The Washington Diplomat

Appointments, February 2002

Bulgaria

• Emil Savov Yalnazov became chargé d’affaires of Bulgaria to the United States in January. Yalnazov previously served as the deputy chief of mission since August 2001, and as deputy head of the International Security Directorate at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1998 to 2001. He also held posts as a diplomat at the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria to the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and other international organizations in Vienna from 1995 to 1998. Yalnazov earned a master’s degree and doctorate in international relations from the Moscow State Institute for International Relations. He speaks English, French, Spanish and Russian and is married with two children.

Burkina Faso

• Tertius Zongo became ambassador of Burkina Faso to the United States in January. Ambassador Zongo, who has an extensive background in economics and accounting, most recently served as the minister of Economy and Finances (1997-2001) and as the minister of Budget and Planning (1995-1997) at the Ministry of Economy. He also served as governor of Burkina Faso to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the African Bank of Development and the Islamic Bank of Development. In 1992, he worked as director general of Cooperation at the Ministry of Finances and Plannification and as chief of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation from 1988 to 1992. He has also been a professor of accounting, business economy and financial analysis at the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. Ambassador Zongo holds a master’s degree in economic sciences from the Institute of Enterprises Administration in France.

Denmark

• Niels Boel Abrahamsem assumed the position of minister-counselor of economics on Sept. 1, replacing Lars Moller who departed Washington on Aug. 1.

• Karsten Ankjaer Jensen assumed the position of deputy chief of mission on Sept. 1, replacing Svend Boje Madsen who departed Washington on Aug. 1.

• Casper Nervil assumed the position of first secretary of economics on Sept. 1, replacing Svend Olling who departed Washington on Aug. 1.

• Steen Thorsted assumed the position of minister-counselor of food, agriculture and fisheries on Sept. 1, replacing Jorgen Mollegaard who departed Washington on Aug. 1.

Greece

• Elertherios Anghelopoulos assumed the position of deputy chief of mission on Jan. 30, replacing Alexios Christopoulos, who departed Washington on Jan. 25 for his new assignment as ambassador of Greece to Indonesia. Anghelopoulos previously served as the representative of Greece to the European Union and the political counselor at the Embassy of Greece in Moscow.

Nepal

• Jai Pratap Rana became the ambassador of Nepal to the United States in January. Before his appointment, Ambassador Rana was a Foreign Service officer for 31 years. During that time, he served as Nepal’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations and as Nepal’s ambassador to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Peru and Venezuela (1985-1999). While at the UN, he also held posts as the vice president of the General Assembly (1988) and chairman of the Political Committee of UNGA on International Security and Disarmament (1990). He holds a master’s degree in political science and has studied international affairs at the University of London and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He is married with three children.

Peru

• Allan Wagner became the ambassador of Peru to the United States in October. He previously served as ambassador of Peru to Spain (1988-1990) and to Venezuela (1991-1992). Ambassador Wagner also held posts as deputy chief of mission and the chargé d’affairs at the Embassy of Peru in Washington from 1983 to 1985 and as chief of the Economic Department from 1972 to 1974. In addition, he was the minister of foreign affairs of Peru from 1985-1988 and chief of the Political Department at the Embassy of Peru in Chile from 1978 to 1979. More recently, Ambassador Wagner served as the director of development, special counselor and permanent observer of the Latin American Economic System (SELA) to the United Nations. Throughout his career, he specialized in studies at the Peruvian Diplomatic Academy, Johns Hopkins University, Catholic University of Peru and the National University of San Marcos, Peru. He speaks English, French and Spanish and is married with five children.

Philippines

• Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia assumed the position of minister-consul general on Feb. 1, replacing Generoso G. Calonge who departed Washington on Jan. 31 and was reassigned to the Philippine Embassy in Moscow. Batoon-Garcia previously served as the minister for cultural matters from 1997 to 2002.

Tanzania

• Justa Nyange is scheduled to leave his post of first counselor in March.

• Joseph E. Sokoine assumed the position of first secretary on Feb. 1. Sokoine joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in 1996, working in the Department of Administration and Personnel until 1998 when he was transferred to the Department of Europe and America.

Ukraine

• Svyryba Serhii assumed the position of deputy trade representative on Jan. 22. Serhii is an expert in international law and previously worked in the law firm Magister and Partners Attorneys at Law.