Biographical Note

New permanent representative of TONGA presents credentials

 

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

The new Permanent Representative of Tonga to the United Nations, Sonatane Tu’akinamolahi Taumoepeau-Tupou, presented his credentials today to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Taumoepeau-Tupou was Minister for Foreign Affairs, a position he held from August 2004 to November 2005, when he was given additional duties as Acting Governor of Vava’u.  In April of that year he also took on the portfolio of Acting Minister for Defence.

He was Ambassador to Cuba from February to August 2004, accredited concurrently to Chile and Mexico, and serving as High Commissioner (Ambassador) to Canada.  While serving a previous term as Permanent Representative to the United Nations between 1999 and August 2004, he was named Ambassador to the United States in 2000.

Between 1983 and 1986, Mr. Taumoepeau-Tupou was posted as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, accredited also to Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United States, European Commission and the European Economic Community before returning home as Secretary for Foreign Affairs.  He previously held that post in 1979.

Having joined the civil service in 1969 as an Assistant Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Taumoepeau-Tupou’s first overseas posting, in 1973, was to the United Kingdom, where he was First Secretary at the High Commission in London.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the East-West Center, University of Hawaii.

Born on 14 march 1943, Mr. Taumoepeau-Tupou is a widower with four children.

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*     This supersedes BIO/3271 of 21 January 2000.

For information media • not an official record