Andrey Dapkyunas Belarusian diplomat Date of Birth: 11.04.1963 Country: Belarus

1. Valentin Ryhoravich Dapkiunas
2. Early Life and Education
3. Diplomatic Career
4. Rise to Prominence
5. Reassignment and Allegations
6. Return to the UN
7. Ambassadorial Role
8. Family Legacy

Valentin Ryhoravich Dapkiunas

Valentin Dapkiunas is a distinguished Belarusian diplomat who has held numerous pivotal positions throughout his esteemed career.

Early Life and Education

Born on April 11, 1963, in Minsk, Belarus, Valentin Dapkiunas developed a passion for international relations during his student years at the Minsk State Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages, where he earned a degree in English and French in 1985. His pursuit of higher education continued at the London School of Economics, where he delved into the complexities of British youth political culture as an aspiring researcher from 1989 to 1990. In 1991, he obtained a Candidate of Philosophy degree from Belarusian State University.

Diplomatic Career

Dapkiunas' diplomatic journey commenced as Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Belarus to the United Nations in New York from 1992 to 1994. He subsequently assumed various leadership roles within the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1995 to 2004, he led the American regional department, demonstrating his exceptional diplomatic skills.

In 2004, Valentin Dapkiunas was appointed as the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Belarus to the United Nations in New York, a position he held until 2017. His diplomatic acumen shone through during this tenure, particularly in 2006 when he served as President of the Executive Board of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and in 2008 as Vice-President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Rise to Prominence

Valentin Dapkiunas played a pivotal role in representing Belarus on the global stage. He became the first Belarusian representative to address the UN General Assembly in the Belarusian language. His diplomatic achievements earned him the respect of his peers, and he was elected as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Permanent Representatives to the UN.

Reassignment and Allegations

In February 2011, Valentin Dapkiunas was unexpectedly recalled from New York by presidential decree. Suspicions arose regarding his alleged involvement with opposition candidate Andrei Sannikov during the 2010 presidential elections. However, following thorough investigations, Dapkiunas cleared his name and was reappointed to his previous post in 2011.

Return to the UN

Valentin Dapkiunas' second tenure at the UN mission in New York was marked by his strong stance against a resolution condemning human rights violations in Crimea in 2016. In 2017, he transitioned to the position of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassadorial Role

On July 20, 2020, Valentin Dapkiunas was appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Austria and, concurrently, to Slovenia. He also became the Permanent Representative of Belarus to international organizations in Vienna, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Family Legacy

Valentin Dapkiunas comes from a family steeped in cultural and historical significance. His father, Vadim Vyacheslavovich Dapkiunas, was a renowned official in the Belarusian Ministry of Culture responsible for theatrical affairs. His mother, Zhanna Kazimirovna, played a pivotal role in preserving Belarusian literary heritage as the director of the Yanka Kupala Literary Museum and founder of the International Yanka Kupala Fund. His grandmother, Jadwiga Romanovskaya, was a niece of the revered Belarusian poet Yanka Kupala.