. He served as the first secretary and press attaché at the Russian embassy in Windhoek.
His journey in Namibia
“Namibia is a country that is diverse with a lot of different tribes, each with their own language,” he says.
He adds that for a person coming from a country where everyone speaks one common language, he knew he had work to do to develop himself.
“As a diplomat, I have a personal goal for myself to learn from the people in the country where I am sent to work,” he says.
“When I got to Namibia everything was different, but it took me less than a three months to fit in,” he says.
On the other hand Tsvetkov’s wife Eugenia had not been away from home and it was her first time travelling so far and for so long (diplomatic postings are generally for a period of four years).
“At first I was scared, but I told myself that this is the life of a diplomat,” she says.
Her time in Namibia was a learning experience for her because the people are warm and willing to help.
“Not once did I have a bad experience,” she said.
“There is a lot of things European countries can learn from African countries, because there isn’t much of a difference. The struggles are the same,” Tsvetkov said, adding “stability is an international challenge as well as economic growth, however, it can be temporary if young people continue to learn and work to see their nations flourish”.
“I am convinced that there is a hope for Namibia. The youth must not stop learning because knowledge opens up the mind.”
Yury Tsvetkov was born in Moscow, Russia and grew up in a diplomatic family. His passion, he says, is to serve people. Having lived the diplomatic life, he almost automatically followed in his father’s footsteps.
“Growing up in a diplomatic household gave me the chance to travel the world, see different cultures and learn from different people,” Tsvetkov says.
He obtained is first qualification as a lawyer specialising in international law. In 2013 Tsvetkov obtained his second qualification in economics, specialising in microeconomics.
After he graduated, his first job was in Estonia as a diplomat, which he says “was a remarkable journey for me because my father was also a diplomat in the same country”.
He was stationed in Estonia for less than two years and returned to Russia to the ministry of international affairs.
“By the time my wife Eugenia and I returned to Russia, my marriage was still young. We were not planning to settle down,” he says.
Starting their journey together, Tsvetkov got an opportunity to work in Namibia. “During the time when my dad was a diplomat we were stationed in Botswana. I knew I was going to come back to Africa one day, but I didn’t think it was going to be Namibia,” he says.
Eugenia had never been to Africa and for him to take the opportunity, he says he thought hard before he made the decision. “If I look back now from the year 2016, when I got to Namibia, the decision was 100% correct,” he says. He served as the first secretary and press attaché at the Russian embassy in Windhoek.
His journey in Namibia
“Namibia is a country that is diverse with a lot of different tribes, each with their own language,” he says.
He adds that for a person coming from a country where everyone speaks one common language, he knew he had work to do to develop himself.
“As a diplomat, I have a personal goal for myself to learn from the people in the country where I am sent to work,” he says.
“When I got to Namibia everything was different, but it took me less than a three months to fit in,” he says.
On the other hand Tsvetkov’s wife Eugenia had not been away from home and it was her first time travelling so far and for so long (diplomatic postings are generally for a period of four years).
“At first I was scared, but I told myself that this is the life of a diplomat,” she says.
Her time in Namibia was a learning experience for her because the people are warm and willing to help.
“Not once did I have a bad experience,” she said.
“There is a lot of things European countries can learn from African countries, because there isn’t much of a difference. The struggles are the same,” Tsvetkov said, adding “stability is an international challenge as well as economic growth, however, it can be temporary if young people continue to learn and work to see their nations flourish”.
“I am convinced that there is a hope for Namibia. The youth must not stop learning because knowledge opens up the mind.”
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article