17 June, 2014, Vientiane.- Mr. Hassan Mohtashami, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) new Country Representative, presented his letter of credential to Mr. Alounkeo Kittikhoun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR, on behalf of the Government of Lao PDR.

Mr. Mohtashami, a national of Iran, is a medical doctor, with specialty in psychiatry and post-graduate training in Population Leadership. He has earned over 23 years of health management and administration experience at district, national and international levels and started his career in his home country of Iran as District Health Director, World Bank Project Manager, and then CEO of Family Planning Association. Prior to joining UNFPA, he served as World Health Organization Advisor in Afghanistan. He has served UNFPA since 2004 as Deputy Representative in Sudan and Uganda and recently as Representative in Swaziland.

During the ceremony, Mr. Alounkeo Kittikhoun warmly welcomed Mr. Mohtashami to his new assignment in Lao PDR. "We highly appreciate UNFPA's support for the Lao government to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular MDG 5 -improving Maternal health, which have seen significant improvement in recent years" Mr. Alounkeo acknowledged contribution of UNFPA in the area of youth development and statistics strengthening, in particular the largest operations of the Population and Housing Census. He urge "UNFPA to continue to provide support to the country"

Mr. Mohtashami expressed that he feels honoured to have been assigned as UNFPA Country Representative for Lao PDR "We are here to support the government and the people of Lao PDR and congratulate the continuous commitment of the Government in achieving the ICPD agenda beyond 2014."As the country gets ready for the Census 2015, we commit to step up our support for this"

For more Information please contact:
Ms. Vanly Lorkuangming 
Communication Associate - UNFPA
Tel: + 856 21 315547
Mobile: + 856 20 77822456
E-mail: lorkuangming@unfpa.org