Born:

1953, Kyiv, Ukraine

Education:

Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Department of International Law (1975)

Professional experience:

Since Sept. 2003

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

Jan. 2000 – Sept. 2003

Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States of America

Aug. 1998 - Jan. 2000

Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Head of Mission of Ukraine to NATO, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Organization for Proliferation of Chemical Weapons, the Hague

1995-1998

Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine

Responsibilities covered at that time:

Arms control and disarmament, Russian and CIS affairs, European security, bilateral relations with Asian, Pacific, African and Middle East countries; Chairman of the National Committee of Ukraine on Disarmament; Deputy Chairman of the State Commission of Ukraine on Export Control Policy; Representative of Ukraine to the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission under the START-I Treaty, Head of delegations of Ukraine to the Special Verification Commission under the INF, the Standing Control Commission under the ABM Treaty; Head of delegations of Ukraine on border delimitation negotiations with Russia, Belarus and Moldova; Chief negotiator on the Ukrainian-Russian talks on division of the Black Sea Fleet

1992-1995

Various positions in Arms Control and Disarmament Directorate, MFA of Ukraine, Kyiv

1981-1991

Various positions in MFA of USSR

1976-1980

Staff-member of the United Nation Secretariat, New York

Other responsibilities:

Current:

Chairman of the UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters for 2003; Member of the College of Commissioners of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC)

1995-1998

Member of the Foundation Council of the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP)

Awards:

Order of Merit (September 1998)

Languages:

Ukrainian, English, French and Russian