Biographical Note

New Permanent Representative of Germany Presents Credentials

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

Thomas Matussek, the new Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, today presented his credentials to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Matussek served as his country’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, a post he took up in July 2002.  From 1999 to 2002, he was the Director-General of the Political Department in the Foreign Office in Berlin.  From 1994 to 1999, he was Deputy Chief of Mission in the German Embassy in Washington, United States.

From 1988 through 1993, Mr. Matussek served in the German Foreign Office in Bonn, first as Deputy Head, Diplomatic Personnel Planning, and in 1993 as Chief of Cabinet of the Minister.  From 1986 to 1988, he was Head of the Economic Department in his country’s Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal.

He served as Political Secretary in several posts:  from 1983 to 1986, in Germany’s Embassy in New Delhi, India; in the Federal Chancellery, European Affairs, from 1980 to 1983; and in the German Embassy, in London, from 1977 to 1980.  He started his career in the Foreign Office in 1975.

From 1973 until 1975, Mr. Matussek was a Judge’s Assistant, as well as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Bonn.

He studied law and History at the Universities of Paris and Bonn from 1969 to 1972, and got his Juris Doctor degree in 1973.

Born on 18 September 1947 in Lauda, Germany, Mr. Matussek is married with three children.

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