Credentials ceremony

Ambassadors for Laos, Qatar and Lebanon will present credentials to Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand at Government House in Auckland tomorrow (12 November).

The ceremony will begin at 4.30 pm.  The New Zealand Navy will provide the Maori Ceremonial Challenge and the Guard of Honour at tomorrow's ceremony.

Rangsy Kongsaysy, Ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a career diplomat previously posted in Burma and France.   He is also accredited as the Lao Ambassador to Australia and is resident in Canberra.

Qatar's Ambassador, Ahmed Abdullah Ahmed G. Al-Muhanadi, is resident in Jakarta.  He is a career diplomat who has had overseas assignments in London, Damascus, Kuwait, Mogadishu, Paris, Seoul, Algeria and Mumbai.     

The Lebanese Ambassador, Dr Jean Daniel, is also Lebanon's Ambassador to Australia and is resident in Canberra.  He has served in London, Kuwait, Paris, Madrid, Melbourne and New Delhi.

Canadian High Commissioner, Caroline Chretien, will also attend the ceremony.  She presented a Letter of Introduction to Prime Minister John Key in September.  Ms Chretien has extensive experience with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa and most recently served as Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria.

Mr Kongsaysy, Mr Al-Muhanadi and Dr Daniel are resident in Canberra.  Ms Chretien is resident in Wellington.

For further information please contact: Emma Reilly - Media adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on (04) 439 8777

Media wishing to attend the ceremony contact: Antony Paltridge; Public Affairs Manager, Government House on (04) 382 0827 or (021) 470 583