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

Alex Van Meeuwen, the new Permanent Representative of Belgium 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. Van Meeuwen was, from 2001, Director-General of Policy at the Foreign Ministry of Belgium. From 1999 to 2001, he was Deputy Chef de Cabinet of the Vice-Prime Minister, prior to which, from 1997, he was Councillor with the Permanent Mission of Belgium to the European Union in Brussels.

From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Van Meeuwen worked in the Central Administration of Belgium, where he was Head of Transatlantic, Ex-Yugoslavia, OSCE and Council of Europe Relations Services. Between 1990 and 1994, he was First Secretary and then Councillor with the Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva. From 1987 to 1990, he was Secretary, then First Secretary with the Permanent Mission to the European Economic Community in Brussels.

Between 1984 and 1987, Mr. Van Meeuwen worked in the Central Administration, where he was Secretary of European Coordination. In addition to other assignments with the Central Administration, his foreign postings include being an Attaché at the Belgian Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon from 1982 to 1984; being posted to the General Consulate in Rotterdam in 1981; and being an Attaché at the Belgian Embassy in Madrid in 1980.

Mr. Van Meeuwen holds a License in law, and a Masters in international relations.

Mr. Van Meeuwen was born in Juprelle, Belgium, on 10 October 1951.