Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

(Based on information received from the Protocol and Liaison Service)

Marino de Jesús Villanueva Callot, the new Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic, presented his credentials today to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Villanueva Callot served as Director of the United Nations-Organization of American States Division of International Organizations and Conferences of his country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holding the rank of Ambassador, since 2000.  From 1980 to 2000, he was Ambassador-Counsellor in the same Division.

Having received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Santo Domingo Autonomous University, Mr. Villanueva Callot began his career as a medical intern in 1959 and remained with the medical profession until 1980, when he left the post of Chief of the Mother and Child Department of Avenida Francia Health Clinic to join the Foreign Ministry of the Dominican Republic. 

Parallel with his medical career, Mr. Villanueva Callot has also been engaged in various business activities.  He has served as Alternate Member of the Governing Board of the Dominican Social Security Institute, from 1972 to 1973.  He was also a member of the Governing Board of the Dominicana Aviation Company, from 1981 to 1986, and became President of Callot Co, Ltd. in 1989.

Mr. Villanueva Callot has also been politically active over the years.  In 1962, he was elected as Deputy of Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) from Puerto Plata province, and in 1963, he was a member of the Constituent Assembly, which carried out a reform of the Dominican Constitution.  He also served as a Deputy from the PRD in the country’s Government in 1965.

Married with six children, Mr. Villanueva Callot was born in Puerto Plata on 22 January 1935.

* *** *