Appointments (November, 2001) Armenia • Karine Afrikian assumed the position of first secretary on Oct. 21. Afrikian joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993, previously serving as head of North America at the Ministry. She has also worked at the Embassy of Armenia in Romania and Canada. Bahrain • Muhammad Abdul Ghaffar was appointed minister of state for foreign affairs on April 17. He previously served as ambassador of Bahrain to the United States from 1994 to 2001, ambassador to Canada from 1996 to 2001, and ambassador to Argentina from 1998 to 2001. Estonia • Toivo Klaar assumed the position of defense counselor on Oct. 4. Klaar previously served as the political adviser to the Estonian president. Gabon • Jules Marius Ogouebandja became ambassador of Gabon to the United States in October 2001. He previously served as ambassador to Spain from 1992 to 2001 and ambassador to Italy from 1987 to 1992. From 1979 to 1987, Ambassador Ogouebandja held posts as the head of studies, director of North and South America Department, and ambassador director of the Africa Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. He earned a diploma of advanced studies from the Institut d’Etudes Supérieures en Relations Internationales in Paris in 1978. Ambassador Ogouebandja is married with two children. Kazakhstan • Belat Temirbaev assumed the position of attaché in October 2001. Kenya • George Olago Owuor assumed the position of counselor on Aug. 3, replacing Felistas Khayumbi who departed Washington on Aug. 5. Malawi • Victor Geddes, an expert in trade and investment issues, assumed the position of counselor in September 2001. Philippines • Albert F. del Rosario became ambassador of the Philippines to the United States on Nov. 8. Ambassador del Rosario has held numerous corporate chairmanships and directorships, including top-level positions at the Metro Pacific Corp., the Philippine Indocoil Corp., the Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. As a leading executive in the private sector, Ambassador del Rosario joined official delegations during the state visits of President Corazon C. Aquino to the United States and of President Fidel V. Ramos to Indonesia. He has a bachelor of science degree in economics from New York University and is married with five children. Poland • Andrzey Roston assumed the position of attaché on Oct. 29. • Boguslaw Majewski left his position as counselor minister on Oct. 30. Suriname • Henry Lothar Illes became ambassador of Suriname to the United States and permanent representative to the Organization of American States in October 2001. This past year, he also worked as senior policy adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before his appointment, Ambassador Illes served as ambassador-at-large for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1997-2001), ambassador to Guyana (1994-1997), non-resident ambassador to Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica (1995-1997), deputy director of the National Planning Office of Suriname (1983-1994) and managing director of the foundation on the management of railway properties in Western Suriname (1981-1983). He is married with four children. Syria • Mohammed Hasanein Khaddam assumed the position of first secretary on Oct. 22. Khaddam served as second secretary at the Embassy of Syria in Cyprus from 1999 to 2001 and second secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1996 to 1999. Ukraine • Sergii Khudiiash assumed the position of second secretary on Nov. 4. An expert on economic issues, Khudiiash previously worked in the Ministry of Economy and the European Integration of Ukraine. • Leonid Pelypenko assumed the position of coun selor on Sept. 23, replacing Valerii Kalyta who departed Washington on Sept. 28. • Tetiana Zhmachenko left her position as first secretary on Oct. 31.