Biographical Note

New permanent representative of BELGIUM presents credentials

 

(Based on information provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

The new Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations, Jan Grauls, today presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

For the past six years, he served as the Secretary-General of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, and in 2001 he was the Foreign Minister’s Chef de Cabinet. From 1997 to 2001, he held the Ministry’s post of Director General for Bilateral and Economic Relations.

During the late 1980s and 1990s, Mr. Grauls held other key posts, including diplomatic adviser to the Prime Minister (1988-1991) and, on secondment to the Royal Palace from 1994-1997, as Deputy Chef de Cabinet and diplomatic adviser to the King.

Mr. Grauls began his long diplomatic career in 1973.  He held successive diplomatic assignments in Bonn, Tunis, the European Unionpermanent representation in Brussels, London and Washington, D.C.

Born on 12 February 1948, Mr. Grauls was educated at the Saint Berchmans Jesuit College in Brussels.  He studied Law at the University of Antwerp and at the Catholic University of Louvain.

Mr. Grauls is married and has three daughters and one son.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record