NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF LATVIA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF LATVIA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

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

Solveiga Silkalna, the new Permanent Representative of Latvia to the United Nations, today presented her credentials to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. 

Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Silkalna served in 2005 as Counsellor in the Policy Planning Group of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.  From 2002 to 2004, she was the Adviser to Latvia’s Prime Minister.  She was the Director of the Press and Public Diplomacy Department, also in the Foreign Affairs Ministry (2001-2002). 

In the diplomatic service of her country, she served as Deputy Permanent Representative of Latvia to the Council of Europe (2000-2001).  She was First Secretary of the Latvian Mission to the European Union from 1998 to 2000. 

For two years prior to that, Ms. Silkalna was the Head of the Division of Humanitarian Issues in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.  She was a Desk Officer in the Department of International Organizations, also in the Ministry (1995-1996), and was an interpreter from 1993 to 1995 In the Office of the Latvian President.

Ms. Silkalna received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Melbourne, Australia, in 1991.  Also from the University, she received a Diploma of Education (secondary school) in 1992.  From the University of Latvia, she received a master’s degree in international relations in 1997.

The new Permanent Representative is fluent in Latvian and English, and proficient in German and French.

Born on 22 November 1970 in Melbourne, Australia, Ms. Silkalna is married with one child.

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