NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SLOVAKIA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

Press Release
BIO/3153

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SLOVAKIA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

Olga Keltosova, the new Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the United Nations, today presented her credentials to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Keltosova was Slovakia's Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family from 1992 to 1998, except for the period from March to December 1994. While in that post, she also served as President of the Board of National Labour Office, from 1997 to 1998; President of Slovakia's Coordination Committee for Women Issues, from 1996 to 1998; and Chairperson of the Coordination Committee of the Slovak Republic for Issues of Disabled Persons, from 1995 to 1998.

Ms. Keltosova began her political career in 1989 as Press Secretary of Slovakia's renewed Democratic party. From 1990 to 1991, she was a member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic -- the Slovak Parliament -- where she served as Vice-Chairman. In 1992, she became a member of the Movement for Democratic Slovakia and of the newly elected National Council of the Slovak Republic.

Educated at Comenius University in Bratislava, Ms. Keltosova received a degree in journalism in 1966. Upon graduation, she began work as a journalist but was subsequently prevented from exercising her profession because of political views she expressed during 1968 and 1969.

Ms. Keltosova then worked from 1970 to 1971 as a translator at the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Comenius University. Between 1971 and 1989, she was both translator and interpreter, and was also involved in journalistic work for children. She is fluent in English and German, and also has a working knowledge of Russian.

Born on 27 February 1943 in Pezinok, Slovakia, Ms. Keltosova is married and has two children.

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