MILOS ALCALAY ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION

Milos Alcalay, the new Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the United Nations, was this morning elected Chairman of the 2001-2002 session of the Committee on Information.

Mr. Alcalay was Venezuela's Ambassador to Brazil from 1997 to 2000.  Prior to that, he was Vice-Minister of External Affairs between 1995 and 1996 and served previously as Ambassador to Israel from 1992 to 1995, and Romania from 1990 to 1992.  His diplomatic career also includes stints in his country's Permanent Mission to the European Community and at the Venezuelan Embassy in Paris.

Having published a number of articles on various human rights and diplomatic issues, Mr. Alcalay speaks several languages, including French, English, Portuguese and Italian.

Born on 8 November 1945, Mr. Alcalay graduated from the Andres Bello Catholic University School of Law.  He undertook post-graduate studies at the International Public Administration Institute of Paris, the International Institute of Human Rights at Strasbourg and the University of Paris.

Mr. Alcalay is expected to present his credentials to Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday, 3 May.

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