UNIS/BIO/713
27 July 2004
New Permanent Representative of Switzerland Presents Credentials
VIENNA, 27 July (UN Information Service) -- The new Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Rudolf Schaller, presented his credentials today to Antonio Maria Costa, Director-General, UNOV.
Mr. Schaller will also be serving as Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and to other international organizations.
Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Schaller was serving as Ambassador to South Africa, and was also accredited to Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and Mauritius (from March 2000). From 1993 to 2000, he served as Ambassador to Spain. In 1988, he was nominated Secretary General of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs by the Swiss Government. The nomination followed his appointment to the Directorate for Political Affairs in 1983, at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Headquarters in Berne, where he performed special tasks for the Secretary of State till 1987.
Mr. Schaller studied law in Basel and Geneva and holds a doctorate in law.
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