OPR - Thursday, 19th October, 2006

The President of Malta, H.E. Dr. Edward Fenech Adami, was presented with the Letters of Credence by H.E. Mr. Andres Tomasberg - Ambassador of Estonia, and with Letters of Commission by H.E. Mr. Alex Himelfarb -  High Commissioner of Canada.

The ceremonies took place in the Ambassadors’ Room at The Palace, Valletta.

This afternoon, the President and Mrs. Fenech Adami will host the newly accredited Ambassadors to an official luncheon at San Anton Palace.

 - - - - - -

Profile: H.E. Mr. Andres Tomasberg - Ambassador of Estonia

H.E. Mr. Andres Tomasberg was born in January 1960.  In 1979 he graduated form the Tallinn 2^nd Technical School in photography. In1988 he graduated from University of Tartu with a degree in French language and literature while in 1992 he followed a course on consular and diplomatic law and practice at the International Institute of Administration in Paris.

Between 1980 – 1984 he was assistant to film director and operator at Tallinnfilm and Eesti Telefilm and from 1988 to 1991 he worked as editor and senior editor at publishing houses Eesti Raamat and Olion.

His diplomatic career started in 1991 when he became Deputy Head of Information Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia. In1992 he became advisor in the Political Department and Director of the Western European Bureau. He served other high ranking positions such as Ambassador to France (1993 – 1997), Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and to the Portuguese Republic (1995 – 1997), Ambassador of Turkey (1998 – 2004), Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain (2000 – 2004), Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain (2000 – 2004) and Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morrocco. In 2004 he was appointed Chef de Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Tomasberg speaks French, Spanish, Italian, English, Finnish and Russian. The ambassador is married and has three children.

The President of Malta is presented with letters of Credence by the Ambassador of Estonia

Profile: H.E. Mr. Alex Himelfarb -  High Commissioner of Canada

H.E. Mr Alexander Himelfarb was born in 1947. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto where he obtained a Ph. D. in Sociology. Mr. Himelfarb joined the Public Service in 1981 with the Department of the Solicitor General of Canada.

He has held a number of positions of increasing responsibility since that time, including Director General, Planning and Systems Group, Planning and Management Branch with the Department of the Solicitor General of Canada; Executive Director of the National Parole Board; Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Social Policy Development with the Privy Council Office; and Associate Secretary of the Treasury Board.

While serving as Associate Secretary of the Treasury Board, he also headed the federal Task Force on the Social Union. In June 1999, Mr. Himelfarb became Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage, a position he held until his appointment as Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet in May 2002.

Before joining the Public Service, Mr. Himelfarb was a Professor of Sociology at the University of New Brunswick from 1972 to 1981. During this period, he undertook an executive Interchange with the Department of Justice as Head of the Unified Family Court Project from 1979 to 1981.

The President of Malta is presented with letters of Commission by the High Commissioner of Canada

 - - - - - -