Ahmed Attaf

From Legacyview Dictionary of Biography

(b. July 10, 1953, Ain Defla, Algeria), foreign minister of Algeria (1996-99). He was a career diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as head of the Division of Multilateral Treaties (1977), head of the Political Affairs Division of the OAU (1977-79), deputy director of United Nations, Strategic and Disarmament Affairs (1982-84), and director of International Political Affairs (1984-89). He also served as secretary in the Permanent Mission of Algeria to the United Nations in New York (1979-82), ambassador of Algeria to Yugoslavia (1989-92) and ambassador of Algeria to India (1992-94). In March 1994, he was appointed Secretary of State for Cooperation and Maghrebian Affairs, a function he carried out jointly with that of spokesman for the government from October 1994. Attaf became minister of foreign affairs in January 1996. He was elected member of parliament in June 1997.