On 28 April 2015, the Philippine Embassy in Berne welcomed Messrs. Urs Lustenberger and Alexander Ospelt as Philippine Honorary Consuls in Zurich and Liechtenstein, respectively.

Ambassador Leslie J. Baja administered the oath of office to both honorary consular officers, and expressed confidence that Messrs. Lustenberger and Ospelt shall look after the interests of Filipinos, and promote economic relations in their respective areas of jurisdiction.  

Ambassador Baja administering the oath of office to Philippine Honorary Consuls Urs Lustenberger (left photo) and Alexander Ospelt (right photo)

Mr. Lustenberger is a practicing lawyer and the founding Partner of the Lustenberger Attorneys at Law based in Zurich, Switzerland.  He is currently the Chairman of the Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce, and is frequently consulted by Swiss governmental, legal and economic councils.  He frequently speaks in conferences on Asia-Pacific business topics and regularly holds presentations in the field of international commercial arbitration in Asia and in Europe.

Mr. Ospelt is Chairman of the Board of the Ospelt Group, a food and animal feed company based in Bendern, Liechtenstein established in 1957. Mr. Ospelt’s company is a leading meat processing company in Liechtenstein and Switzerland.  The company produces well-known brands such as Malbuner meat products, convenience products for major food and restaurant chains as well as animal feeds. The Ospelt Group has production sites in Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Germany.

The oath taking ceremony was immediately followed by a daylong briefing at the Embassy for the Philippine Honorary Consular Officers in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

The briefing presented a unique opportunity for active interaction between the officers and staff of the Embassy, and Consul, a.h. Lustenberger and Consul, a.h. Ospelt and their respective support staff, on their roles and the expectations from them. 

Ambassador Baja in his remarks during the briefing informed all Honorary Consular Officers that they are part of “Team Philippines” in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, highlighting the need to ensure compliance with the “One Country Team Approach.”  He called on them to work with the Embassy in a consultative, cooperative and coordinated manner in the pursuit of national development goals, within the context of the three (3) pillars of Philippine foreign policy.

Embassy officers and staff and Philippine Honorary Consular Officers in Zurich and Liechtenstein with support staff.  (Seated L-R: Minister Maria Theresa Lazaro, Consul a.h. Lustenberger, Ambassador Baja, Consul a.h. Ospelt, and Consul Jarie Osias. Standing L-R: Ms. Luana Michels of PHC Zurich, Property Officer Kathleen Llarena, Administrative Officer Agnes Tuazon, Finance Officer Rose Monette Mendoza, Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Harley Tesorero, and Ms. Susanne Nachbaur of PHC Liechtenstein)