Botschafter | Cercle Diplomatique Magazin

NEUE BOTSCHAFTER

SWEDEN - H.E. Annika Markovic

Credentials: 13.09.2021

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Born on 9 June 1964 in Stockholm, Sweden
Married, three children

EDUCATION

1982: Majored in Social Sciences from the upper secondary school Brännkyrka Gymnasium
1983: Holds a certificate de Langue et de Civilisation from the Sorbonne University in Paris
1986: Graduated in Business Economy from the University of Stockholm

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

September 2018 to August 2021: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden to the Kingdom of The Netherlands and Permanent Representative of Sweden to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and Permanent Representative of Sweden to the International Criminal Court in The Hague

February 2014 until August 2018: Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OECD and UNESCO

From September 2011 until her nomination as Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OECD and UNESCO: in charge of international negotiations in the field of environment and sustainable development as Sweden´s Environment Ambassador at the Ministry of the Environment. She has co-chaired the Arctic Council high-level task force on black carbon and methane as well as the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, a global initiative to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants that Sweden has been part of developing.

August 2007: appointed Sweden's Ambassador to Brazil, also accredited to Suriname

2003 to 2007: served as Sweden's Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau

2000: appointed Deputy Director at the multilateral department at the Ministry

1995-1999: First Secretary at the Swedish Mission to the United Nations in New York

1990: started her diplomatic career at the Foreign Ministry, working on multilateral issues such as disarmament and non-proliferation and reform of the United Nations

Languages
Swedish, English, French

Fotos: Peter Lechner/ HBF

MEHR ANZEIGEN
Event

Credentials: 10.07.2019

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DATE OF BIRTH 7 May 1961
PLACE OF BIRTH Soweto, South Africa
MARITAL STATUS Married with four children

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
1981 Matriculated, Mapetla Tswana High School
1982-1985 Senior Teacher’s Diploma, Soweto College of Education

QUALIFICATIONS OBTAINED FOR NON-DEGREE PURPOSES
1995-1996 Diplomatic Training, Foreign Service Institute, Department of Foreign Affairs
1996 Management Programme, Foreign Service Institute, Department of Foreign Affairs

ACTIVISM AND LEADERSHIP
1980-1984 National Team of Young Christian Students (YCS)
1984-1985 President of the Soweto Youth Congress (SOYCO)
1986-1987 Secretary-General of the Southern Transvaal Youth Congress (STYCO)
1987-1990 General-Secretary of the South African Youth Congress (SAYCO)
1987-1991 Member of the National Executive Committee of the United Democratic Front (UDF)
1990-1994 Secretary-General of the ANC Youth League and National Executive Committee Member of the ANC (ANCYL)

CAREER

Currently South African Ambassador to Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia and Permanent Representative of South Africa to the International Organisations in Vienna
2014-2019 South African Ambassador to France, Monaco and Permanent Delegate of South Africa to the UNESCO
2010-2014 Deputy Director-General: Europe, Department of International Relations and Cooperation
2008-2010 Director: Levant and Middle East, Department of International Relations and Cooperation
2004-2008 South African High Commissioner to Ghana
2003-2004 Director: Nepad and African Renaissance Fund, Department of Foreign Affairs
1999-2003 Consul-General to Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in Germany
1999 Joined the then Department of Foreign Affairs
1994-1999 Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee

POLITICAL HISTORY
As a result of his involvement in student and youth politics, Mr Molekane was arrested while completing his final year of studies, and hence was unable to complete the diploma. On his release from detention he devoted his time as a full-time activist. He however, continued his studies at Soweto College of Education.
Mr Molekane was central to the launch of the United Democratic Front in 1983 and was detained several times including during the two State of Emergency spending almost thirty (30) months in detention without trial or charges.
He was a member of the National Reception Committee that planned and welcomed the ANC leadership from prison and from exile, in the 1990’s.

LANGUAGES
SeTswana, English and German (basic)

Fotos: Lisa KAPICI und Carina KARLOVITS/HBF

MEHR ANZEIGEN
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DPR of KOREA - H.E. Shin Chae-Hyun

Credentials: 10.07.2019

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DATE OF BIRTH : Mar. 11, 1965
FAMILY : Married with one daughter and one son

EDUCATION :
Feb. 1986 B.A. in Communication, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
Nov. 1992 M.Phil., International Relations, University of Cambridge, U.K.

CAREER :
Jun. 2019 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Austria
and Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna
Aug. 2017 Secretary to the President for Foreign Policy, Office of National Security
Apr. 2016 Consul-General, Korean Consulate General in San Francisco, U.S.A.
Feb. 2015 Director-General for North American Affairs, MOFA
Sep. 2014 Director-General for North Korean Nuclear Affairs, Office of Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, MOFA
Apr. 2013 Director-General for Human Resources, Office of Planning and Coordination,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Aug. 2011 Deputy Consul-General, Korean Consulate General in Hong Kong, China
Jul. 2008 Consul, Korean Consulate General in New York, NY, U.S.A.
Jan. 2007 Director, North America Division I, North American Affairs Bureau, MOFAT
Jun. 2005 Director, Protocol Division I, MOFAT
Jul. 2002 First Secretary, Korean Embassy in the United States of America
Feb. 2001 Director, Human Resources Management Division, Office of Planning
and Management, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT)
Dec. 1997 First Secretary, Korean Embassy in the Republic of Senegal
Dec. 1994 First Secretary, Korean Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, NY, U.S.A.
Jun. 1987 Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Apr. 1987 Passed High Diplomatic Service Examination

AWARDS :
Feb. 2006 Service Merit Medal
Jan. 2019 Order of Service Merit (Red Stripes)

Fotos: Fotos: Lisa KAPICI und Carina KARLOVITS/HBF

MEHR ANZEIGEN
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MOROCCO - H.E. Azzeddine Farhane

Credentials: 10.07.2019

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Born in Casablanca on May 18, 1966
Married, one child

Diplomatic Career

10/2016-06/2019: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
2009-2016: General Director of the United Nations and International Organizations
Department/MFA

2006-2009: Minister Plenipotentiary, Head of United Nations Department/MFA

2005-2006: Chargé d’Affaires a.i of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of
Morocco to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland

2004-2005: Deputy Permanent Representative of Morocco in Geneva, Switzerland

2002-2004: Counselor in charge of Disarmament, Human Rights and Humanitarian
Issues at the Permanent Mission of Morocco in Geneva, Switzerland

2001-2002: Head of Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues Unit/MFA

1999-2000: Counselor at the Moroccan Embassy, The Hague, Netherlands

1994-1999: First Secretary in charge of Multilateral Issues at the Moroccan Embassy,
The Hague, Netherlands

1990-1994: Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Division of Press and Information/MFA

Academic Background

1995: PhD in Political Science, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Morocco

1995: Certificate in Public International Law, The Hague Academy, Netherlands

1993: Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations, Hassan II University

1992: Postgraduate Diploma in Political Science, Hassan II University

1989: Degree from the Higher Institute of Journalism, Rabat, Morocco

1985: Bilingual Baccalaureate in Modern Letters

Professional Experience

2011-2016: Morocco Sherpa for Nuclear Security Summit (NSS)

2015: Head of the Moroccan delegation at the High Officials Meeting, Commemoration Summit of the 60th Anniversary of the Bandung Conference, Jakarta, Indonesia (April 2015).

2001-2016: Member of the Moroccan delegation to the UN General Assembly

2009-2015: Head of the Moroccan delegation to the political Plenary Meetings of
The Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT)

2009-2014: Head of the Moroccan delegation at the Non-Aligned Movement
High Officials Meeting

2008-2009: Member of the Moroccan delegation at the OIC Summit in Dakar and
OIC Ministerial Conference in Kampala and Damascus

2006-2013: Member of the Moroccan delegation to the Human Rights Council

2006: Head of the Moroccan delegation during the Review of the Periodic
Report (RPR) to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Geneva

2005-2006: Coordinator of the African Group on Human Rights Issues, Geneva

2003-2006: Member of the Moroccan delegation during the Review of the Periodic Reports by the UN Committees on racial discrimination, Human Rights against torture, economic, social and cultural rights

2001-2005: Member of the Moroccan delegation to the Human Rights Commission

1994-2000: Member of the Moroccan delegation to The Hague Conference on
Private International Law

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Researches:

2017: Publication of article in “Political Theory”, research journal of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics on “Investment in youth: A strategic Choice and a significant asset for sustainable growth in Africa”.

2014: IAEA International Conference on Advances on Nuclear Forensics (Vienna, 7 – 10 July 2014) « The contribution of International Initiatives on Non-proliferation to the Enhancement of Nuclear Forensics as a Fundamental Pillar of Nuclear Security».

2013: IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security (Vienna, 1 – 5 July 2013) « Inter-linkages and Added Value of International Initiatives to the Enhancement of Nuclear Security: The Moroccan Experience».

2012: Wilton Park Conference «NPT and Nuclear Security Challenges to Africa» (Johannesburg, 5 – 6 March 2012).

1995: PhD Thesis in Public Law: «Regional Cooperation of the Mediterranean Countries in combating Maritime Pollution».

1989: Research Thesis on «Embassies Press and Information Units» for the Higher Institute of Journalism Graduation.

Fotos: Lisa KAPICI und Carina KARLOVITS/HBF

MEHR ANZEIGEN
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Date of birth: 27.07.1957
Place of birth: Nyala-Southern Dafur, Republic of the Sudan

Marital status: Married and father of five children

Languages: Arabic (mother tongue), English

Academic Qualifications:

- Masters Degree, Political Science
Middle East University, Amman, Jordan- June 2008

- Ceftificate in Intemational Relations
Cligendale Institute, The Hague, Netherlands, May 2004

- BSC-Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
University of Khartoum, Republic of the Sudan, November 1985

Diplomatic Assignments:

Oct. 8, 2018
Ambassador designate of the Republic of the Sudan
to the Federal Republic of Austria

Nov. 2016 - Aug. 2018
Director General, Human and Financial Resources
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Sudan

July 2015 - Nov 2016
Ambassador, Director of the Subregional Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Sudan

Sept. 2O11 - June 2015
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to the Islamic Republic of Iran

August 2008 - June 2011
Ambassador, Director of Real Estate Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Sudan

Oct. 2006 - Aug. 2008
Promoted to Ambassador 2007
Deputy Head of Mission - Baghdad, Republic of Iraq
resident in Amman -Jordan

Aug.2004 - Oct.2006
Minister Plenipotentiary - Charge D' Affairs
Sudan Embassy in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq

2003 - 2004
Deputy Director of European Depaftment
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Sudan

2000
Minister Plenipotentiary
Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan, Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
Kuala Lumpur, Maiaysia

1995-1996
Office Director of H.E. State Minister
Dr. Ghazi Salahuddin

1994 - 1995
First Secretary, Protocol & Intemational Organizations
Departments, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic ofthe Sudan

1990-1994
Second Secretary,Embassy of the Republic of the
Sudan, London , United Kingdom

1985-1990
Architect, Ministry of Education, Projects Department
Sanaa, Yemen

Political forums' participations

Intemational Maritime Conference, London 1992

OIC Ministers of Foreign Affairs Meeting, Konakri, Ghinee 1995

OIC Summit ,Kualampur - Malaysia 2000

Arab League Summit -Khartoum 2006

Smart partenership conference in Langkawi-Malaysia -2000

Many political, cultural and social local and international conferences in
Khafioum, London, Kula Lumpur, Baghdad and Amman

Accompanied the State Minister and other official delegations to different
countries like Egypt , Saudi Arabia , Syria, UAE ,Thailand ,Singapore, France,
Italy, The Netherland, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Tanzania and also
attended many official meetings .

Fotos: HBF/Karlovits, Bauer und Heinschink

MEHR ANZEIGEN
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UZBEKISTAN - H.E. Sherzod Asadov

Credentials: 06.11.2018

Born on May 4th, 1981 in Bukhara Region, Uzbekistan

Married, three children

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in International Economic Relations and a Master’s Degree in Geopolitics from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent

Career

2007
Joined the diplomatic service

2007-2008
Referent, Attaché, General Department for analysis and strategy of the foreign policy; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan

2008-2012
Attaché, Third Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Singapore

2012-2014
Second Secretary, First Secretary, Department for Cooperation with the Structures of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Collective Security Treaty Organization and Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2014-2015
Head of the Division for Cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2015-2017
Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan

2017-2018
Counsellor, Chargé d'affaires a.i., Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Austria,
Permanent Representative to the United Nations, OSCE and other International Organizations in Vienna

06.11.2018
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Austria, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, OSCE and other International Organizations in Vienna

MEHR ANZEIGEN
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CURRICULUM VITAE

Nationality: Angolan
Date of Birth: 2/Aug/59

EDUCATION AND TRAINING
• 1977 - Basic Course on Foreign Trade;
• 1989 - Degree in Law – Agostinho Neto University – Luanda;
• 2004 - Graduation in Diplomatic Practice and Negotiation - United Nations Institute for Training and Research in New York;

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• 1977 - Joined the civil service as an employee in the National Export - Department of the Ministry of Foreign Trade;
• 1980 - Planning Office - Ministry of Provincial Coordination;
• 1989 – Diplomatic Attaché – Legal and Consular Affairs Directorate – Ministry of External Relations;
• 1993 – 2nd Secretary - Embassy of Angola in Federative Republic of Brazil;
• 1994 – 2nd Secretary - Embassy of Angola in the Republic of Botswana;
• 2000 - Counselor - Head of the SADC Department (Southern African Development Community) - Regional Integration Directorate - Ministry of External Affairs;
• 2003 – Minister Counsellor - Permanent Mission of Angola to the UN – New York;

• Responsible for Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries – CPLP;

• Southern African Development Community – SADC;

• Non – Aligned Movement – NAM; and

• Group of Candidacies;

• Head of the Chancellery – Permanent Mission of Angola – New York;

• 2010 – December – Director for Europe - Ministry of External Relations;
• 2011 – January – Ambassador;
• 2016 – America Director - Ministry of External Relations;

LANGUAGES
• Portuguese - written and spoken
• English – written and spoken

Fotos: Clemens Schwarz & Carina Karlovits/ HBF

MEHR ANZEIGEN
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BIOGRAPHY

In 2017, Ambassador Khojesta Fana Ebrahimkhel has been appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the Republic of Austria and as Permanent/Resident Representative to the United Nations and other International and Regional Organizations in Vienna.

Madam Ambassador shall represent Afghanistan in Austria and five other countries covered by the Afghan Embassy in Vienna, namely Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia and promote the multilateral agenda with the Vienna-based organizations including CTBTO, IACA, IAEA, ICMPD, INCB, OSCE, UNIDO, UNOV/UNODC.

Ambassador Ebrahimkhel started her diplomatic career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2006, first as Deputy Chief of Staff, then as Chief of Staff and Advisor to the Minister. She later served as Counsellor at the Afghan Embassy in Washington, D.C., where she also acted as Chargé d’Affaires a.i., as well as Director-General of the Office of Human Rights and Women’s International Affairs. She also founded the Afghan Women Diplomats’ Association.

Prior to her diplomatic career, Ambassador Ebrahimkhel worked as an attorney in the office of the Attorney-General in Kabul, as a crime investigator in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul, and – later, in Germany – campaigned as a social activist for Afghan refugees and for women’s rights, actively participated in the German-Afghan Association, the German Lawyers’ Association, and Germany’s International Women’s Club, while acting as a lecturer and panelist, and published articles on women’s rights.

Ambassador Ebrahimkhel holds a bachelor degree in Political Science, with specialization in Law and Diplomacy, from Kabul University, Afghanistan and studied German, Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics at Karlsruhe University, Germany, from where she also obtained a Certificate in Social Sciences. Further training includes diplomacy courses and management seminars in Malaysia and the United States.

She is fluent in Dari and Pashto, as well as in German and English.

Ambassador Khojesta Fana Ebrahimkhel is married to Mr. Abdul Naser Ebrahimkhel and they have four children.

Fotos: Harald Minich; Peter Lechner/HBF

MEHR ANZEIGEN
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LEBANON - H.E. Ibrahim Assaf

Credentials: 05.12.2017

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BIOGRAPHY

Born on 05.04.1968
Married, 3 children

Education:

Holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy.

1993: Graduated from the “National Institute of Administration” in Beirut

Professional Career:

Since November 2017:
Ambassador of Lebanon to Austria and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna

2012-2017:
Counsellor and Chargé d’Affaires of Lebanon in Bahrain

2010-2011:
“Security Council Political Coordinator” of the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations in New York

2008-2009:
The Directorate General of the Presidency of the Republic of Lebanon

2000-2006:
Permanent Mission of Lebanon in New York. Between 2005 – 2006 he was Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargé d’Affaires of the mission

1996-2000:
Secretary of Embassy and then Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the Embassy of Lebanon in Sierra Leone

1994-1995:
Attaché at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants in Beirut

Publications:
In 2009, he published a Book entitled “The Last Assassination”, regarding UN Documents on the Investigation of Rafic Hariri Assassination.

Languages: Arabic, English, French

Fotos: Harald Minich; Peter Lechner/HBF

MEHR ANZEIGEN
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PORTUGAL - H.E. António de Almeida Ribeiro

Credentials: 05.12.2017

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BIOGRAPHY

Ambassador António de Almeida Ribeiro was born in Lisbon on 22/08/55. He is married to Isabel Cordovil de Almeida Ribeiro and has two sons.

He graduated in 1976 from the Faculty of Law (Legal and Political Sciences), University of Coimbra.

He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1979 where he held a wide variety of positions.

1979 Attaché of Embassy, MFA

1981 Adviser for International Relations at the Office of the President of the Republic

1983 Embassy of Portugal in Rome; Alternate Representative to FAO

1986 Auditor of the NATO Defence College

1988 Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy in Praia (Cape Verde)

1991 Adviser to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation

1992 Head of Cabinet of the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs

1994 Consul-General in London

1998 Deputy DG for Bilateral Relations at the MFA

1999 DG for Administration at the MFA

2002 Ambassador in Argentina; non resident Ambassador to Bolivia and Paraguay

2007 Ambassador to Egypt; non resident Ambassador to Jordan and the Sudan

2009 Ambassador to the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC) and Permanent Representative to the WEU.

2010 Full Rank Ambassador

2011 DG for External Policy at the MFA (Political Director)

2011 Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2013 Ambassador to the Holy See

2013 Ambassador to the Sovereign Order of Malta

2017 Ambassador of Portugal to Austria (designate)

2017 Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations (Vienna)
Resident Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Governor from Portugal on the Board of Governors
Permanent Representative to the Preparatory Commission to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

He is awarded, among others, with the following decorations:
- Grand Cross of the Military Order of the Christ
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Portugal
- Grand Cross of the Pian Order of the Holy See
- Grand Cross of the Order “Libertador San Martín” of Argentina
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Independence of Jordan
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Peru
- Grand Cross of the “pro Merito Melitensi” Order of the Sovereign and Military Order of Malta
- Commander of the Order of Merit of Austria
- Commander of the Order of Leopoldo II of Belgium
- Commander of the Order of the Republic of Egypt
- Commander of the Order of the Phoenix of Greece
- Officer of the Order of Merit of Italy
- Knight of the “Legion d’ Honneur” of France

Fotos: Harald Minich; Peter Lechner/HBF

MEHR ANZEIGEN
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SLOVENIA - H.E. Ksenija Škrilec

Credentials: 05.12.2017

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BIOGRAPHY

Date and place of birth: 26th August 1966, Murska Sobota

Education and Qualifications

2010 Andrássy University Budapest
Interdisciplinary PhD Studies in International Relations (Absolutorium)

1994-1997 University of Economics, Budapest Institute for International Studies
(BIGIS); Master in International Relations and Diplomacy

1985-1990 Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Faculty of Arts
Masters in Hungarian and German Philology

1985-1986 Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Exchange Semester

1981-1985 Secondary Arts School Franc Miklošič, Ljutomer

1973-1981 Bilingual Primary School Drago Lugarič, Lendava

Work Experience

11 Sept 2017 Ambassador Designate of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of Austria

2014-2017 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia
to the Republic of Bulgaria with residence in Budapest

2013-2017 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of
Slovenia to Hungary

2011-2013 Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Minister
Plenipotentiary, Head of Global Challenges Department

2010-2011 MFA, Department for Economic Promotion; Team Leader for
Business Delegations

2004-2010 Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia, Budapest, also accredited to
Moldova, Bulgaria; Economic Counsellor. Chargé d'Affaires (Jun-Sept 2006,
Dec 2008-May 2009)

2002-2004 MFA, Department for Neighbouring Countries; Counsellor, Desk for
Austria, Coordinator for Slovenian-Austrian Historians and Lawyers
Expert Group

1998-2002 Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia, Budapest, also accredited to Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria; First/Second Secretary (Press, Culture, Minorities,
Education, Protocol)

1992-1998 Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia, Budapest, Attaché

1991-1992 Eurocom Corporate PR, Düsseldorf, Representative Office Budapest
Assistant to the Representative in Hungary

Additional Information
Languages: Slovenian, Hungarian – mother tongue, German, English, Serbo-Croat –
fluent written and spoken, Spanish – intermediate

Mother of two children
Studied Piano at Lendava Music School (1974-1981)
Special interests: arts, classical music, literature

Fotos: Harald Minich; Peter Lechner/HBF

MEHR ANZEIGEN
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SWITZERLAND - H.E. Walter Haffner

Credentials: 05.12.2017

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BIOGRAPHY

Walter Haffner was born in 1958 in the city of Zurich.

He studied History and American and English Literature at the University of Zurich, where he graduated in 1985.

In 1987 he joined the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and subsequently served as trainee in Bern and Strasburg. He returned to the headquarters in 1989 where he was assigned to the Protocol Section.
In 1991 he was transferred as Deputy Head of Mission to Teheran. In August 1994 he was transferred to Washington, where he served as Cultural Attaché and by 1997 was raised to the position of Counsellor.

From July 1998 until September 1999, as the first male Diplomat in the Swiss Foreign Service, he took an unpaid educational leave to look after his four kids, one dog and one rabbit.

In October 1999 he reintegrated the Foreign Ministry’s Human Resources Department, where he was promoted Deputy Head of Personnel in June 2000. In July 2002 he was appointed Deputy Chief of the Centre for Analysis and Prospective Studies of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs with the title of Minister.

From March 2005 to February 2008 he was Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland in Berlin. In March 2008 he was appointed Ambassador of Switzerland to the State of Israel, where he served until June 2012.

From July 2012 until February 2013 he served as Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republics of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. In March 2013 he was appointed Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Turkey.

Since October 2017 he is Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Austria. Ambassador Haffner has four children and is married to Tamar Haffner.

Fotos: Harald Minich; Peter Lechner/HBF

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