BIO/3637

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF FINLAND PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

15/02/2005
Press Release
BIO/3637

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF FINLAND PRESENTS CREDENTIALS


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


The new Permanent Representative of Finland, Kirsti Eeva Helena Lintonen, presented her credentials to Secretary-General Kofi Annan today.


Prior to her appointment, since 2000, Ms. Lintonen served as her country’s Ambassador in Pretoria, South Africa.  Simultaneously, from 2001 to 2005, she represented Finland in Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia and Swaziland, and was her country’s representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC).


From 1996 to 2000, she held the post of Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also serving 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.


Ms. Lintonen was Deputy Director General for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland from 1994 to 1996, and from 1990 to 1994, she served as Finland’s Ambassador in Windhoek, Namibia.


In 1971, Ms. Lintonen began her distinguished diplomatic career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Throughout the years, she occupied progressively responsible positions within the Ministry and worked in several capitals, including Brussels, Berlin, Belgrade and London.  From 1983 to 1987, she served as Special Adviser to the Prime Minister in Foreign Policy and International Affairs, and from 1987 to 1990, she worked as Deputy Ambassador in Stockholm.


Ms. Lintonen holds a Master of Political Sciences degree, which she received in 1969 from HelsinkiUniversity.


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


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For information media. Not an official record.