UNIS/BIO/854
2 September 2008

New Permanent Representative of Lithuania Presents Credentials

VIENNA, 2 September (UN Information Service) - The new Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations (Vienna), H.E. Mr. Renatas Norkus, presented his credentials today to Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, Director-General, United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV).

Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Norkus served as Undersecretary for Defence Policy and International Relations, Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania, a post which he assumed in 2004.

Mr. Norkus has served in many capacities in the course of his career, among them: Deputy Security Policy Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2004), Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Lithuania to the United States (2003-04), Minister-Counsellor for Congressional Affairs, Embassy of Lithuania to the United States (2001-03), Deputy Head, Lithuanian Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Western European Union (WEU) (1999-2001), Head, Americas Division, Political Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1998-99), Scholar-in-residence, Institute of International Affairs, Rome (1996), Director, Defence Policy and Programmes Department, Ministry of National Defence (1994-98), Member, Lithuanian Delegation to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) Forum for Security Cooperation in Vienna (1992-93), Second Secretary, European Security and Co-operation Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1992), Third Secretary, Diplomatic Service, Central and Eastern Europe Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1991).

Mr. Norkus holds a Master's degree in Law from Vilnius University, Lithuania.

He is married and has three children.

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