Society 364 / 2012

Diplomatie
neue Botschafter
finnland
georgien
island
H.E. Anu Irene
Laamanen
H.E. Konstantine
Zaldastanishvili
H.E. Audunn
Atlason
Born on 30 October
1958 in Finland. One
son.
Born on 23 December,
1960. Married. Two
daughters.
Born in Reykjavík, Iceland,
4 February 1971
Education
• M.Pol.Sc., University of Helsinki
• Post-graduate studies, Graduate Institute
of International and Development
Studies, University of Geneva
Professional career
• 1986-93: Different tasks at the MFA
and at the Perm. Mission of Finland
to the UN, New York and at the Embassy
of Finland to Norway, Oslo
• 1993-95: First Secretary, Adviser to
the Director General of the Political
Department, MFA, Helsinki
• 1995-98: Deputy Permanent Representative,
Permanent Mission of
Finland to the OSCE, Vienna
• 1998-99: Counsellor, Military and
Civilian Crisis Management, Unit
for Security Policy, Political Department,
MFA, Helsinki
• 2000-01: Counsellor, Unit for Security
Policy, NATO and General Security
Policy, Political Department,
MFA, Helsinki
• 2003-07: Director, Unit for Civilian
Crisis Management, Political Department,
MFA, Helsinki
• 2001-03: Deputy Director, Unit for
Security Policy, Political Department,
MFA, Helsinki
• 2007-13: Deputy Director General,
Political Department, MFA, Helsinki
Education
• 1977-82: Faculty of Automation and
Computer Engineering, Georgian
Polytechnic Institute, Tbilisi
• 1984-87: Dresden Technical University,
Doctoral Dissertation
Professional career
• 1991-92: Dep. Dir. of the Institute
of Mechanics and Mechanical
Engineering, Georgian Technical
University
• 1992-93: Head of Division of Foreign
Investments and Credits, State
Committee of Foreign Economic
Relations
• 1993: Head of Division of Bilateral
Economic Relations, State Committee
of Foreign Economic Relations
• 1993-94: Head of Division of International
Relations in the Tbilisi City
Municipality
• 1994-95: Minister-Plenipotentiary,
Embassy of Georgia in Germany
• 1995-98: Minister of Trade and Foreign
Economic Relations
• 1998-2000: Ambassador, Head of Mission
to the European Communities
• 2000-05: Ambassador to the Benelux
Countries, Head of Mission to the
European Communities
• 2005-13: Secretary General of the EU-
Georgia Business Council (EUGBC)
Education
• 1990-91: Deutsch als Fremdsprache,
Albert–Ludwigs–Universität,
Freiburg im Breisgau
• 1991-96: Diplom Politologie (Dipl.
Pol.), Freie Universität Berlin
Professional Career
• 1997/98 and 2008/09: Part-time
lecturer, Department for Political
Science, University of Iceland
• 1997-1999: International Secretary,
International Secretariat, Parliament
of Iceland
• 1999-2002: First Secretary, MFA
• 2001-2002: Director of the Icelandic
Crisis Response Unit, MFA
• 2002-2006: Counselor, Embassy of
Iceland Washington D.C.
• 2006-2007: Deputy Chief of Mission,
Embassy of Iceland New Delhi
• 2008-2009: Deputy-Director, Defense
Department, MFA
• 2009: Acting Director, Department
for External Trade, MFA
• 2009: Director, Department for
Information, MFA
• 2011: European Policy Advisor to the
Foreign Minister of Iceland
• 2013: Appointed Ambassador in the
Icelandic Foreign Service
• 2013: Permanent Representative to
OSCE, IAEA, CTBTO and UNOV in
Vienna
Society 2_2013 | 85