The Washington Diplomat

Appointments - February 2007

Cyprus
Andreas S. Kakouris became ambassador of Cyprus to the United States on Dec. 6. Ambassador Kakouris previously served as ambassador to Ireland (2002-06), director of the Political Affairs Division (Multilateral Affairs) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2000-02), as well as deputy chief of mission of the Cypriot Embassy in Washington, D.C. (1996-2000). In addition, he served postings in the Cypriot Permanent Delegation to the European Commission in Brussels (1992-96), the Political Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1989-92), and the Cypriot Consulate-General and Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York (1984-88). Ambassador Kakouris holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from the University of Lancaster in the United Kingdom and a master’s degree in international affairs from Carleton University in Canada. He is married to Kareen Farrell Kakouris and has two children, Stephen and Andreana.

Yannis Michaelides assumed the position of deputy chief of mission on Sept. 1, replacing Haralambos Kafkarides, who departed the post on Aug. 31. Michaelides previously served in Nicosia as coordinator for the European Union Council of Foreign Ministers (2004-06) and in Brussels as Antici counselor at the Cypriot Permanent Representation to the EU (2000-04). In addition, he was a practicing lawyer and holds a master’s degree in European law from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Israel
Sallai Meridor became ambassador of Israel to the United States on Nov. 22. Ambassador Meridor previously served as chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the World Zionist Organization (WZO) from 1999 to 2005. Prior to this, he was treasurer of the Jewish Agency and WZO as well as head of the WZO Settlement Division. During his chairmanship, the Jewish Agency underwent a major transformation, focusing more on the younger generation and instituting initiatives such as the Masa national effort to bring 20,000 young adults per annum from the Diaspora for a yearlong formative experience in Israel. In addition, a global Jewish mobilization effort and a major emergency campaign was launched, the internal budget of the Jewish agency was balanced, the agency restructured its governing bodies to include significant nonpolitical representation from Israeli society, and the first-ever Jewish People Policy Planning Institute was established. Prior to his work with the Jewish Agency, Ambassador Meridor served as an advisor to the minister of defense and minister of foreign affairs, playing a role in the peace process leading to the Madrid Peace Conference and participating in the negotiations that followed as representative of the Ministry of Defense, in addition to leading Israel’s Inter-Agency Steering Committee on Arms Control. Ambassador Meridor holds a bachelor’s degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and served as an intelligence officer in the Israeli Defense Forces. He is married No’a Meridor and has three daughters.

Pakistan
Faqir Syed Asif Hussain assumed the position of counselor on Oct. 16, replacing Farukh Amil, who departed the post on Aug. 25 to become Pakistan’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. Hussain previously served as Afghanistan director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as postings in the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations, embassies in Egypt and Bahrain, and the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. He is married and has three children.

Philippines
Willy C. Gaa became ambassador of the Philippines to the United States on Nov. 21. Ambassador Gaa has served as ambassador on a number of occasions, including to China (2003-06), Australia with nonresident status to Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu (2002-03), as well as ambassador to Libya with nonresident status to Tunisia, Malta and Niger (1992-97). In addition, he was consul general of the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles and in New York, respectively, as well as deputy consul general in Los Angeles (1987-90), consul in New York (1981-85), and vice consul, subsequently consul, in San Francisco (1975-70). Ambassador Gaa, who joined the Foreign Service in 1974, has also served in various capacities in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, including principal assistant in the Office of Administration (1975), secretary with the Board of Foreign Service Administration and Board of Foreign Service Examiners (1985), acting chief coordinator in the Office of the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs (1985-86), director of the Office of Middle East and African Affairs (1986), executive director of the Office of Consular Services (1986-87), and assistant secretary of the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs (1999-2002). Ambassador Gaa holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Manuel L. Quezon University, a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of the Philippines, and a master’s degree in law focusing on international legal studies from New York University. His previous legal work experience was as a tax and compliance attorney at Petrophil Corporation (1974-75) and trial attorney at the Office of the Solicitor General (1971-74). He is married to Erlinda Concepcion and has two sons, Wendell and Warren.

Syria
Manal Kaddoura assumed the position of attaché on Dec. 11, having previously worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.