Biographical Note                                          

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF andorra PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

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

The new Permanent Representative of Andorra to the United Nations, Julià Vila Coma, presented his credentials today to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

From 1980 until his current appointment, Mr. Vila Coma served as Director of Customs in Andorra’s Ministry of Finance.

By a presidential decree in 2000, Mr. Vila Coma was awarded the title of the Knight of the National Order of Merit by the President of France, Co-Prince of Andorra.  He received the reward in recognition of his performance and merit in the execution of his duties, and for his loyal service.

Prior to his career in government service, Mr. Vila Coma taught history at secondary school in Barcelona.

He attended the Educational College of Barcelona, as well as the University of Barcelona, where he received a first degree in modern and contemporary history.  He also received a degree in contemporary history from the University of Toulouse.

Mr. Vila Coma was born on 19 March 1951 in Ordino, Andorra.

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