The Washington Diplomat

Appointments - November 2006

Austria
Andreas Brandstaetter assumed the position of counselor (political and public diplomacy) on Oct. 2, replacing Johann Sattler, who departed the post on Oct. 2.

Wolfgang Renezeder assumed the position of director of press and information on Oct. 9, replacing Christoph Meran, who departed the post on Sept. 21.

Andreas Somogyi assumed the position of counselor (economic) on Sept. 9, replacing Marcus Bergmann, who departed the post on Aug. 11.

Bahrain
Shaikh Turki Al-Khalifa assumed the position of deputy chief of mission on Sept. 12, replacing Yasser Shaheen, who departed the post in July.

Cyprus
Yannis Michaelides assumed the position of counselor, deputy chief of mission on Sept. 1, replacing Haralambos Kafkarides, who departed the post on Aug. 31.

Czech Republic
Petr Kavan assumed the position of first secretary on Oct. 2, replacing Viktor Danielis, who departed the post on Sept. 29.

Egypt
Heba Pekry Philip Bassily assumed the position of second secretary on Aug. 31.

Ghana

Kwame Bawuah-Edusei became ambassador of Ghana to the United States on Sept. 5. He holds concurrent accreditation to Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Haiti and the Bahamas. Ambassador Bawuah-Edusei previously served as a businessman, humanitarian and a medical practitioner in both Ghana and the United States of America, including numerous medical clinics and centers in the Washington, D.C., area. In addition, he was Ghana’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva and Vienna, as well as to Switzerland and Austria. As one of the Ghanaian community’s leaders in North America, he lobbied the U.S. Congress, State Department and World Bank from 1996 to 2000 to ensure the sustainability of democracy in Ghana. In addition, he traveled extensively in deprived areas of northern Ghana, offering free medical care at his own expense from 1996 to 2004. He also coordinated the Howard University Medical Team visit to Ghana in 1993. As an ambassador, he helped to secure Ghana as host of UNCTAD XII in 2008, and under his watch, Ghana also joined the International Organization of Migration and the U.N. Commission for Refugees in 2005. He also served as chair of the African Ambassadors’ Group of the African Union in Geneva in the last quarter of 2005. Ambassador Bawuah-Edusei holds a bachelor’s degree in human biology and a medical degree from the University of Science and Technology in Ghana, having served his medical residency in family medicine at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. He is married with three children.

Italy
Massimo Ambrosetti assumed the position of first counselor on July 31, replacing Pasquale Ferrara, who departed the post on July 30.

Stefano Beltrame assumed the position of first counselor on Oct. 9, replacing Armando Varricchio, who departed the post on Aug. 15.

Giuseppe Perrone assumed the position of first counselor on July 27, replacing Massimo Drei, who departed the post on July 25.

Kenya
Peter Nicholas Rateng’Oginga Ogego became ambassador of Kenya to the United States on Sept. 5. Ambassador Ogego previously served as the Kenyan high commissioner for Canada and as ambassador to Cuba, as well several postings in the Office of the President, including commissioner of special programs, vice chairman of national disaster, and a member of the Emergency Response Committee. In addition, he was a consultant for various organizations in Nairobi, including donor agencies, the Development Communication Institute, the Centre for Institutional Development, Research and Consultancy Services, and the Social Development Network, as well as the lead consultant for Strategic Public Relations and Research Ltd. Ambassador Ogego was also the consulting director for the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation—an indigenous development charitable organization focusing on HIV/AIDS and poverty—and coordinator for the Nyanza Professional Caucus, an association of volunteer professionals from the Nyanza province. Ambassador Ogego, who is married, holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and international law and a master’s degree in public organization and management from Makerere University in Uganda, as well as a graduate certificate in development law, human rights and social justice from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague.

Malta
Christine Pace assumed the position of deputy chief of mission on Sept. 11, having previously served as European correspondent at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2003-06).

Moldova
Nicolae Chirtoaca became ambassador of Moldova to the United States on Sept. 8. Ambassador Chirtoaca previously served as director of the European Institute for Political Studies in Moldova (2003-06), director of the Euro-Atlantic Center of Moldova (1999-2006), and director of the Invisible College of Moldova (1998-2006). In addition, Ambassador Chirtoaca was senior state advisor to the prime minister, press secretary of the government (1999), vice chairman of the Liberal Party (1994-98), as well as state advisor to the Office of the President (1992-94).

Namibia
Morven M. Luswenyo assumed the position of deputy chief of mission on Aug. 15, replacing Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, who departed the post on July 17. Luswenyo previously served as minister-counselor at the Namibian Embassy in South Africa.

Swaziland
Lindine Cynthia Kunene assumed the position of first secretary (trade and investment) on July 19. Kunene holds a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration and a diploma in accounting and business studies.