NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF TOGO PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

11 December 1996

Press Release
BIO/3050

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF TOGO PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

19961211 Biographical Note

Roland Yao Kpotsra, the new Permanent Representative of Togo to the United Nations, presented his credentials today to Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Until his appointment, Mr. Kpotsra was from March 1993, Secretary- General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Togo. From September 1992 to 23 March 1993, he was Chargé de mission of the Ministry. Mr. Kpotsra was Charge d'affaires at the Permanent Mission of Togo to the United Nations from April to August 1980, after serving as Counsellor from February 1979. He had previously held the position of Secretary at the Permanent Mission from September 1976 to February 1979. He served in Brazil as First Counsellor at the Embassy of Togo from September 1980 to May 1982 and as Charge d'affaires in Zimbabwe from 8 September 1990 to 30 June 1991. Mr. Kpotsra began his diplomatic career in February 1974 as desk officer in the Administrative Affairs Division of the Foreign Ministry, rising to become Director, Treaties and Legal Affairs Division from 23 July 1982 to 5 January 1988. He also held the position of Director, Administration and Personnel from 9 October 1987 to August 1990. Other positions held by Mr. Kpotsra include that of lecturer in diplomatic history, negotiating and communication techniques at the Ecole Nationale d'Administration, Togo. Mr. Kpotsra has represented his country at a number of international conferences, including sessions of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Commission on Human Rights and conferences of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. He led the Togo delegation at the sixty-third regular session of the OAU Council of Ministers held at Addis Ababa from 26 to 28 February. He was also Deputy Head of Togo's delegation to the fiftieth Assembly session and headed its team at an international French-speaking symposium on conflict prevention from an African perspective, held in Ottawa, from 19 to 22 September 1995. He also led his country's delegation at the Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries held in Bandung, Indonesia from 25 to 27 April 1995. Mr. Kpotsra is a recipient of two Togolese awards: Officer of the Order of Mono (March 1996) and the Chevalier of the National Order of Merit (April 1984). Born on 20 February 1947 in Lome, Mr. Kpotsra is married and has two children.

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