The Washington Diplomat

Appointments - February 2008

Denmark
Michael S.B. Jensen assumed the position of head of administration on Nov. 1, replacing Mette Rosenby, who departed the post on Oct. 31.

Nepal
Suresh Chandra Chalise became ambassador of Nepal on Nov. 14, having previously served as an advisor to the Nepalese prime minister since 2006, as well as advisor to the president of the Nepali Congress on international affairs since 2003. He has also worked at various international organizations such as the U.N. Development Programme, written more than a dozen publications and research articles, and served fellowships in Germany and India. Ambassador Chalise graduated from the Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies in Hawaii and holds a doctorate in sociology from Banaras Hindu University in India and post-doctorate degrees in political sociology and development sociology from the University of Dortmund and the University of Justus Liebig in Germany.

New Zealand
Commodore David Anson assumed the position of defense attaché on Dec. 14, replacing Commodore Patrick Williams.

Mike Shaw assumed the position of first secretary on Dec. 14, replacing Jeff McAlister.

Sweden
Jonas Hafström became ambassador of Sweden to the United States on Aug. 29. Ambassador Hafström previously served as Sweden’s ambassador to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Burma/Myanmar (2004-07), prior to which he was a member of the Swedish Defense Committee (1998-99), as well as deputy director-general and head of the Department for Consular Affairs and Civil Law in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2000-04). In addition, he has served various postings under former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Moderate Party Carl Bildt, including: foreign policy advisor (1987-2000), head of the party’s International Bureau (1994-2000), assistant undersecretary (1991-94), and press secretary (1987-91). Ambassador Hafström, a noncommissioned reserve captain in the Swedish Army, also held numerous other public sector postings throughout the 1980s, including head of section in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, first secretary to the Swedish Embassy in Washington and in Tehran, as well as press secretary to the minister of justice. Ambassador Hafström holds a bachelor’s of law degree from Sweden’s Lund University. He is married to Eva Hafström and they have three children.

Tunisia
Hergueli Mohamed Raed assumed the position of first secretary in August—his first posting overseas—replacing Ali Ben Said, who departed the post in August.

Turkey
Ihsan Kiziltan assumed the position of counselor on Nov. 1, having previously served as head of the Department of NATO and International Security Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005-07) and as a member of the Turkish Permanent Delegation to NATO in Brussels (2001-05).

Zimbabwe
Abigal Nyamapfeni assumed the position of second secretary, administration, on Nov. 19, replacing Loreta Evelyn Mutyora, who departed the post on Oct. 29.