hˈɛlmɪŋɡɚ stˈɑːɹɾᵻd tə wˈɜːk ɪn dɪplˈoʊməsi fɚðə stˈeɪt ʌv lˈʌksəmbˌɜːɡ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti sˈɪks ænd ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntᵻd ðə kˈʌntɹi ɪn lˈʌndən, hɛlsˈɪŋki ænd dʒənˈiːvə, ʌntˈɪl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ, wˌɛn pɹˈaɪm mˈɪnɪstɚ ɡˈæstən θˈɔːɹn mˌeɪd hˌɪm hɪz tʃˈiːf ʌv kˈæbᵻnət.
Helminger started to work in diplomacy for the state of Luxembourg in 1966 and represented the country in London, Helsinki and Geneva, until 1974, when Prime Minister Gaston Thorn made him his Chief of Cabinet.