NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ITALY PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

Biographical Note                                            BIO/3489*

                                                            4 April 2003

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ITALY PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

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

Marcello Spatafora, the new Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, presented his credentials today to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Spatafora was the Director General for the Multilateral Economic and Financial Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome since 2000.  Before that, he was Italy’s Ambassador to Albania, from 1997 to 1999, and Ambassador to Australia from 1993 to 1997.  Between 1991 and 1993, he was Head of the Arms Export Licensing Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  He also served as Chief of the Italian delegation responsible for organizing his country’s presidency of the European Economic Community from 1989 to 1990.

In addition, he was his country’s Ambassador to Malta from 1986 to 1989, and Ambassador to Malaysia from 1980 to 1986.

Having joined the diplomatic service in 1964, Mr. Spatafora has also served as Vice Consul in Paris (1968 to 1970) and Counsellor in Belgrade (1970 to 1973).  He was Counsellor and Chargé d’affaires in Beirut from 1975 to 1977.  In addition, he served in the Office of the Secretary-General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1977 to 1980.

Born in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1941, Mr. Spatafora graduated in International Law from the University of Pisa in 1962.  He is married and has one son.

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*      Reissued to correct information in second paragraph.