Ambassador Vraalsen joined the Norwegian Foreign Service in 1960 and has held a number of distinguished positions, including: Ambassador to Finland (2001-2003), Ambassador to the United States (1996-2001), Ambassador to the United Kingdom (1994-1996); Assistant Secretary-General of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry (1992-1994); Minister of Development Cooperation (1989-1990); Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations (1982-1989); and Director-General of the Ministry's Department of Political Affairs (1981-1982).

On the multilateral level, Ambassador Vraalsen has served as Vice-President of the General Assembly and as Chairman of its Fourth and First Committees. He also was Chairman of a number of intergovernmental groups and committees, and served as Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to South Africa (November 1992). He has served at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Department, in charge of Norway’s bilateral relations with countries in Africa, Asia and Latin-America (1971-1973); in charge of Norway’s participation in the United Nations organization and other international organizations (1973-1975); responsible for Norway’s relations with African liberation movements (1971-75).

Ambassador Vraalsen has authored the book, United Nations – Dream and Reality (1984) and numerous papers and articles on African socio-economic development issues and on conflict prevention and resolution. He is the co-author of The United Nations in Focus (1975).

Born in 1936, Ambassador Vraalsen received a master's degree in economics from the University of Arhus, Denmark, in 1960. He is married and has five children.

This event is sponsored by the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS), the International Affairs Group (IAG), the International Studies Program (ISP), and the Institute for International, Comparative, and Area Studies (IICAS), which is an organized research unit part of the Institute for Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC).

For more information about this event, please contact the Events Coordinator at iicas-events@ucsd.edu or (858) 822-5297 or visit http://iicas.ucsd.edu/events/speakerseries/americaandtheworld.php.

Directions and parking information are available from the IICAS website: http://iicas.ucsd.edu/contactus/robinson.phpa>

Anyone needing special arrangements to accommodate a disability is encouraged to contact our Events Coordinator, Melissa La Bouff (858) 822-5297 or mlabouff@ucsd.edu at least two weeks in advance of the event date.