NATO Permanent Representative of Slovenia

Matjaž Šinkovec

2003 - 2006

Born May 22, 1951 in Ljubljana, educated in Ljubljana and San Francisco, B.A. (Languages and Literature) 1974, M.A. (English/Creative Writing) 1976, also studied in Valencia and Lisbon.

Employment:
1974 journalist, Daily Delo, 1975-78 freelance translator, 1978-84 Slovenian Foreign Office, 1984-90 international secretary, Confederation of Slovenian Trade Unions, 1990-92 Member of Parliament and Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee, Slovenian Parliament, 1992-97 Ambassador to the United Kingdom, 1996-97 Ambassador to Ireland, 1997-99 State Undersecretary (NATO, WEU), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1999- Ambassador, Head of Mission of Slovenia to NATO and the Western European Union.

Political Career:
1968-70 active dissident, 1988 founder Member & Vice President, Social Democratic Party (SDS). 1989 first proponent for the formation of the opposition coalition DEMOS. 1990-92 SDS Parliamentary Group Leader, Member of the Council of the government coalition DEMOS, Member, Parliamentary Committee on Information. 1991-92 negotiator at the Carrington Conference on former Yugoslavia. 1991-92 first leader of the Slovenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Other interests:
wrote, translated and edited a number of books, stories, articles, dealing with foreign relations, political campaigning, fiction, poetry etc.

Hobbies:
D.I.Y., sailing, swimming, travel.

Married (Magdalena) with two sons (Boštjan 20, Aleš 18).