OPR- Thursday, 27th January, 2005

His Excellency Dr. Edward Fenech Adami, The President of Malta, was presented with the letters of credence by H.E. Mr. Ri Byong Ho, Ambassador of North Korea and by H.E. Dr. Bruno Spinner, Ambassador of Switzerland

The ceremony 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.

The curriculum vitae of H.E. Mr. Ri Byong Ho and Dr. Bruno Spinner follow.

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H.E. Mr. Ri Byong Ho was born in 16^th October 1948.

In the period 1970 – 1974 he was a student at the College of Training and worked for two years as a teacher in the same College. He then obtained a Post Graduate Degree at the University of International Relations.

The President with the Ambassador of North Korea

His duties within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs started in 1978 when he held the position of Desk Officer in the Ministry for almost ten years. He held various high-ranking positions including those of Third Secretary at the Embassy of North Korea in Sweden, Officer and Head of Section at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Second Secretary at the Embassy of North Korea in Sweden and Senior Officer and Vice Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2000 he was appointed as Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ambassador is married with children.

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H.E. Mr. Bruno Spinner was born in January 1948 in Zurich.

In the year 1973 he obtained a Degree in Law from the University of Zurich and two years after gained a warrant of lawyer-magistrate, Canton of Geneva. He then joined the Federal Department of Political Affairs in Berne.

In 1977 Mr. Spinner worked at the Embassy of Switzerland in Ankara. His diplomatic career started in 1978 when he served as Secretary to the Embassy at the Swiss Mission to the European Union, Brussels. He then held various high-ranking positions including those of Legal Counsellor to the Head of the Swiss Delegation at GATT negotiations, President of the Group of Legal Experts of the European Free Exchange Association (AELS) and Minister, acting Head of the Swiss Mission to the European Community, Brussels.  He was co-responsible of negotiations and an operational co-ordinator during sectorial negotiations between Switzerland and the European Community. During the period 2000 – 2004 he served as Ambassador of Switzerland to the United Kingdom. In October 2004 he was appointed as Ambassador of Switzerland to Italy.

The President with the Ambassador of Swizerland

For a number years, His Excellency Mr. Spinner has lectured European Law at the Zurich University.

The Ambassador is married with two children.