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Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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MFA Press Statement: Appointment of Singapore’s Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, Singapore’s High Commissioner to New Zealand and Singapore’s Ambassador to France

Country

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25 June 2015

The Government has appointed Mr A Selverajah as Singapore’s first resident Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, Mr Bernard William Baker as Singapore’s High Commissioner to New Zealand and Mr Zainal ...

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The Government has appointed Mr A Selverajah as Singapore’s first resident Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, Mr Bernard William Baker as Singapore’s High Commissioner to New Zealand and Mr Zainal Arif Mantaha as Singapore’s Ambassador to France.

          Mr A Selverajah is currently Dean of the MFA Diplomatic Academy, Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark and Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs.  He will assume post as Singapore’s first resident Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey on 27 July 2015. 

          Mr Selverajah previously served as Singapore’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium (with concurrent accreditation to the European Union, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Holy See) from September 1999 to July 2003.  He also served as Singapore’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Greece) from August 2003 to July 2008 and as Singapore’s Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines from August 2008 to March 2012.  While in the Ministry Headquarters, Mr Selvarajah had served in various portfolios including Director (Policy, Planning & Analysis Directorate II) and Director (Information, Management & Research).  He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1979.

          Mr Selverajah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the National University of Singapore in 1979 and obtained a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University in 1985.  He was awarded the Public Administration (Silver) Medal in November 2000.  Mr Selverajah was conferred the decoration of the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Gregory by Pope John Paul II in October 2002, and the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Gold Distinction) by Philippine President Benigno S Aquino in February 2012. 

          Mr Selverajah is married to Mdm S Saandhamma and they have two sons.

          Mr Bernard William Baker will assume post as Singapore’s High Commissioner to New Zealand on 13 July 2015.  He previously served as Singapore’s High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa (with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Zimbabwe, Republic of Botswana, Kingdom of Lesotho, Namibia and the Kingdom of Swaziland) from March 2009 to April 2015.  While in the Ministry Headquarters, Mr Baker had served in various portfolios including Director (Public Affairs) from April 2006 to February 2009 and was concurrently the Press Secretary to the Foreign Minister.  He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1982.

          Mr Baker graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science in Political Science (Honours) from the National University of Singapore in 1982.

          Mr Baker is married to Mdm Susan Ong and they have a son and a daughter.

          Mr Zainal Arif Mantaha will assume post as Singapore’s Ambassador to France on 13 July 2015.  He had served as Director-General (Europe) from January 2011 to July 2012 and from November 2014 to June 2015.  Mr Mantaha was Deputy High Commissioner in London from June 2006 to September 2010.  He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1991.

          Mr Mantaha graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the National University of Singapore in 1989 and an International Diploma in Public Administration (Honours) from the École Nationale d’Administration in Strasbourg, France, in 2014.

          Mr Mantaha is married to Ms Jennifer Cheng.

.    .    .    .    . 

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

25 JUNE 2015

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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

Mr A Selverajah is currently the Dean of the Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Non-Resident Ambassador to Denmark and Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs.

Born in 1953, Mr Selverajah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the National University of Singapore in 1979 and obtained a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University in 1985.  

Mr Selverajah joined the Singapore Foreign Service in July 1979. In the Ministry’s Headquarters, Mr Selverajah covered various portfolios including Director/Policy, Planning & Analysis Directorate II covering North America and Europe (November 1993 to February 1994 and November 1997 to June 1999) and Director/Information, Management & Research (March 1997 to October 1997).

His overseas assignments included postings in Bangkok (August 1987 to August 1990) and Washington (February 1994 to March 1997). He was Ambassador to Belgium with concurrent accreditation to the European Communities, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the Holy See (September 1999 to July 2003). He also served as Ambassador to Germany (August 2003 to July 2008) with concurrent accreditation to Greece (April 2004 to January 2006) and as Ambassador to the Philippines (August 2008 to March 2012).  

Mr Selverajah was awarded the Public Administration (Silver) Medal in November 2000 by the Singapore Government. He was conferred the decoration of the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Gregory in October 2002 by Pope John Paul II, and the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Gold Distinction) in February 2012 by Philippine President Benigno S Aquino.

Mr Selverajah is married to Mdm S Saandhamma and they have two sons.

. . . . .

June 2015

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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

Mr Bernard William Baker has served as Singapore’s High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa (with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Zimbabwe, Republic of Botswana, Kingdom of Lesotho, Namibia, and the Kingdom of Swaziland) from March 2009 to April 2015.

Born in 1957, Mr Baker graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science in Political Science (Honours) in 1982 from the National University of Singapore.

Mr Baker joined the Singapore Foreign Service in June 1982. In the Ministry’s Headquarters, Mr Baker covered several portfolios including the Pacific region, International Organisations, Technical Co-operation and International Economics. He served as Director/Public Affairs from April 2006 to February 2009 and was concurrently the Press Secretary to the Foreign Minister and the Ministry’s spokesperson.

His overseas assignments included postings in Wellington (April 1985 to July 1989) and New Delhi (August 1992 to August 1995).  He was Acting High Commissioner in Pretoria from February 1997 to February 2002 and Consul-General in Vancouver from June 2002 to August 2004. 

Mr Baker was awarded the Long Service Award (Pingat Bakti Setia) in 2014 by the Singapore Government.

Mr Baker is married to Mdm Susan Ong and they have a son and a daughter.  

. . . . .

June 2015

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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

            Mr Zainal Arif Mantaha has served as Director-General of the Europe Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from November 2014 to June 2015. 

            Born on 15 June 1964, Mr Mantaha graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the National University of Singapore in 1989 and an International Diploma in Public Administration (Honours) from the École Nationale d’Administration in Strasbourg, France, in 2014.

            Mr Mantaha joined the Singapore Foreign Service in May 1991. In the Ministry’s Headquarters, Mr Mantaha covered several portfolios including Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia. He was Director of the Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific Directorate from April 2005 to May 2006 and Director-General of the Europe Directorate from January 2011 to July 2012 and from November 2014 to June 2015.

            His overseas assignments included postings in Bonn (December 1993 to March 1997) and New York (March 2000 to August 2001).  He also served as Deputy High Commissioner in London from June 2006 to September 2010. 

            Mr Mantaha was seconded to the Asia-Europe Foundation as Director for People-to-People Exchange from September 2001 to October 2004, and to the Civil Service College as Diplomat-in-Residence from January to November 2013. 

            Mr Mantaha is married to Ms Jennifer Cheng.

.     .     .     .     .

June 2015