The Washington Diplomat

Appointments - September 2005

Algeria
• Amine Kherbi became ambassador of Algeria to the United States on May 26. Ambassador Kherbi, a career diplomat, previously served as adviser of international security issues to the Algerian president (June 2002), minister-delegate for foreign affairs (June 2001), ambassador to China (1996-2001), and ambassador to Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Indonesia and Austria as well as permanent representative to the International Organizations in Vienna (1980-91). He also served various posts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including director-general of multilateral relations (1992-96), director of political affairs for Western Europe and Northern America (1977-80), and counselor in the Economic and Finance Department (1972). In addition, Ambassador Kherbi was adviser to the minister of agriculture and permanent secretary on the Committee of Coordination (1968-70), head of regional planning at the Governorate of Algiers (1970-72), and counselor for economic affairs and deputy permanent representative at the Algerian Permanent Mission to the United Nations (1973-77). While preparing his doctorate in political sciences at Algiers University, he also served in the Office of the President as an assistant in charge of economic affairs and international relations (1967-68). Ambassador Kherbi holds a master’s degree in social sciences from Uppsala University in Sweden and is married with three children.

Congo, Republic of
• Henri Blaise Gotienne assumed the position of minister-counselor on July 25, having previously served as minister-counselor in the Congolese Embassy in Morocco and the Congolese Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.

Iceland
• Olafur Sigurdsson assumed the position of deputy chief of mission on Aug. 1, replacing Gudni Bragason, who departed the post on July 31. Sigurdsson previously served as the deputy chief of mission at the Icelandic Embassy in London (2000-05), and as counselor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1995-2000).

Kenya
• Michael S. Sumukwo departed the post of administrative attaché on Aug. 5.

Latvia
• Inga Ozola assumed the position of attaché/assistant to the ambassador on Aug. 1, replacing Ilze Milta, who departed the position on Sept. 1.

Lebanon
• Narwan Francis assumed the position of second secretary in June, having previously served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beirut.
• Rola Noureddine departed the post of first secretary on July 27.

Namibia
• Renate Gaes departed the post of third secretary on June 25.

Uruguay
• Carlos Gianelli Derois became ambassador of Uruguay to the United States on July 11. Ambassador Gianelli previously served as ambassador to the Netherlands (2003-05), director-general of international economic affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and coordinator of the free trade agreement negotiations with Mexico (2000-03), as well as ambassador to Mexico with concurrent accreditation to the Bahamas (1995-2000). He also served as director-general for political affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1993-95), ambassador to Saudi Arabia with concurrent accreditation to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman (1991-93), and the Uruguayan alternative representative to the United Nations in New York (1987-91). In addition, Ambassador Gianelli was head of cabinet for the secretary-general of the Organization of Latin American Economic Integration (1984-87), and held posts in the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington (1983-84), the International Technical Cooperation Department within the President of the Republic (1981-82), and the Economic Integration Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1979-81). Ambassador Gianelli holds a master’s degree in social studies from the Bariloche Foundation in Argentina and a doctorate in law and social studies from the Law and Social Studies Faculty in Montevideo. He speaks Spanish, English, Italian and French and is married with three children.