BIO/3283

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ESTONIA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

(Based on information received from the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

Merle Pajula, the new Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations, today presented her credentials to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Before her appointment, Mrs. Pajula was Director-General of the Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia. From 1995 to 1998, she was Second Secretary in charge of press and information issues at Estonia�s Embassy in Helsinki, Finland.

She served as Second Secretary in the Press and Information Department of her country�s Foreign Ministry from 1993 to 1995, and as Third Secretary in the same department before that.

Mrs. Pajula held various positions between 1983 and 1993, including senior librarian at the Estonian State Library, and as senior researcher at the Centre of Methodology for Folklore and Culture.

Mrs. Pajula, who was educated at the Tartu State University, speaks English, Russian and Finnish.

Born on 13 January 1960 in Tallinn, Estonia, she is married with two children.

* *** *

United Nations