OPR - Thursday, 23rd November, 2006

 The President of Malta, H.E. Dr. Edward Fenech Adami, was presented with the Letters of Credence by H.E. Ms. Astra Kurme, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia and H.E. Mr. Gideon Meir Ambassador of the State of Israel.

Both 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.

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Profile: H.E. Ms. Astra Kurme, Ambassador of Latvia

H.E. Ms. Astra Kurme, Ambassador of Latvia was born in September 1966 in Latvia. In 1990 she graduated with a Master’s Degree in Solid State Physics, faculty of Physics and Mathematics, University of Latvia. She also studied International Relations at the University of Latvia (1993 -1994) and International Finance Management at the Boston University (1998 – 1999).

The Ambassador started her diplomatic career within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia in 1993 when she worked as Senior Desk Officer at the EU Policy Division in the Department of International Economic Relations. A year later she worked at the European Commission. Between 1995-1999 she was posted in Brussels as second secretary at the Mission of the Republic of Latvia to the EU. During the year 1999 she served as First Secretary at the Task Force for the Preparation of the accession negotiations.  The Ambassador was appointed Director of the Finance Department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as from 1999 to 2004.

She held other high ranking position such as The Head of the Minister’s Cabinet, Ambassador at Large (2004 – 2005) and Deputy-Secretary of State on EU issues, First Political Directorate both within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has been serving as Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the Italian Republic since 2006.

The Ambassador speaks English, French, Russian and Italian.

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

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Profile: H.E. Mr. Gideon Meir, Ambassador of the State of Israel.

Ambassador Gideon Meir is 59 years old.  He was born in Jerusalem on 8^th January 1947. 

The Ambassador completed the Military Service of the Israel Defence Forces in 1967. In 1972 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Sciences and Geography, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  In 1985 he graduated Master of Arts in Public Administration.

He started his political career as assistant at the Personnel Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem in 1973. He was then posted to the United States of America where he served as Consul and Administrative Officer at the Embassy of Israel.  Between 1982 and 1985 he became deputy Director of Personnel Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador was posted to the Embassy of Israel in Canada between 1985 – 1988 as Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission.

When he served as director at the Training Division within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem (1988 – 1991) he had particular responsibilities for the training of all diplomatic staff members, including Ambassadors.

He held other high-ranking positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs such as Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Israel (1991 – 1995), in the United Kingdom; Advisor to the Foreign Affairs Minister on World Jewish Affairs (1995 – 1998) and Deputy Director General of Media and Public Affairs (2000 – 2006).   Between 1998 and 2000 he was also Executive Director of Hadassah Network in Israel.

This year he has also been appointed as Ambassador of Israel in Italy.

He is married to Mme. Amra nee Cohen, a Professor of Biblical Studies, McGill University, Canada, and has three children, Adi, Irit and Noa. 

The President of Malta is presented with letters of Commission by the Ambassador of Israel

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