New Portuguese Ambassador takes over

The new Ambassador of Portugal to Malta, António Ramalho Ortigão officially assumed his duties in Malta after presenting his letters of credence to President Eddie Fenech Adami.

Apart from occupying various posts within the Portuguese Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador served at the Embassy of Portugal in Dublin (1976-1979), Dakar (1980-1985), Brasilia (1985-1990, also serving as Consul-General in S&atidle;o Paulo) and Brussels (1994-1997). Between 1997 and 1999 he served in South Africa as Consul-General in Johannesburg.

He was also Deputy Permanent Representative of Portugal to Nato (Delnato) and Nato's Defence College in Rome.

Between 1999 and 2005, he was resident Ambassador of Portugal to Lagos and Abidjan and recently Ambassador in Islamabad (2005- October 2008), when he was also accredited as non-resident Ambassador to Kabul.

The Ambassador is married to Marta Vaz Pinto Ramalho Ortig&atidle;o and has four children.