The Washington Diplomat

Appointments - May 2009

Afghanistan
Peroz Shokory assumed the position of third secretary on March 1.

Azerbaijan
Khazar Ibrahim assumed the position of deputy chief of mission on March 3, having previously served in various political and political-military positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including spokesman of the ministry, as well as a former posting in the embassy in Washington from 2002 to 2005.

Cambodia
Hem Heng was appointed ambassador of Cambodia to the United States on Jan. 29. Ambassador Heng previously served as director of the Asia 2 Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2006-08; 2001-04), advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong (2004-08), and director of information and documentation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2004-06). In addition, Ambassador Heng served as minister counselor at the Cambodian Embassy in India (1998-2001) and second secretary at the embassy in Vietnam (1985-88), as well as various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including: deputy director-general of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Directorate (1996-98), deputy director of the Economic Cooperation Department (1992-96), bureau chief of the Department of Information (1990-92), and bureau chief of the Protocol Department (1989-90; 1983-85). Ambassador Heng holds a high diploma from the Agricultural School of Prek Leap in Cambodia; a public administration certificate from the Royal School of Administration in Cambodia; a diploma in international law, international organizations and diplomacy from the Indian Academy of International Law and Diplomacy in New Delhi; and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Delhi in India. He speaks English and French, and is married with three sons.

Eritrea
Abraham Kahsai assumed the position of deputy chief of mission on Feb. 23, replacing Tsehaye Fassil, who departed the post Dec. 31.

Fiji
Winston Thompson was appointed ambassador of Fiji to the United States on April 10. A former Telecom Fiji chief executive, Ambassador Thompson recently resigned from the Fiji Television Board of Directors after 10 years of service to take up his new appointment in Washington.

Peru
Luis Valdivieso was appointed ambassador of Peru to the United States on April 3. Ambassador Valdivieso previously served as Peru’s minister of finance and economy since July 2008. A Peruvian economist, Ambassador Valdivieso was a former official and advisor with the International Monetary Fund for 30 years. He graduated as an economist from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and obtained his doctorate from the University of Boston.

Poland
Pawel Bogdziewicz departed the post of second secretary on Dec. 13.

Patrycja Grochecka assumed the position of second secretary on Dec. 2.

Michal Sikorski assumed the position of first secretary on Feb. 2.

South Korea
Han Duk-soo was appointed ambassador of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) on March 20. Ambassador Han previously served as prime minister (2007-09) and deputy prime minister (2005-07), during which time he was also minister of the Ministry of Finance and Economy. He was also senior secretary (2001-05) and secretary (1993-94) to the president for economic affairs, ambassador of the Korean Permanent Delegation to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (2001), minister for trade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (1998-2001), vice minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (1997-98), and commissioner of the Korean Industrial Property Office (1996-97). In addition, Ambassador Han served in various positions in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), including: assistant minister for international trade (MOTIE; 1994-96), assistant minister for planning and management (MOTIE; 1994), director-general of the Electronics and Information Industry Bureau (MTI; 1992-93), director-general of the Industrial Policy Bureau (MTI; 1990-92), director-general of the Small and Medium Enterprise Bureau (MTI; 1989-90), director of the Bureau of Machinery Industry (MTI; 1987-89), and director of the Bureau of Industry Policy (MTI; 1985-87). Ambassador Han graduated from the Department of Economics at Seoul National University and holds a master’s and a doctorate in economics from Harvard University.

Tunisia
Habib Mansour was appointed ambassador of Tunisia to the United States on April 3. Ambassador Mansour previously served as Tunisia’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York since 2007. In addition, he was the Tunisian ambassador to Cyprus (2006-07) and to Italy (2005-07), with residence in Rome, as well as permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva (2002-04). He was also ambassador to several other nations, including ambassador to Spain (1997-2001), to Chile (1995-97), to Argentina (1994-97), and to what was then Zaire (1990-92). Ambassador Mansour also served as chargé de mission and head of the Human Rights Unit to the Tunisian minister of foreign affairs (2001-02), and as chargé de mission in the Cabinet of the foreign affairs minister (1992-94). Other postings include consul general to Belgium and Luxembourg (1988-90), first counselor at the Tunisian Embassy in the Czech Republic (1984-88), first secretary and counselor at the embassy in Qatar (1983-84), and consul to West Berlin (1981-82). Ambassador Mansour holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Lycee de garcons de Sousse in Tunisia, and he studied at the University of Tunis, School of Law and Economic Sciences, from 1967 to 1971, graduating in economic sciences. He is fluent in Arabic, French, English and Spanish, and is married with four children.