NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF PHILIPPINES PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF PHILIPPINES PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

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

Lauro L. Baja, Jr., the new Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, presented his credentials today to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

From 1998 until the present, Mr. Baja served as Senior Undersecretary for Policy in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.  Prior to that, he was the Philippines’ Ambassador to Italy from 1997 to 1998, and served as Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Department of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to 1997. 

He was his country’s Ambassador to Brazil from 1986 to 1993 and was Chief Coordinator and Special Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1980 to 1985.  Prior to that, he was Executive Director, Office of United Nations and Other International Organizations from 1977 to 1979. 

Mr. Baja also served in the following positions:  First Secretary then Career Minister in the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York (1973-1976); Third Secretary then Second Secretary, Philippine Embassy in London (1967-1972); and Chief of the Treaties Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1965-1966).  He held the post of Legal Officer in the Office of Administration in the same Ministry in 1964 and was Legal Officer in the Office of Legal Affairs in the Department from 1962 to 1963.

He holds Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of the Philippines, and also attended Oxford University.

Mr. Baja also headed or represented his country’s delegation at numerous United Nations and other international conferences and meetings during his long diplomatic career and was a recipient of several national and international awards and decorations.

He is married to Norma Castro Baja.

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