Biographical Note

New permanent representative of NORWAY presents credentials

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

The new Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations, Morten Wetland, today presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

At the time of his appointment, Mr. Wetland was State Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister of Norway, a position he had held since 2005.

After serving as his country’s Ambassador to Germany from 1998 until 2003, he became Senior Vice-President, Corporate European Affairs, at the Oslo-based company, Statkraft AS.

Mr. Wetland served as campaign manager for Gro H. Brundtland’s candidature to become Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), between 1997 and 1998.  In 1996, he served as State Secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Industry and Energy, before becoming Assistant Editor at Gyldendal ASA in Oslo the following year.

After joining his country’s civil service as First Secretary, Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1976, Mr. Wetland went on to serve in various portfolios in Norway’s civil and foreign services, among them as State Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister from 1994 to 1996.  Earlier he had served in the same office as Director General.  From 1990 to 1991, he carried the title of Special Adviser/Ambassador in the Office of the Prime Minister.  He also served as Assistant Director General in the Foreign Ministry’s Legal Department from 1989 to 1990, following service as Special Adviser in the Office of the Prime Minister from 1985 to 1989.

Mr. Wetland was Executive Officer, Legal Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1983 to 1985; and Secretary of Norway’s Embassy in Bonn from 1980 to 1983.  Before that -- from 1978 to 1979 -- he was Deputy Judge, Grimstad County Court.

Norway’s new envoy to the United Nations graduated with a law degree from the University of Oslo, specializing in international law, in 1976.  He was born in the Norwegian capital in 1951, and is married to Hege Nygard Wetland.  They have two children.

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For information media • not an official record