NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF COLOMBIA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS
Press Release
BIO/3194
NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF COLOMBIA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS
19980918 Biographical Note (Based on information received from the Protocol and Liaison Service.)Alfonso Valdivieso (Protocol), the new Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations, today presented his credentials to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Before his appointment, Mr. Valdivieso was a candidate for Colombia's 1998-2002 presidential term. From 1994 to 1997, he was Colombia's Attorney-General in charge of criminal investigations at the national level. His only previous diplomatic assignment was as Colombia's Ambassador to Israel from 1992 to 1993. Before that, from 1990 to 1991, he served as Minister for National Education. He was a Senator of the Republic from 1986 to 1990, and from 1990 to 1994.
Mr. Valdivieso was a member of the House of Representatives from 1982 to 1986 and a council member in Bucaramanga from 1988 to 1989 when he became president of the Council. From 1978 to 1986, he served as Administrative Vice-rector and Director of Planning at the Autonomous University of Bucaramanga.
Born in Bucaramanga in October 1949, Mr. Valdivieso, a Doctor of Law, was educated at Javeriana University in Bogota, Boston University, the University of Toronto and Stanford University.
He is married and has two sons.
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