The Washington Diplomat

Appointments - May 2007

Brazil

Antonio de Aguiar Patriota became ambassador of Brazil to the United States on Feb. 23. Ambassador Patriota previously served as undersecretary-general for political affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005-07), chief of staff (2004-05) and secretary for diplomatic planning (2002-03) to the minister of foreign relations, as well as deputy diplomatic advisor to the president of Brazil (1992-94) and advisor to the secretary-general of political affairs (1990-92). In addition, he served as minister counselor at Brazil’s Permanent Mission to the international organizations in Geneva (1999-2003)—during which time he was Brazil’s deputy permanent representative to the World Trade Organization (2001-02)—as well as political counselor at Brazil’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York (1994-99), head of the Economic Section at the Brazilian Embassy in Venezuela (1988-90), and political counselor at the Brazilian Embassy in China (1987-88). After having earned a diploma in philosophy from the University of Geneva, Ambassador Patriota graduated from Brazil’s diplomatic academy, the Rio Branco Institute, in 1979. He is married to Tania Cooper Patriota and has two sons.

Burundi
Edouard Bizimana assumed the position of first counselor on Feb. 28, replacing Zacharie Rwamaza, who departed the post on Jan. 10.

Laos
Phiane Philakone became ambassador of Laos to the United States on Feb. 22. Ambassador Philakone previously served as the Lao ambassador to the Philippines (2001-06), deputy governor of the Bank of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (1993-95), and managing director of the Banque Pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao, a state commercial bank of Laos (1990-92). In addition, he has held other prominent banking posts, including director of research (1980-89) and deputy director of administration (1975-79) for the Bank of the Lao PDR,
as well as director of administration for the Development Bank of Laos. Ambassador Philakone holds a bachelor’s degree in law and administration from the Institut Royal de Droit et d’Administration in Laos and a degree in public administration from the Institut International d’Administration Publique in Paris. He speaks French, English and Thai and is married to Somchit Philakone. The couple has three children.

Lithuania

Andrius Bruzga became ambassador of Lithuania to the United States on Feb. 26. Ambassador Bruzga previously served as the Lithuanian ambassador to Finland (2002-07), director of the First Bilateral Relations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1999-2002) and head of the ministry’s West European Division (1998-99). In addition, he served as counselor and later minister-counselor of political affairs at the Lithuanian Embassy in London (1996-98) and first secretary at the Lithuanian Embassy in Tel Aviv (1995-96). Ambassador Bruzga has also served numerous posts in the Department of State and Diplomatic Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including acting director (1993-95), deputy director (1992-93), first secretary (1992) and second secretary (1991-92). Ambassador Bruzga, who speaks English and Russian, holds a degree in English language and literature from Vilnius University. He has also completed several programs with Union College in New York, Leeds University in the United Kingdom, the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Germany, and the USIA International Visitor Program. Ambassador Bruzga is married to Imsre Darija Sabaliunas Bruzgiene and has a daughter and a son.

Mexico

Arturo Sarukhan Casamitjana became ambassador of Mexico to the United States on Feb. 27. Ambassador Sarukhan previously served as the top foreign policy advisor and international spokesman to current Mexican President Felipe Calderón during the presidential campaign and in the transition team. A career diplomat, he also served as consul general of Mexico in New York and as chief of staff to the secretary of foreign relations. For his posting in Washington, Ambassador Sarukhan will work to implement President Calderon’s priorities on the different issues of the Mexico-U.S. bilateral agenda. He is married to Verónica Valencia and has a baby daughter, Laia.

Micronesia
Dominic Maluchmai assumed the position of first secretary for political and cultural affairs in January.

Pakistan
Sarfaraz Husain assumed the position of consular attaché on Jan. 7, replacing Muhammad Gul Khatab Abbasi, who departed the post on Jan. 12. Husain previously served postings in Amman, Jordan (1998-2001), Lagos, Nigeria (1995-98), Kuwait City, Kuwait (1992-94), Dhaka, Bangladesh (1988-92), Beijing, China (1981-86) and Kinshasa, Zaire (1977-79).

Peru
Manuel Talavera assumed the position of minister, deputy chief of mission on Feb. 10, replacing Jorge F. Rubio, who departed the post on Jan. 31.

Slovak Republic
Andrej Droba assumed the position of deputy chief of mission in February, replacing Miroslav Wlachovsky, who departed the post in January. Droba previously served as director of the Office of the Deputy State Secretary (2005-07) and deputy chief of mission at the Slovak Permanent Mission to the United Nations (2001-05).

Zambia
Newstead L. Zimba assumed the position of minister-counselor having previously served as ambassador to Sweden and as Zambia’s high commissioner to Canada.