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

Ms. Frances Victoria Victoria Velho Rodrigues, the new Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented her credentials to Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Prior to her appointment to Geneva, since 2000, Ms. Velho Rodrigues had been serving as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique, a position in which she had also served in from 1995 to 1999. From 1995 to 2005, she was also tasked with implementing the Lomé Convention and, later, the Cotonou Agreement – a partnership between the European Union and 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific States.

Ms. Velho Rodrigues served as Ambassador of Mozambique to Austria from 1990 to 1995, and as Ambassador to Greece from 1992 to 1995. She was Ambassador to Luxembourg from 1988 to 1995. From 1985 to 1995, she was Ambassador to Belgium, as well as Permanent Representative to the European Communities. She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in 1977.

Ms. Velho Rodrigues studied economics in Mozambique, and has diplomas from bodies in Geneva, Switzerland; Florence, Italy; and the United States. She has received a number of distinctions and honours.

Ms. Velho Rodrigues was born in Maputo on 30 April 1952.

For use of the information media; not an official record

CR06023E