UNIS/BIO/715
28 July 2004
New Permanent Representative of Iceland Presents Credentials
VIENNA, 28 July (UN Information Service) -- The New Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Sveinn Björnsson, presented his credentials today to Antonio Maria Costa, Director-General, UNOV.
Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Björnsson served as Chief of Protocol in the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also as Ambassador, Member of the Committee of Senior Officials, Council of the Baltic Sea States.
Mr. Björnsson had also served as Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg from 1997 to 2001 and as President of the Committee of Ministers Deputies during Iceland’s Chairmanship of the Council of Europe in 1999.
Further, he had worked as Ambassador on special assignment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1996 to 1997, as Secretary General of the Office of the President of Iceland between 1992-1996, and as Deputy Permanent Secretary and Director of Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1990-1992).
Mr. Björnsson studied at the University of Iceland, Reykjavik. He is married and has two children.
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