UNIS/BIO/651
3 October 2002

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CROATIA
PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

VIENNA, 3 October (UN Information Service) – The new Permanent Representative of Croatia to the United Nations (Vienna), Vladimir Matek, presented his credentials today to Antonio Maria Costa, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV).

Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Martek was Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and from 1996 to 2000 he served as Ambassador to the Council of Europe. From 1993 to 1996 he was Head of Staff at the Minister’s Office and in 1995 he served as Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participating in peace negotiations on former Yugoslavia in Geneva, Vienna, Washington D.C. and Dayton. From 1992 to 1993 Mr. Matek was Head of the European Integration Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Before Mr. Matek joined Croatia’s Foreign Service he was a journalist for several Croatian newspapers. Between 1984 and 1988 he served as permanent envoy to Paris and editor of International Affairs Section at ‘Večernji list’. He started his career in 1966 as a freelancer for ‘Studenski list’ and other newspapers in Zagreb.

Born on 23 July 1948 in Zagreb, Mr. Matek holds a degree in medical science from the University of Zagreb.

He is married with two children.


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