NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THAILAND PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENTREPRESENTATIVE OF THAILANDPRESENTS CREDENTIALS

(Based on information received from the Protocol and LiaisonService.)

LaxanachantornLaohaphan, the new Permanent Representative of Thailand,presented her credentials today to Secretary-General KofiAnnan.

Prior to herappointment, Ms. Laohaphan served as Thailand’spermanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.  From 2002 to

2003, she was Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Office ofthe Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  She was Director-General, Department ofInternational Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from 2000 to 2002.  From 1994 to 2000, she was Thailand’sAmbassador to Australia,Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

Ms. Laohaphan joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1972 asThird Secretary in the Economic and Commercial Information Division and servedin several capacities within the Ministry. From 1977 to 1978, she was Second Secretary, and from 1978 to 1981,First Secretary of the Thai Embassy in Rome, Italy.  She was Counsellor of Thailand’s PermanentMission to the United Nations in New Yorkfrom 1984 to 1985.

Ms. Laohaphan got her bachelors degree in languages from ChulongkornUniversityin Bangkok in 1967, and her masters degree in French from Western Michigan University, United States,in 1972.  In 1991, she got a certificatefrom the National Defence College of Thailand.

Born on 27 September 1946, Ms. Laohaphan is married with two children.

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