NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF PORTUGAL PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNOG

Francisco Manuel da Fonseca Xavier Esteves, the new Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his credentials to Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Mr. da Fonseca Xavier Esteves had been serving, since 2002, as Portugal's Ambassador to Angola. From 2001 to 2002, he was Portugal’s representative to the European Union’s Political and Security Committee in Brussels.

Having begun his diplomatic career in 1979, Mr. da Fonseca Xavier Esteves has been a member of Portugal’s delegation to the North Atlantic Council, from 1982 to 1987. He has served at a number of Portuguese embassies abroad, including in Maputo, Mozabmique (1987-1991), in London, United Kingdom (1994-1996), and in Brasilia, Brazil (1996-2000). From 1991 to 1994, he served as a Diplomatic Adviser to the Prime Minister.

Mr. da Fonseca Xavier Esteves graduated from the University of Lisbon with a degree in History.

Married, with two children, Mr. da Fonseca Xavier Esteves was born in Lisbon on 21 July 1954.

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