Media release - 7 February 2005

Norwegian, Cypriot, Kenyan, Lao PDR, Egyptian envoys present credentials

New High Commissioners for Cyprus and Kenya and Ambassadors of Norway, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) and Egypt present their credentials to Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright at Government House tomorrow (8 February at 11am).

Norway’s new Ambassador is Lars Albert Wensell. His previous postings include Rotterdam, Rome, Copenhagen and Bangkok. Most recently, Mr Wensell was Inspector General of the Norwegian Foreign Service in Oslo.

Achilleas Antoniades is Cyprus’s new High Commissioner. Prior to his New Zealand posting, Mr Antoniades was deputy Chief of the Cyprus’s Washington Mission. He has also been posted to Brussels and Toronto.

Kenya’s new High Commissioner is John Lepi Lanyasunya. He held a senior position in Nairobi before his New Zealand posting and has also been to Germany. Prior to joining Kenyan Foreign Affairs, Mr Lanyasunya was a secondary school teacher.

Career diplomat Khenthong Nuanthasing is Lao PDR’s new Ambassador. He has had postings in New York and Washington. Mr Nuanthasing was most recently in Vientiane where he held a senior position in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Career diplomat Mohamed Moustafa Mohamed Tawfik is Egypt’s new Ambassador to New Zealand. Since joining the Egyptian Foreign Affairs Ministry, he has had postings to Washington, Harare and Geneva. Prior to his New Zealand posting, Mr Tawfik worked for the Foreign Affairs Minister in Cairo.

All representatives are cross-accredited to New Zealand from Canberra.

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