Biography of Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram

            Mr. Nitya Pibulsonggram was appointed the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand on 8 October 2006.

Mr. Pibulsonggram was born on 30 June 1941 in Bangkok.  He received his higher education at Dartmouth College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in the field of Government.  He continued his graduate studies at Brown University, where he received a Master of Arts in Political Science.

            Mr. Pibulsonggram was a career diplomat.  He began his diplomatic service in 1968 when he joined the Foreign News Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Information Department.  From 1969 to 1972, he served in the Thai Delegation to the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).  In 1973 and 1974, he worked in the Policy and Planning Division of the Permanent Secretary’s Office and in the Office of the Secretary to the Foreign Minister.  He headed the Southeast Asia Division of the Ministry’s Department of Political Affairs from 1975 to 1976.

            Mr. Pibulsonggram’s first foreign posting was from 1976 to 1980 when he was assigned to Thailand’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, where he served as First Secretary and was later promoted to Minister-Counsellor and then Deputy Permanent Representative in the last two of the four years.  In 1980, he returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Deputy Director-General of the Information Department and, the following year, was appointed Deputy Director-General of the Department of Political Affairs.  In 1982, he served as Ambassador-at-Large in the Ministry, in charge of special political issues.  From 1983 to 1987, Mr. Pibulsonggram held the post of Director-General of the International Organizations Department.  Then, he moved to New York City where he served for eight years as the Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations in New York.  From 1996 to 2000, Mr. Pibulsonggram was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Thailand to the United States.  Prior to his retirement from diplomatic service, Mr. Pibulsonggram served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during 2000-2001.

            After his retirement, Mr. Pibulsonggram continued to be active in both the public and private sectors.  Among other positions, he was Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs during October 2001-September 2006.  In November 2003, he was appointed Chief Negotiator for the Thai-U.S. Free Trade Agreement until he resigned from this position in January 2006.

            Mr. Pibulsonggram is married to Pacharin Pibulsonggram, who was born in Massachusetts.

Decorations

1. Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
2. Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
3. Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
4. King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Royal Cypher Medal (Rama IX)
5. Grand Companion (Third Class, higher grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
6. Knight Commander (Second Class) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao