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

Minelik Alemu Getahun, the new Permanent Representative of Ethiopia 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. Getahun served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Ethiopian embassy to the Benelux countries and the European Union, from April to November 2010. From 2001 to 2010, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Acting Director-General at the International Law and Consular Affairs Directorate-General (2007 to 2010), as Counsellor at the Legal Affairs General Directorate (2002 to 2006), and as First Secretary at the Legal Affairs General Directorate (2001 to 2002). Mr. Getahun has previously served as First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the United Nations Office at Geneva, from 1999 to 2001, and as Second Secretary at the Mission from 1993 to 1999. From 1990 to 1993, he acted as Second Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa.

The new Permanent Representative of Ethiopia has represented Ethiopia in conferences and meetings of the African Union, the United Nations, the International Labour Organization and those relating to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and its Additional Protocols. He was a member of the Nile Technical Advisory Committee, the Eastern Nile Subsidiary Action Programme team, the Ethiopian Negotiation Team to the Nile Basin Comprehensive Framework Agreement Negotiations and the Ethiopia Sudan Joint Boundary Commission.

Mr. Getahun has authored a number of publications on law, cooperation and reporting obligations and has attended various programmes and courses offered by the United Nations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He holds a Master’s degree in Public International Law from University College London (2005) and a Bachelor’s degree in law from Addis Ababa University (1990). Born on 27 January 1966, Mr. Getahun is married with three children.


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CR11/001E