Biographical Note

KIRSTI LINTONEN OF FINLAND CHAIRPERSON OF SECOND COMMITTEE

Kirsti Eeva Helena Lintonen, Permanent Representative of Finland, was elected Chairperson of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) on 24 May.  (See Press Release GA/10597.)

Before taking up her post in 2005, Ms. Lintonen was Ambassador to South Africa from 2000 and, from 2001, simultaneously represented Finland in Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia and Swaziland.  She was also the Finnish representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

From 1996 to 2000, she was Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also served on the governing councils of several international funds and banks, including the African Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Asian Development Bank.  She was Deputy Director-General for Political Affairs at the Foreign Ministry from 1994 to 1996.

Ms. Lintonen was Ambassador to Namibia from 1990 to 1994.

Beginning her distinguished diplomatic career at the Foreign Ministry in 1971, Ms. Lintonen occupied progressively responsible positions, working in several capitals, including Brussels, Berlin, Belgrade and London.  She was Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Policy and International Affairs from 1983 to 1987 and Deputy Ambassador in Stockholm, Sweden, from 1987 to 1990.

Ms. Lintonen holds a master’s degree in political sciences from Helsinki University.

Born on 23 May 1945 in Tampere, Finland, she is married with one son.

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*     This supersedes Press Release BIO/3637 of 15 February 2005.

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