The Washington Diplomat

Appointments - November 2004

Botswana
• Poppy Majingo assumed the position of economic first secretary on Sept. 7, replacing Kgopodiso Moletsane, who departed the post on June 30. Majingo previously served as political first secretary at the Botswana Embassy in Zimbabwe (2000-04).

Ireland
• Dermot Brangan assumed the position of political counselor on Sept. 1, replacing Tom Russell, who departed the post on Aug. 31.
• Joe Hackett assumed the position of press officer on Sept. 1, replacing Sighle Doherty, who departed the post on Aug. 31.

Nepal
• Kedar Bhakta Shrestha became ambassador of Nepal to the United States on Sept. 15. Ambassador Shrestha, who joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1964, previously served as ambassador to the European Union and the Benelux (1997-2002), foreign secretary (1994-97), joint secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1992-94), and director of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Secretariat in Kathmandu (1987-92). In addition, he has held posts as counselor and deputy chief of mission of the Nepalese Embassy in Washington, D.C. (1980-84), first secretary to the Nepalese Permanent Mission to the United Nations (1973-77), and second secretary at the Nepalese Embassy in Germany (1965-69), as well as various other posts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including joint secretary of the Far East and Southeast Asia (1984-87) and undersecretary and deputy chief of protocol (1977-80). Ambassador Shrestha was educated at Tri-Chandra College and holds a master’s degree in political science and international affairs from the University of Bombay. He is m arried to Shanta Shrestha and has three children.

Peru
• Marirene Muniz assumed the position of third secretary and functionary in the Political Department on Sept. 1. Muniz previously served as a historian and diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2002.
Javier Salas assumed the position of third secretary and functionary in the Cultural Department on Sept. 1. Salas previously served as a translator and a diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2002.

Qatar
• Hamad Bin Mohamed Al-Khalifa assumed the position of minister, deputy chief of mission on Sept. 20, replacing Rashid A. Al-Khater. Al-Khalifa previously served as chargé d’affaires of the Qatari Embassy in Iraq from September 1998 to March 2003.

Slovakia
• Roman Mockovcak assumed the position of counselor on Sept. 27.

Sweden
• Anders Ahnlid assumed the position of minister, head of the Department for Trade and Economic Affairs, replacing Cecilia Julin.
• Jörgen Halldin assumed the position of counselor responsible for trade promotion and policy, replacing Klas Molin.
• Pontus Järborg assumed the position of minister, consul-general and head of administration and consular affairs, replacing Peter Lindgren.
• Anette Nilsson assumed the position of first secretary in the Political Department, replacing Mikaela Kumlin-Granit.
• Lisa Svensson assumed the newly created position of second secretary in the Trade and Consular Department.