Baabda Palace witnessed today credentials’ representations by President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, for seven new ambassadors accredited to Lebanon.
The Ambassadors are: Korean Ambassador, Park IL, Cote d'Ivoire Ambassador, Kouame Christophe KOUAKOU, Hungarian Ambassador, Ferenc CSILLAG, Lithuanian Ambassador, Arturas GAILIUNAS, Mauritanian Ambassador, Ahmado Mohammad Al-Razi, Ghanaian Ambassador, Obed Boamah AKWA, and Kenyan Ambassador, Halima Abdille MOHAMUD.
The ceremony was attended by Foreign Affairs Minister, Abdullah Bou Habib, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hani Shmeitli, Director General of Protocols at the Presidential Palace, Dr. Nabil Shedid, and Director of Protocols at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Abeer Ali.
Upon the ambassadors’ arrival, the approved ceremonies were held. The army music played the anthem of the country represented by each ambassador, while flags were hoisted on the mast of the Presidential Palace alongside the Lebanese flag.
Then, each ambassador saluted the flag, before entering the October 22 Salon amidst two rows of spears, and from there to the ambassadors’ salon, where he presented his credentials to President Aoun and the members of his diplomatic mission.
Upon their departure, the Lebanese army music played the Lebanese national anthem.
The ambassadors conveyed the greetings of their heads of state, and wished the President success in his national responsibilities, assuring him to work to strengthen relations between Lebanon and their countries. For his part, the President conveyed his greetings to the ambassadors to their heads of state, wishing them success in their diplomatic missions.
The following is a brief biography of the ambassadors who presented their credentials today:
Korean Ambassador Park IL:
-Holds a BA in International Relations from Seoul University in 1991, and a MA in International Politics from the Monerai Institute of International Studies in California in 2002.
-Assumed many positions, since joining his country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1997.
-Appointed first secretary at his country’s embassy in Austria, before he was appointed director of the Disarmament Department of the Office of International Organizations in his country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
-Appointed Director General of the Disarmament Department of his country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Cote d’Ivoire Ambassador Kouame Christophe KOUAKOU:
-Holds a license from the Diplomatic Institute in Cairo, and a high-level license from the National Institute of Administration - the diplomatic branch.
-Holds a master’s degree in public administrative law.
-Assumed many administrative and diplomatic positions, and appointed as an advisor at his country’s embassy in Ethiopia, before he was appointed as a senior advisor at the same embassy.
-Held the position of Director of Integration and Cooperation in the Ministry of State for Integration Affairs in his country, before he was appointed as a senior advisor to his country’s embassy in Washington.
-Appointed Chargé d’Affairs at his country’s embassy in Washington, before he was appointed Consul General in New York.
- On February 19, 2018, he was promoted to the rank of ambassador, and then was appointed Director of the International Organizations Department in his country.
Hungarian Ambassador Ferenc CSILLAG:
-Holds a BA in International Relations and Economics from the Moscow University of International Relations MGIMO, and a post-graduate license in Public Administration and International and Consular Issues from the Hungarian Institute of Public Administration.
-Assumed several administrative and diplomatic positions, as he was appointed cultural and media attaché for his country’s embassy in Baghdad, before being appointed head of the administrative and consular department at the same embassy.
-Worked in the Department of Africa and the Middle East in his country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he headed the Libya, Egypt and Sudan department, before he was appointed as first secretary of his country’s embassy in Tripoli, the West.
-Appointed once again in the Africa and Middle East Department in his country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as head of the Libya, Egypt, Sudan, and Middle East peace negotiations departments.
-Appointed as a resident ambassador for his country in Qatar, and then as a resident ambassador to Kuwait and a non-resident to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
-Appointed as his country’s ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, before he was appointed head of the Office of Growth Affairs and Relations with Southern Countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in his country.
Lithuanian Ambassador Arturas GAILIUNAS:
-Holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Vilnius University in Lithuania.
-Assumed several positions as he worked in the Ministry of the Interior in his country before moving to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he initially held the position of third secretary for Northern Europe in the political department of the ministry.
-Appointed as First Secretary and Adviser for Eastern Europe in the European Relations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before taking over the head of the Political Analysis, Planning and Growth Policies Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
-Appointed in his country’s permanent mission to the United Nations organizations at its headquarters in Geneva.
-Headed his country's mission to the Palestinian authorities.
-Appointed as an advisor in the strategic reading team of his country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mauritanian Ambassador, Ahmadou Mohamed El-Razi:
-Holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Nouakchott.
- Followed several training courses, at the International Training Center in Toulouse, France, in the field of budget preparation and implementation, and at the National Institute of Transportation in Paris in the field of financial and accounting management.
-Assumed several administrative positions, as he worked as head of the Budget and Financial Studies Department, in addition to the Department of Management Control.
-Appointed as a member of the post and transportation restructuring committee in his country, before he was appointed as the head of the department of collection and follow-up of departments, then appointed as the financial and administrative director of “Moretel Mobile”.
-Appointed as Minister Delegate to the Minister of State for Education, in charge of basic education.
Ghanaian Ambassador Obed Boamah AKWA:
-Assumed several positions in the Ghanaian army.
-Managed logistical and administrative operations, during which he achieved several successes.
-Holds a Master of Science, majoring in global security, from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom.
-Holds a Master’s degree in Defense and Strategic Sciences from the University of Madras, India.
-Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Administrative Sciences from the Institute of Administrative Sciences in Accra.
-Attended several training courses, including a peacekeeping course in Pretoria in 2011.
-Loves writing, and has specialized articles published in his country as well as in Britain and India.
Kenyan Ambassador Halima Abdille MOHAMUD:
-Holds a Master of Arts from the University of Nairobi, and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Kenyatta University.
-Assumed several administrative positions, where she practiced education, and worked as a supervisory director in the National Bureau of Statistics, before being elected as a member of the Kenyan Parliament, where she was concerned with human rights issues, youth and women.
-Appointed as an executive member of the Kenya Women Parliamentarians Union, and then was appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Education, Media and Technology Committee of the Kenyan Parliament.
-Appointed as her country’s ambassador to Kuwait since 2019.
Source: National News Agency