The following new foreign Heads of Mission presented their diplomatic credentials to President S R Nathan in separate ceremonies at the Istana today:
(a) The High Commissioner of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Mr Christopher Siaoa Mero and
(b) The Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, Mr Jorge Porforio León Cruz.
The curricula vitae of Mr Christopher Siaoa Mero and Mr Jorge P León Cruz are attached.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
27 APRIL 2006
CHRISTOPHER SIAOA MERO
HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SINGAPORE
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
BORN: 1 May 1953, Lese Oalai, Gulf Province
AGE: 52
MARITAL Married
STATUS: Has three children
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts, University of Papua New Guinea, 1973-1976
Master of Science (MSc), Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, 1978-1979
Diploma, Foreign Service, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Waigani, Jan-Nov 1980
Certificate, International Political Relations, International Institute of Public Administration Paris, France,
October 1982-July 1983
Management Development Program, Australian Management College, Mt. Eliza, Melbourne, 23 Jul-18 Aug 1990
Certificate, Multilateralism Regional Security in the New Millenium, The US Institute of Peace, Washington DC,
8-23 Apr 1999
CAREER: 1976-1979 Environment Management Officer, Department of Environment and Conservation, Waigani
1981-1984 Asia Desk Officer and Executive Officer to Department Consultant, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
1985-1988 First Secretary, PNG Embassy and Mission to the European Commission, Brussels, Belgium
Jan-Jul
1989 Assistant Secretary, Mutual Assistance Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Aug 1989 -
Jun 1991 Assistant Director, Bilateral Programmes Branch, Office of International Development Assistance, Department of Finance and Planning
Jul 1991-
Jun 1992 Director, Policy Planning Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Jul 1992-
Jul 1996 Counsellor, PNG Embassy, Washington D.C.
July 1996-
Mar 1997 Director, South Asia Branch
Mar 1997-
Jun 1998 Consul General, PNG Consulate General, Brisbane
Jun 1998-
May 1999 Director, North Asia Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Port Moresby
May 1999- Feb 2003 Director, Asia Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Port Moresby
Feb 2003
to date Ambassador to Indonesia, concurrently accredited to Cambodia, Laos, Timor-Leste, Thailand and Vietnam.
27 Apr 2006 High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea to the Republic of Singapore, resident in Jakarta
MEMBERSHIP: Vice-President, Gulf West Rugby League Club, January 1999-January 2000
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April 2006
JORGE PORFIRIO LEON CRUZ
AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE
REPUBLIC OF CUBA
BORN: 4 May 1952 in Havana, Cuba
AGE: 53
MARITAL Married
STATUS: Has two sons
EDUCATION: Licentiate in International Political Relations, Higher Institute International Relations "Raúl Roa García', Havana
Graduated in English Language (1986) and French (1987), "Abraham Lincoln" School
Postgraduate in Negotiations Techniques, 1986
Postgraduate in Mass Media, 1986
Postgraduate in Ideology of the Cuban Revolution, 1997
Postgraduate in Studies of the Economic Resolution of the V Congress of PCC, 1998
Postgraduate in Judicial Course for Officials, 2004
CAREER: 1983-1987 Diplomatic Attaché, Division of Northern Africa and the Middle East, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1987-1989 Third Secretary, Cuban Embassy in the State of Kuwait
1989-1990 Second Secretary, Cuban Embassy in the State of Kuwait
1990-1992 Second Secretary, Division of Northern Africa and the Middle East, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1992-1995 First Secretary, Cuban Embassy in Libya
1995-1997 First Secretary, Division of Northern Africa and the Middle East, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1997-1998 Deputy Director, Division of Northern Africa and the Middle East, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1998-2002 Ambassador to the State of Qatar
2002-2005 Deputy Director, Division of Personnel and Cadres, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2005 to date Ambassador to Indonesia, and accredited to New Zealand
27 Apr 2006 Ambassador to the Republic of Singapore, resident in Jakarta
AWARDS/ DECORATION: Order to the Merit (Sach of Merit) of the State of Qatar, Sep 2002
LANGUAGES: Spanish, English and French
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April 2006